Program Goals

Senior projects give students an opportunity to create an independent experience, away from the familiar classroom setting, with the focus on self-directed learning, personal growth, and leadership development. The student may choose to intern in a potential career, participate in an extended community service project, or explore a deep personal interest. The goal of the project is to provide a helpful transition between the expectations of high school course work and those of college and adult life.

Participation

Senior projects are voluntary. Seniors who don't wish to be involved will attend school during the project period. All seniors are invited to participate, but students must be earning a B average or better in their classes (grade of 85% or better), or they may be required to attend the classes in which they are not meeting these standards. Students not meeting this average are encouraged to participate, but they will need to communicate with their sponsors and their teachers about their academic commitments. This may mean that the 30 hours of work required for the Senior Project will be completed outside the normal school day. The Senior Project Committee, in partnership with the student's teachers, reserves the right to determine whether or not a student qualifies to participate on the basis of his/her academic standing at the time of the projects. Students are responsible for submitting a signed academic progress report and, if necessary, an attendance/work plan (for those classes in which the student is not earning an 85 or better) on May 1 in order to receive final approval for their projects.

The Senior Project may be proposed and completed by an individual or a group of no more than three students. In the case of group projects, each student must complete an individual final written reflection detailing their individual experience of the project. Each student in a group project is expected to work the 30 hours per week that the project requires.

Each participant in the project must devote a total of a minimum of 84 hours over the course of three weeks (approximately six hours per weekday from May 12-May 30). These hours do not include travel time to project location. On-campus academic, athletic, arts, or community commitments do not take the place of those project hours. If a student has on-campus commitments during the project period, s/he will need to schedule project hours outside of the normal school hours. Students with substantial school commitments during the project period may petition the Committee during the proposal process for an adjustment in their daily and total hours.

Evaluation

The Senior Projects are evaluated on a pass/fail basis and these grades become a part of the student's permanent record. The Senior Project Committee will determine these final grades after reviewing the students' written reflection, viewing the senior presentation, and conferring with the faculty mentor and the project sponsor. The students should insure that sponsors submit their evaluations in a timely manner.

In addition to the required forms, including proposals, approvals, check-in documents, and sponsor evaluations, students will complete two culminating assessments.

First, students will be required to submit a written self-evaluation. Students are asked to keep a daily journal of their experiences during the Senior Projects. The main purpose of this journal is to provide a sound foundation for the written report. The advantage of keeping a daily journal is obvious. Many of you will be entering a world of new impressions crowding in on you at a great rate; trying to recollect your reactions to them several weeks later will be difficult. Sometimes the final reflection paper and presentation prove superficial or inadequate if a student doesn't have daily notes to refer to, so it is better to write when the thoughts and feelings are fresh and clear, and the pressure of a deadline is not hovering over you. You may wish to schedule the final ten minutes of your daily commitment as a time for reflection and review. Be sure to discuss this with your sponsor. We do not want the Senior Project report to become just another paper due during the course of the year.

The report should be 800-1200 words. The committee suggests that the student have the faculty mentor, a committee member, or another trusted advisor review the draft on or before June 2. The Senior Project Committee encourages students to meet with their English teachers and mentors to review the final draft, which will enter the permanent Senior Project collection to be held in the archives and/or in the library. The final draft should include photographs, charts, graphs, or other images particular to the project. It may also include electronic copies of movies, music, power point presentations, or other electronic production.

Second, students will be required to present their projects to the community at a celebration event. Student presentations of this project may take two forms, a spoken presentation or an interpreted display. Some students may choose to have both an interpreted display and to give a spoken presentation.

Senior Projects and Other Campus Commitments

Although they may be working on a project in an off-campus location, students are expected to attend regularly scheduled end of the year events, including AP exams, sports practices and games, performance rehearsals (during and after school hours) and performances, the PK/Senior Lunch, the All-School Assembly, the Strawberry Cowbake and yearbook distribution, the senior breakfast, graduation rehearsal, and graduation. Some students may have additional responsibilities during this time due to academic commitments. An on-campus commitments calendar is included in this packet, but this calendar does not include all the commitments that each student may be responsible for. It is the student's responsibility to track and meet their commitments from individual faculty members and from the community at large.

Click here for the complete Senior Project Packet (including forms).

Links to:
Preliminary Proposal
Faculty Involvement (handout)
Sponsor's Role (handout)
Proposal Form
Proposal Checklist
Proposal Rubric
Parent Approval Form
Medical Information and Consent
Letter of Commitment
Academic Check-In Form
Attendance/Work Plan
Week 1 Check-In for Sponsor
Week 2 Check-In for Sponsor
Week 1 Check-In for Student
Week 2 Check-in for Student
Sponsor Final Evaluation Form
Checklist for Final Project Submission
Reflection Essay Guidelines and Rubric
Presentation Guidelines and Rubric
Project Rubric

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate?
All seniors are invited to participate, but students must be earning a B average or better in their classes (grade of 85% or better), or they may be required to attend the classes in which they are not meeting these standards.

What are the dates?
May 12-May 30, 2008 with written project packet due on June 4 and Senior Project presentations on June 6, 2008.

Can I get paid for my work?
No.

How will I be graded?
The Senior Independent Projects are evaluated on a pass/fail basis and these grades become a part of the student's permanent record. The Senior Project Committee will determine these final grades after reviewing the students' written reflection, viewing the senior presentation, and conferring with the faculty mentor and the project sponsor.

Can I do a project with other people? The Senior Project may be proposed and completed by an individual or a group of no more than three students. In the case of group projects, each student must complete individual final written reflection detailing their individual experience of the project. Each student in a group project is expected to work the 30 hours per week that the project requires.

What is the mentor's responsibility?
Faculty mentors are to assist students in the planning stages of their project. They can serve help students brainstorm ideas and set schedules. They are not responsible for evaluating students.

What is the sponsor's responsibility?
A sponsor is the member of the broader community (in school or outside of school) who provides the student with the opportunity to learn, serve, and experience life outside the classroom. The sponsor helps the student set specific goals and evaluates the student's performance.

How can I show the time I've spent and what I've learned to the community? Students should keep daily journals of their experiences. These journals can serve as sources for the required Reflection Essay and Senior Project Presentation.

What if I have other questions? You'll find more detailed information in the Senior Project Packet. If you can't find the answers there, speak to Vickie Garner or Lori Gravley-Novello, the committee co-clerks, or any of the committee members listed below. You can also send questions to SrProjects@ssfs.org and one of the clerks will get back to you.

Committee Members 2007-2008 School Year:
Alison Baker, Anna Evans ('08) , Bruce Evans, Maggie Farqhuar, John Fuller, Vickie Garner (co-clerk), Lori Gravley-Novello (co-clerk), David Hickson, Kelly Hines ('08), Travis Mager ('08), Tara Martin ('08), Leah Niepold, Sam Records ('08), Kiley Stasch ('08), and Gina Tyler-Richards ('08). Thanks to the Class of '08 for proposing Senior Projects and working with the faculty to make them a reality.

Credits: Substantial portions of this document were inspired by or taken from existing Senior Project documents from Friends Select School in Philadelphia, PA; Westtown Friends School in Westtown, PA; and Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC. Many thanks to those schools for sharing their years of experience with us as we develop our program.