Self-Assessments

Encourage your child to take ownership of their goals and achievements at Gilmour Academy, where we engage students in the performance evaluation process.

Gilmour Academy takes an alternative approach to the traditional parent-teacher conference, instead asking our students to prepare a formal presentation for a gathering of their parents, teachers and advisors.

The purpose of the self-assessment is to offer each student the opportunity to reflect upon personal goals and habits, academic successes and challenges and spiritual development—supported with physical and anecdotal evidence—in a deeply engaging format.

In their senior year, students take on a more comprehensive version of the self-assessment called Senior Examen.

Participants address particular areas according to grade level:

Seventh Grade: Emerging leadership skills
Eighth Grade: Transition to the Upper School
Ninth Grade: Transition
10th Grade: Self-awareness
11th Grade: Reflection
12th Grade: Living the Gilmour mission

Self Assessment FAQs

List of 6 frequently asked questions.

Q. What is a Self-Assessment?
- Self-assessments are Gilmour’s alternative approach to the traditional parent-teacher conference in which students in grades 7-12 make an annual formal presentation to a panel of their parents, teachers and counselors. The purpose is to give students an opportunity to address their personal goals, academic successes and challenges, and to reflect on their progress toward the Gilmour Outcomes.
- Seniors present a more extensive version of the self-assessment called Senior Examen. The Senior Examen requires participants to: reflect upon the ways in which they have learned to live the Gilmour mission; identify and analyze the defining moments throughout their years at Gilmour that have shaped and influenced them; to share how they plan to use what they have learned in their future endeavors.
Q. Who participates in Self-Assessments?

Students in grades 7-11 present a self-assessment annually. Seniors take part in the more extensive Senior Examen (translated from the Latin “for consideration”). As an alternative to the traditional parent-teacher conference model, presentations also require the attendance of the student’s parents, counselor, advisor and select teachers.
Q. How do students prepare for their Self-Assessments?
- Given the in-depth and cumulative nature of the self-assessment process, students work with their advisors throughout the year to prepare for their presentations.
- Students are asked to take a holistic approach and focus on their personal, academic, spiritual and emotional growth, providing evidence—such as anecdotes or examples of work—to support their position. In addition to general goals, students at each grade level are given specific questions to address about such topics as their development as leaders, integration of Holy Cross values and readiness for additional challenges and more advanced work.
Q. Where/when do Self-Assessments take place?

Self-assessments take place in the Classroom Building during October/November or February/March; students and parents may choose which semester they prefer.
Q. How are they scheduled?

Self-assessments are scheduled online. Click the "Scheduling" button to schedule your child's self-assessment.

Be sure to mark the date in your calendar, as there are no reminder alerts.
Q. What is proper attire?

Students should wear their school uniform or professional attire.