The PASS Program consists of multiple opportunities for students to participate in events that will help prepare them for success beyond high school. The program revolves around our long-standing, mock interview project but provides activities for all grade levels. Components of this program include monthly advisor meetings with faculty, student-generated portfolio creation, rotating workshops, career planning, character education, anti-bullying, decision-making, PSAT testing, the junior interview project, job shadowing, college visits, campus volunteerism, the senior project, and more. Of particular emphasis in the PASS Program are the student-generated portfolios. These portfolios are an important component in student development and are required for successful completion of the senior project. Entries into the portfolio may be assigned as a classroom grade at the discretion of each teacher. Students are required to submit an updated and/or completed portfolio by designated deadlines during the school year. Otherwise, students may be assigned disciplinary consequences, may not be able to meet graduation requirements, and in the scheduling process may be scheduled last into whatever classes are still available. For more details regarding our PASS Program, please contact the school counselor’s office. 

Beyond your grade-level advisor, the PASS Committee has a contact committee member for each grade level as listed below to act as a resource, send out monthly agendas, and field your questions:

• Mr. Meyer

• Ms. Satler

• Mr. Vernocy

• Mr. Melnick
  
  PASS Updates
  Students, we will be implementing a few exciting changes to the PASS Program and monthly advisor meetings this year. There are 3 major components to these changes:
  
  1. Electronic portfolios using Google Sites for all grade levels – To facilitate the ability to add digital content, expand the range of portfolio development options, and to minimize the occurrences of lost or forgotten portfolios, all students will create a Google Site with “pages” per the attached checklist. This will be your portfolio. A “page” in this new system is equivalent to a folder in the old system. Instead of the student putting papers in a folder, you will add files to a “page.” It is really easy to create a Google Site. I created mine in 5 minutes using the attached directions (Google Sites User Guide 2015-16). Here is a link to mine:https://sites.google.com/site/sshsmrpaull/ . Juniors and seniors should still keep their hard copy portfolios as we transition to this new system, and can transfer papers from their old portfolios to their new Google Sites if they like.
  
  2. Expanded range of portfolio development options – See the attached Google Sites Portfolio Checklist 2015-16 for a list of what “pages” students will be responsible to create. The classroom entries and reflections are still there, but more options have been added to personalize and expand the scope of the portfolio. Although all students will create all pages per the checklist, some pages may remain empty at first and will be used more at certain later grade levels.
  
  3. “South Side High School – Beyond the Classroom” – A PASS Program interactive curriculum devoted to character education, anti-bullying, self-improvement, and educated decision-making. On certain advisor meeting days, topics and videos in the attached document will be used for “Beyond the Classroom” discussions. The videos are short enough that one or two may be viewed and discussed during 1 advisor meeting. See the attached document for specifics. The first "Beyond the Classroom" meeting is scheduled for 11/17. Students will also have a “page” in their portfolio for “Beyond the Classroom” research and reflection.

  Students should also devote class time, not just advisor time, and effort to portfolio endeavors. Be thinking about and identifying possible additions to your portfolio. Teachers will be grading your participation in the portfolio process in all classes.