LETTERS OF CHARACTER
REFERENCE
• You must obtain two letters of character reference to include in your senior
exit portfolio.
• One of the letters must be from an adult outside of the school system.
• Character reference letters may not be written by a family member.
• You are responsible for the collection and placement of these letters in your
portfolio. These should not be mailed or delivered to the high school.
• Below is a letter of explanation that you may copy and give to the people
whom you ask for letters.
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To Whom It May Concern:
Douglass High School seniors have been asked to prepare a Student
Portfolio for presentation to a review team this spring. The portfolio process
is designed to provide an opportunity for graduates of DHS to demonstrate
mastery of the skills necessary to move successfully from high school to
continued education or a chosen career.
The portfolio requires that each student obtain two letters of character
reference. One of these letters may be from a school staff member, and one
must be from a community member.
If you are asked to write a letter of character reference for a student, the letter
should include whatever you think is important about the student, including a
description of academic or personal characteristics. We are particularly
interested in the student’s intellectual potential, motivation, relative maturity,
integrity, independence, level of responsibility, originality, initiative, leadership
potential, capacity for growth, special talents, and enthusiasm. We welcome
information that will help us to differentiate this student from others.
Students are responsible for the collection and placement of these letters in
their portfolios. Please do not mail or deliver letters to the school.
Thank you,
Portfolio Committee
Douglass High School
Revised: 8/10/05