Overview:
The Senior Project offers seniors the opportunity to plan and carry out a four-week program of their own design, provided the project meets the requirements of the Senior Project Committee. In general, the project must be of such a nature that it will enhance the positive development of the individual. In addition, it must be a structured learning experience. The most frequently chosen projects are those such as mini courses, independent study, and internships in laboratories, businesses, or voluntary organizations. Seniors frequently include athletic participation in their schedules. The seniors plan their projects in the spring of the year and carry them out during the month of May.
The Senior Project provides seniors these opportunities:
- to experience community involvement;
- to focus considerable time on a particular goal;
- to plan the use of time;
- to study a topic not in the school curriculum;
- to investigate possible career choices.
Senior plans must be approved by the Senior Project Committee, comprised of nine faculty and 15-20 students whose responsibility it is to supervise the Senior Projects. Though the guidelines are rewritten each year, they follow this basic outline:
- be a member in good standing of the school community;
- be complete and passing in all subjects;
- have a project that is acceptable to the community;
- have well-defined goals;
- have planned at least 27 hours of activity each week;
- not receive wages for any project-related activity and not earn money during school hours;
- keep a log or journal;
- volunteer for a minimum of 12 hours of community service.
Typically, Senior Project materials are distributed in early February, the projects planned in February and March, the proposals reviewed by the Senior Project Committee in April, and the projects carried out in May. Seniors are expected to have a 20-minute oral review with the Senior Project Committee in early June.