Inspiring and Empowering All Learners for Tomorrow S Challenges

Fannett-Metal High School

Inspiring and Empowering All Learners for Tomorrow’s Challenges Senior Project Handbook Revised September 5, 2013

1 A brief overview… What is Senior Project? The Senior Project is designed to provide you with the opportunity to apply all that you have learned in twelve years of school to a project which will challenge all of your abilities, stretch your limitations, and reward you immensely!

The Senior Project consists of four major components: the paper, the project, the portfolio, and the presentation. This handbook will guide you through the process. It includes most of the information and forms you will need to complete the project.

The Paper The Junior Paper will be an accompaniment to the project you present for graduation. The junior paper MUST relate to the project, and vice versa. The paper will be completed during the junior English class under the supervision of the junior English teacher. The junior Paper will be graded as part of the junior English grade, but must also be included in the Senior Portfolio.

The Project The Project is the core of the Senior Project experience. You will choose a project that extends your learning, stretches your potential, and challenges your abilities. What that may be is up to you. The Project needs to be focused on a topic that interests you, reflects community service, or relates to a future career choice. You will choose both a community mentor and a Fannett-Metal advisor to guide you through the Project portion as well as verify the completion of the necessary 25 hours of work. Work on the Project may not occur until after commencement ceremonies of the current senior class unless prior approval is granted by the Principal.

The Portfolio The Portfolio is a cumulative collection of your best work at Fannett-Metal. It may contain pictures, examples of writings, tests, research papers, certificates, community awards, athletic awards, acceptance letters, etc. The Portfolio will also contain your resume, community service forms, reflections and junior paper. Finally, the Portfolio will include a section devoted to the Senior Project and ALL related paperwork. Because the work on your Senior Project will be done outside of class, you will keep accurate records of the time you devoted, how much money you spent, where you went, who you talked to, what you learned, and so on. These records will be kept in the Senior Portfolio.

The Presentation Finally, you will present your Senior Project at the Senior Symposium. The Senior Symposium is your opportunity to present the work you have completed for your Senior Project. At the Senior Symposium, a group of evaluators from the community will evaluate your Senior Project using the Presentation Evaluation Form. You MUST prepare a 5-7 minute presentation about your Senior Project to present to the evaluators. You must also be prepared to answer any questions the evaluators may have.

2 *Successful completion of ALL four phases of the Senior Project is a Fannett-Metal Graduation Requirement Senior Project…Stretch and Challenge!!

ACCEPTABLE PROJECT EXAMPLES The following sample projects reflect Stretch and Challenge. Only finished projects reflecting quality will be accepted:

• Planning an effective advertising campaign Design an effective sustained advertising campaign for a product (more than a poster or recording) • The causes and effects of pollution on tide pools Learn to scuba dive • Down Syndrome Coach a Special Olympics participant • Effective strategies for teaching reading Design a lesson and work as a teacher’s aide for an elementary school teacher • Industry standards and E-coli bacteria Test and monitor E-coli bacteria in local groundwater • Elizabethan drama: clothing and culture Design and produce an authentic Elizabethan garment • Prevention of alcohol abuse Design and implement a Red Ribbon campaign for an elementary school • Effects of high-impact exercise Develop and choreograph a low-impact exercise program and teach a class

UNACCEPTABLE PROJECTS These types of projects reflect little stretch and challenge and will cause problems and are not acceptable for your Senior Project.

• Weather dependent projects: landscaping a garden may be fun and productive, but what will you do when it rains every day from January to May? • Illegal activities • Unfinished work: we know you mean well when you say you will write a novel, but turning in three chapters is not quality, finished work and will not be accepted. • No stretch or challenge: building a dog-house, painting a room, baby-sitting your nephew, taking pictures of your friends and family demonstrate no effort.

This is your opportunity to take a risk and do something worthwhile for yourself or your community.

3 ADDITIONAL IDEAS FOR SENIOR PROJECTS

CAREER-RELATED o Train for fire fighting o Become EMT certified o Wildlife forensics o Explore nursing or medical career o Teach an elementary, middle or high school class o Design and draft architectural plans o Learn cosmetology skills o Law enforcement: participate in ride-alongs

LEARN OR DEVELOP SKILLS OR INTERESTS o Become certified and teach an aerobics class o Learn massage or physical therapy skills o Sew a quilt or dress o Create a stock portfolio and invest o Learn kick-boxing or scuba-diving, etc… o Direct or assist-direct a school play o Compose and/or perform a piece of music o Learn to play an instrument o Create art (learn oil painting, create a portfolio, etc…) o Coach a sports team o Learn photography o Build a wood or welding project

VOLUNTEER WORK OR COMMUNITY SERVICE o Organize an Agriculture Day for elementary schools, a Health Fair, or a Business Day for high schools in our area o Work with Alzheimer patients o Become a crisis hotline worker o Become a hospice volunteer o Tutor a child or adult who needs help o Organize a program, such as Adopt-a-Grandparent or Big Brother/Sister

4 Senior Project Timeline and Checklist

 Senior Project Approval Form Due Date: October 1, 2013

 Community Mentor Approval Sheet Due Date: November 1, 2013

 Faculty Advisor Approval Sheet Due Date: November 1, 2013

 Portfolio Check Sheet Due Date: March 1, 2013

 Portfolio Reflection Sheet Due Date: March 1, 2013

 Completed Portfolio Due Date: March 1, 2013

 Project Log Due Date: April 1, 2013

 Senior Self Evaluation Due Date: April 1, 2013

 Completed Senior Project Due Date: April 1, 2013

Failure to meet stated deadlines will result in loss of privileges including:  Attendance at prom  Participation in extracurricular activities  Participation in school sponsored events  Others at the discretion of administration

5 Senior Project Approval Form

Student Name: ______Date: ______

Address: ______

Phone Number: ______Email: ______

Title of Junior Paper: ______

Description of Proposed Project: (include the steps you will take to complete your project). ______

Student Signature: ______Date: ______

Counselor Signature: ______Date: ______

6 Principal Signature: ______Date: ______

Due October 1, 2013 Signed copy must be given to the Counselor and original kept by student. Community Mentor Approval Sheet

Dear Community Member, The Senior Project is an integral part of the education of every Fannett-Metal student. Please have this handbook explained to you by the interested senior. We appreciate your willingness to help this individual complete their Senior Project. As mentor you will be expected to:

 Oversee completion of the project portion of the Senior Project  Lead and guide the student with your knowledge of their topic  Ensure that the required 25 hours is completed on the project, outside the school day  Meet regularly with the student to discuss and work on the project

Student Name: ______

Mentor’s Name: ______

Name of Project: ______

Relationship to student (relatives are discouraged and will only be accepted under special circumstances):______

Mentor’s Qualifications for supervision of project: ______

Mentor’s Signature: ______Date: ______

7 Student Signature: ______Date: ______

Principal Signature: ______Date: ______

Due November 1, 2013 Signed copy must be given to the Counselor and original kept by student. Faculty Advisor Approval Sheet

Dear Faculty Advisor, The Senior Project is an integral part of the education of every Fannett-Metal student. Please have this handbook explained to you by the interested senior. We appreciate your willingness to help this individual complete their Senior Project. As faculty advisor you will be expected to:

 Oversee completion of the Senior Project  Lead and guide the student with your knowledge of their topic  Assist with and ensure that all deadlines are met  Ensure that all paperwork is completed and turned in properly  Assist with the Portfolio  Meet regularly with the student to discuss the project

Student Name: ______

Advisor’s Name: ______

Name of Project: ______

Advisor’s Signature: ______Date: ______

Principal Signature: ______Date: ______

Due November 1, 2013 Signed copy must be given to the Counselor and original kept by student.

Portfolio Check The Portfolio is a cumulative collection of your best work at Fannett-Metal. It may contain pictures, examples of writings, tests, research papers, certificates, community awards, athletic awards, acceptance letters, etc. The Portfolio will also contain your resume, community service forms (24 hours), reflections, and junior paper. Finally, the Portfolio will include a section devoted to the Senior Project and ALL related paperwork. Because the work on your Senior Project will be done outside of class, you will keep accurate records of the time you devoted, how much money you spent, where you went, who you talked to, what you learned, and so on. These records will be kept in the Senior Portfolio.  Resume

 Clean Junior Paper

 Grade 9 examples of best work

 Individual awards/recognitions/experiences

 Community Service Forms (24 hours)

 Reflection sheet

 Project paperwork to date

Advisor Signature: ______Date: ______

Principal Signature: ______Date: ______Due March 1, 2013 Signed copy must be given to the Counselor with your completed portfolio. Portfolio Reflection

Personal reflection allows us to look back and think about experiences and how they have affected us. Reflect on the following. Page must be typed, one page in length. Label the Work document “Portfolio Reflection”)

 Reflect on the documents you have included in your Portfolio.  How has the Senior Project impacted you and your education?  How has Fannett-Metal impacted your life to this point?

10 Due March 1, 2013

Project Log  Log ALL times and activities: All of the student’s entries MUST be thorough and specific, clearly stating what has been accomplished for each entry. Use as many log sheets as necessary to document the necessary 25 hours, outside the school day.  Evidence: The log MUST show evidence of working with a professional, someone from the community, or someone in the career field relating to the Project. The Mentor MUST verify the student’s work with their signature.

Date Time Time Explanation of Work Completed Mentor Signature Began Finish

Mentor Signature: ______Date: ______Due April 1, 2013

Senior Self Evaluation

Answer the following questions thoroughly using completed sentences. Answers must be typed. Label the Word Document “Senior Self Evaluation”

12 What part of the Senior Project did you find the most challenging? Why? What did you do to overcome these challenges? What other things could have been done to overcome similar challenges?

What was the most rewarding part of the Senior Project? Why? What do you consider to be the greatest strength of your project, and the greatest weakness? Why?

Explain three things you have learned from your Senior Project. How could this knowledge be used in your future outside the school setting?

Due April 1, 2013

Frequently Asked Questions

 What is the Senior project? Pennsylvania Department of Education requires that ALL school districts require that every senior complete a graduation project. The Senior Project is a culminating project that encompasses the junior paper, project, portfolio, and presentation.

13  Who must complete the Senior Project? ALL Fannett-Metal students MUST achieve a passing grade on the Senior Project to graduate from Fannett-Metal.  What type of project can students do? You will choose a project that extends your learning, stretches your potential, and challenges your abilities. What that may be is up to you. The Project needs to be focused on a topic that interests you, reflects community service, or relates to a future career choice.  How does a student select a Faculty Advisor? Students need to ask a faculty member to be their advisor. This individual needs to work closely with the student on the Project and Portfolio. It is imperative that the student explain the Senior Project handbook to the Faculty Advisor so they understand the responsibility involved.  How does a student select a mentor? A Community Mentor is a person that the student chooses to work with in order to complete the project. This person is responsible for providing project specific support and ensuring the required 25 hours are completed on the project. Students are strongly discouraged from selecting relatives as Mentors.  What happens if a student misses a deadline? The answer to this is simple, DO NOT MISS DEADLINES. By missing a deadline, you place your self in jeopardy of potential missing out on numerous experiences, possibly including graduation ceremonies.  Will the Project be graded at the Senior Symposium? Yes, your Project will be graded at the Senior Symposium by a group of community members using the Project presentation Evaluation Form, included in this handbook. The project must earn a passing grade in order for you to graduate. Pay special attention to the Evaluation Form to prepare yourself for the Senior Symposium.

 How should students dress for the Senior Symposium? The Senior Symposium is your chance to show the community, your family, and yourself your best work. This includes your appearance. It is very important that you dress professionally and conservatively for the Senior Symposium. In addition to the community judges, you will be presenting your Senior Project to the entire community for viewing during the evening of the Symposium. You need to dress to impress. Think of this

14 as a job interview. Students should refer to the student handbook as a guide for selecting clothing for the Senior Symposium. The following items are recommended as appropriate clothing: Boys Girls Dress pants with belt Knee length dress Dress shirt and tie Knee length skirt and blouse Dress shoes Pants suit or pants and jacket Dress shoes

The following items are considered inappropriate clothing: Jeans Tee Shirt Sneakers 5 4 3 2 1 0 Flip-flops Sandals Sleeveless shirts for boys Spaghetti straps for girls

Fannett-Metal High School Graduation Project Project Presentation Evaluation Form

Student Name Evaluator: Project title:

Exemplary Passing Needs improvement Not evident

15 1. Physical Project

 Evidence of applied learning in a real-world situation

 Individualized learning experience

 Unique quality of project

 Workmanship - thorough/complete work

 Effective use of audio/video aids

2. Content  Introduction (stated purpose of presentation with thoughtful attention to creative opening  Body of speech – evidence of these areas:  Process/strategy/ sequence  Main ideas and points supported by appropriate details

 Self-discovery clues (i.e. I learned, I plan, I never knew, etc)

 Organization

 Conclusion (evaluation/application to future

3. Delivery  Effective speech techniques (language usage, eye contact, poise/posture, rate/volume/clarity of voice, natural gestures)  Dress/appearance

4. Question and Answer  Impromptu skills (fluency, confidence, and ease with which the student responds)  Quality of student response (evidence of knowledge and information)

5. Portfolio  Broad scope of content areas represented

 Evidence of reflection on portfolio items Please list any specific comments or recommendations on the back of this evaluation TOTAL SCORE: /85 PASS REVISE A score of at least 60 is required to pass the project