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THE SENIOR PROJECT MANUAL

FOR THE CLASS OF 2013

SHAKER HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL

The following are the Faculty Advisor pairings for 2012/2013

Abdul-Hakim to Graham assigned to Mr. Schmidt, Room 277

Grass to Pelfreyassigned to Mrs. DeMauro, Room 7

Perkins to Yule assigned to TBD

This manual may be found in its entirety at

HomePage.aspx

Pages 23 - 29 comprise what is referred to as the Sponsor Information Packet. Be sure to give a copy to your Sponsor. It contains all of the forms that your Sponsor needs to complete, a copy of the Sponsor Agreement, and an Introduction Letter from your advisors.

This guidebook is written to assist the students, sponsors, and faculty advisors from the application process through the completion of the Senior Project. Each form needed to apply for Senior Project is included, as well as an explanation of how to complete each form and its due date. To find this manual in its entirety, go to:


Please note: When the more informal “you” is found in the text, the instructions are generally intended for the student.

The Senior Project Team wishes to acknowledge the contribution of class of 2002 members Lauren Gibbons and Kelly Murphy. Their hard work, organization, and vision changed presentation day from a closed, small group format to a community showcase. The program will be forever grateful for their lasting work. The team also wishes to thank:

Class of 2003 members Katherine Ekeberg and Sarah Ludgin

Class of 2004 members Serena Hendricks, Dominique Sherrill, and Denise Mack

Class of 2005 members Robyn Arsham, Noelle Howe, and Becky Siegel

Class of 2006 members Meghan Davis, Luisana Rojas-Rodriguez, and Megan Sauerland

Class of 2007 members Sarah Brandon, Katherine O’Bryon, and Lisa Simon

Class of 2008 members Katherine Foster, Lena Newman, and Viveca Tress

Class of 2009 members Diana Hall, Daniel Linehan, and Edward Ortiz

Class of 2010 members Marisa Vavruska, Garfield White, Gabe White, and ShaylaWhiley

Class of 2011 members Brittanie Calhoun, Kathryn Goodman, and Danielle Hassel

Class of 2012 members Jerri Lugo and Taylor Upshaw

In addition to the assistance of these former students, the following faculty members have been an invaluable resource to the current project advisors. We wish to thank Tom Patrick, Joel Rathbone, WaltSlovikovski, Amanda Rabatin, Andrea Bradd, Kathleen Fleming and Julia Johnson. In 2009, several members of the PTO were instrumental in coordinating the “Tier II” program. We wish to thank Jenny Kidd and Cynthia Green for their efforts in establishing this new aspect of Senior Project.

Without the aforementioned people, we would not be at this stage of Senior Project today.

Thank you all very much.
Introduction to Senior Project

Senior Project was developed in the 1980’s as an opportunity for a small part of the senior class to develop their creative skills and/or their understanding of specific careers before graduating from Shaker Heights High School. The internship period takes place during the last four weeks of classes in the secondsemester of the senior year. Since its inception, the Senior Project experience has grown tremendously. More than half of the students in each senior class in the 1990’s took part in Senior Project. The Senior Project is designed to encourage Shaker students to examine the world outside of the High School, so that students are better prepared for life after commencement.

To begin a Senior Project, a student will be assigned a Senior Project Advisor. The Advisor will help the student throughout the preparation for Senior Project. In June, the Senior Project advisor will coordinate the evaluation of the student's presentation as the culmination of senior project. All student forms must receive the faculty advisor’s approval. The Advisors for this year are Mrs. DeMauro, TBD, and Mr. Schmidt. Your forms must be submitted to your advisor in person on the date they are due.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are involved in an approved group project, each group member must still submit his or her own forms to his or her own advisor.

Currently, all students who, beginning the second semester:

  • Have passed their OGT tests,
  • Are enrolled in a minimum of 5 classes for the duration of the semester
  • Have no unexcused absences as of checkout day
  • Have no more than 7 excused absences in a single class
  • Are earning a Pass in any Pass/fail class
  • Have no suspensions
  • Have no outstanding fees, fines or school equipment
  • Are not receiving a D or an F in any class required for graduation

are eligible to apply for the Senior Project. These experiences could include shadowing a professional, creating a performance or piece of work, doing research in a specific field, or assisting a social service agency. Students who have difficulty narrowing their project’s scope or who are having difficulty creating a project may submit a list of fields of interest instead of a Senior Project application. The student’s advisor will help the student find a placement from a list of community organizations, businesses, and hospitals that have volunteered to take students and provide Senior Project experiences for them.

Senior Project Advisors (DeMauro, TBD, and Schmidt)

This manual was introduced in October so that each eligible student could plan ahead and work at his or her own pace to meet the deadlines for Senior Project.

The Senior Project advisor is a key player in the Senior Project Program. Through the guidance, insight and constructive criticism of the advisor, the student can build a strong Senior Project.

The student should set up appointments to meet with the Senior Project advisor well in advance of deadlines. The student should not rely on last minute sessions. Just as students are busy with a number of commitments during the Senior Year, so are Senior Project advisors busy with classroom work, other students, and after school meetings.

Tips for a Successful Senior Project

  • Pass all Ohio Graduation Tests
  • Be present in all of your second semester courses all of the time!
  • Keep all of your grades at a “C” and higher

For School Projects

  • Get the building principal’s approval for any work you will do in that building

For Photo Projects

  • Student should arrange for developing off site

For Mural Projects

  • Obtain approval from theMural Committee by following the procedure listed on p. 17.
  • Complete all school purchase order forms before May with approval from your sponsor.

Out of town Projects

  • Daily contact by phone, in person, or by e-mail with your sponsor and faculty advisor is required. This contact must include your planned schedule for that day.

Creative Projects

  • These include rebuilding, making, creating, designing, researching and investigating.
  • In your application, clearly explain the role of the sponsor. Plan to meet with your sponsor at least two times a week during the project.

Vocational Projects

  • These include spending time learning (by observation and study) about a selected profession (nursing, law, teaching, etc.)
  • In your application, include

A project outline approved by your sponsor and faculty advisor. The outline discusses goals and outcomes of the project, and is the basis for the journal and final presentation.

Tips for a Successful Senior Project

High Risk Projects

  • These projects have a high likelihood of NOTbeing approved.
  • creative writing
  • project without on-site sponsor
  • project completed out of town
  • project with an employer of high school students
  • small business projects
  • project attempted at the site of student’s employment
  • projects attempted at student’s or friend’s house
  • sports instructional video
  • projects at the following locations or involving the following vocations:
  • Athletic/fitness centers
  • Baby-sitting
  • House repair
  • Garden/lawn work
DON’T
  • Exceed 7 excused absences in any course
  • Have any unexcused absences in any class, i.e. no cuts
  • Let any grade drop below a “C”
  • Get a sponsor who is a relative of any kind
  • Receive any PAY for project. You might be approved to work at your place of employment, but you will NOT be “on the clock” during Project hours. Any project that would take occur at your place of employment must increase the scope of your current job and/or involve job shadowing another employee, such as a manager or supervisor, who has responsibilities that are above and beyond the student’s job description. In this way the student can grow and benefit by learning about other aspects of the business that they are involved in.

IF YOU ARE ENROLLED IN A VOCATIONAL PROGRAM THROUGH CLEVELAND HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN SENIOR PROJECT, PLEASE SEE PAGEs16 AND 17 FOR INFORMATION ABOUT COMPLETING A SENIOR PROJECT INVOLVING YOUR VOCATIONAL PROGRAM.

A Note Regarding the Advisor-Student Partnership

The Senior Project goal over many years has been to help students produce quality projects. Constructive criticism and helpful suggestions from the committee will enable students to pursue creative Senior Projects that will provide meaningful growth experiences.

Your advisors will make every attempt to help you salvage quality projects. With some tinkering, most projects move forward to the next step. There are projects that may be rejected. When a project proposal is rejected, direction will be given on how the student can continue to remain active in the program while developing a new project. For this reason, it is critical that you stay in contact with your advisor throughout the early stages of your project. Be sure to not only hand in forms on time, but meet with your advisor to ensure that your project has been accepted.

All projects are reviewed by the three advisors working together. Reviewing Senior Projects as a group maintains the strength and integrity of the Senior Project program. Students must meet deadlines for all of their material, so that the advisors can give students a reasonable amount of time to revise. The failure of a student to submit timely work to his or her advisor may result in the student’s disqualification from Senior Project.

Timeline for Senior Project 2012 – 2013

October 4– Senior meeting to preview the Senior Project Program

November 7 – Senior Project Interestform is due to faculty advisors. Forms will be collected in the Senior Lounge during 10th period or after school from 3:00 until 4:00. Student should keep his/her own copy of each form.

November 29 – Students must meet with their advisors in the senior loungeduring 10th period or after school from 3:00 until 4:00. Students will find out if their project was approved or if it needs revision and to get contact information of potential advisors, where requested. ALL INTERESTED STUDENTS MUST MEET WITH HIS OR HER ADVISOR IN PERSON AT THIS TIME!

December 12 - Project Descriptionis due today. Forms will be collected in the Senior Lounge during 10th period or after school from 3:00 until 4:00. Student must keep his/her own copy of each form.

January 30– Parental Agreement and Sponsor Agreement forms are due today. Forms will be collected in the Senior Lounge during 10th period or after school from 3:00 until 4:00. Student must keep his/her own copy of each form.

March 6 – Project Overview due today. Forms will be collected in the Senior Lounge during 10th period or after school from 3:00 until 4:00. Student must keep his/her own copy of the Project Overview.

April 10 – Project Calendar with all signatures due today. Forms will be collected in the Senior Lounge during 10th period or after school from 3:00 until 4:00.

May 6 – Students may pick up checkout and grade validation forms from the Senior Lounge.

May 10 – Students must checkout for Senior Project today. Grade Validation and Senior Project Check Out forms are due today. Remember, you must check out in person between 8:30 AM and 12 PM.

May 13 – June 6 – Senior Project Month – Students will work an average of 6 hours a day, Monday through Friday, maintaining a careful log of their hours and a journal highlighting observations and accomplishments in their Senior Project.

May 24 – All students meet with their Faculty Advisor at the high school and return, in person, the Senior Project Progress Report filled out by their sponsor as well as a hard copy of their Journal in progress and a signed copy of the Log of Hours to date. The Journal and Log of Hours are ONLY for review by the advisor, not for submission. Advisors will be available from 8:30 AM until 12:30 PM in the Senior Lounge and after school from 3 PM until 4 PM.

June 6 – Students report at4:30 to set up their Senior Project Presentation. Your Journal, Log of Hours, anda signed Sponsor Evaluation Form are due at this time. Senior Project Showcase will take place from 5:30pm to 7:00 pm in the North Gym. Students are expected to dress appropriately for this event – no shorts, jeans, t-shirts, or hats!

Month-by-Month Helpful Hints for Students

October:

  • Read the Senior Project Manual
  • Brainstorm potential Senior Projects with friends, family, and/or your advisor
  • Make contacts with potential sponsors

Not sure what to do for your Senior Project?

  • Talk to your counselor about your PLAN test and see if they can suggest an area.
  • Schedule a meeting with your faculty advisor to discuss which area best suits your goals and career interests. Be aware that there may not be anything available in the areas that you select. You should follow up with your advisor to see what areas you can select from.

Contact the potential sponsors and arrange an interview with them.

November:

  • Turn in your Senior Project Interest form on November 7th
  • Meet with your advisor on Nov. 14th to find out if your Senior Project is approved

If your advisor does not approve your Project, you must revise it

December:

  • Turn in your completed Project Description. Due Dec. 12th
  • Get a commitment from sponsor
  • Meet with your sponsor and provide him or her with a copy of the Sponsor Information Packet.
  • Meet with your sponsor to plan out the project: identify goals and how the project will be carried out.

January:

  • Get the signature of the sponsor and your parent/guardian on the Parent Agreement and the Sponsor Agreement. Due Jan. 30th

February:

  • Turn in the final draft of the Project Overview on March 6th
  • Meet with your sponsor to help you to prepare your calendar.

March:

  • Complete your calendar with the help of your sponsor and have your sponsor sign it.
  • See this manual for examples on how to write a journal entry.

April:

  • Turn in your calendar with all of the work times and hours filled in. Make sure that you have your sponsor’s signature on the calendar. Due April 10th
  • Check with teachers regarding grade issues. Students with D’s, F’s or Incompletes for the third quarter should monitor their progress carefully to ensure that he or she will remain eligible to go on project.
  • Check with the attendance office regarding attendance issues. Make sure that any absences are excused through the attendance office as soon as possible.
  • Any issues that arise should be discussed with your advisor immediately so that you can remain eligible to go on project. We will do our best to work with you to reach a solution.
  • Take care of all book fines, library fines, student activity fees and other payments. Remember that you must use cash or money order– no checks!
  • Take a copy of the approved calendar to your sponsor.

May:

  • All students will obtain the signatures of each of their teachers in determining grade eligibility. Begin obtaining signatures on check out forms on Monday, May 6th
  • Students should check out on Friday May 10th beginning at 8:30 AM.
  • YOU MUST CHECK OUT IN PERSON! CHECKOUT FORMS SUBMITTED BY ANY OTHER STUDENT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AND YOU WILL NOT BE CHECKED OUT FOR PROJECT!
  • Students should verify arrival time with sponsors for Monday, May 13th
  • Begin writing in your Journal on Monday, May 13th. It will be turned in on the presentation night, June 6th. Guidelines regarding your journal entries can be found in this manual and online at the Senior Project Home Page.
  • Meet with Senior Project advisor at the high school on May 24th. Bring the Senior Project Progress Form completed by the sponsor, as well as a hard copy of your Journal so far.
  • Invite your sponsor to Senior Project Presentation Night on Thursday, June 6th, from 5:30-7:00pm in the North Gym.
  • Remind your sponsor that his/her evaluation form is due on June 6th. Until this form is turned in, you will not have successfully completed Senior Project.

June:

  • Arrive at the High School by 4:45 pm on June 6thto set up your space in the North Gym.
  • Turn in your Journal, Log of Hours, and Sponsor Final Evaluation Form to your advisor’s Student Helper when you arrive. The Student Helper will tell you where to find your name on a table in the gym. This table is your location for the night.
  • Remember, students are expected to dress appropriately for this event – no shorts, jeans, t-shirts, or hats! Dress to impress, you never know who you might meet.

Senior Project Worksheet