To emphasize the importance of each student's skills, the staff implemented an Employability Skills Portfolio Program. Students use self-managed portfolios to identify, develop and document their employability skills by organizing and saving significant samples of their work and records of accomplishments. These items include transcripts, test scores, examples of school and community involvement, letters of recommendation and evaluations, records of employment, samples of reports, videotapes of completed projects, evidence of hobbies, special licences, attendance records and other significant documentation. The employability skills program is run in conjunction with a Teacher Advisory Program. The 24 teachers at Elwood are given approximately 17 students each to advise.
Teachers meet with their students at least five times a year.
Where possible, one teacher will advise a student for the three years of high school. This gives the teacher advisor and student an opportunity to develop a rapport and maintain continuity. The focus of discussions during these advisory sessions is different for students at various levels. For students in level one the focus is predominately on employability skills and personal assessment. The teacher advisors help their students build their employability skills portfolio at all three levels but it is the main focus with students in level one.