2015-2016
Senior Year Process for Completing Graduation Project
Quick Glance Calendar
First Semester
Due Dates / Items DueSummer / Brainstorm topics AND narrow to 3 that would fit criteria for graduation project
August 13 / NCGP Overview
August 20 / Handbook Quiz
Project proposal due to Project Advisor
August 27 / Final project proposal due to research paper advisor & project advisor
Create google doc folder & share with assigned research paper advisor—need Macbook
Sept. 3 / Mentor identification—3 possible mentors—submit names & contact info to advisor
Resume due to project advisor
Sept. 10 / None (should be learning about how to write an annotated bibliography)
Sept. 17 / None (should be researching topic and writing your annotated bibliography)
Sept. 24 / Annotated bibliography due to research paper advisor
October 1 / Research paper advisor feedback given to students
October 8 / None (should be working on rough draft of paper)
October 15 / Rough draft of research paper due to research paper advisor
October 22 / Research paper advisor feedback given to students
October 29 / Second full draft of paper due to research paper advisor
Nov. 5 / Final research paper due to research paper advisor
Nov. 12 / Presentations of research to Simmons/Cox
Nov. 19 / Presentations of research to Simmons/Cox
Dec. 3 / Mentor agreement due to project advisor (Simmons or Cox)
Clarification of Terms:
- Research paper advisor—the faculty member that will be your advisor for the research paper
- Project advisor—the faculty member that will be your Senior House teacher; this person will advise and coordinate the entire graduation project
Detailed Calendar
First Semester
Summer / Decide on a topic over the summer—you should be thinking about social issues that you are passionate about. Come to school in August with a short list (2-3) of potential topics. Think about the components of the project (research paper, practical experience with a mentor, product, portfolio, and presentation) and brainstorm how you could meet these requirements with your chosen topic.August 12 @ 6:30 pm / Parents and students should attend the Graduation Project Information Night. Session will last approximately one hour.
Week 1-2 / During the first House meeting of the year, we will go over the Graduation Project Handbook. While your senior House teacher will be your graduation project advisor throughout the year, you will have a staff member to help you through the first component—research paper—of the project. You will be assigned a research paper advisor during the House meeting and you will be expected to communicate with this person regularly. Your research paper advisor will post office hours on their door and be available to you by appointment during their planning period. Please see hours and email them promptly!
After the first House meeting, you will need to create a google doc folder and share it with your research paper advisor. Please use the following format for naming the google doc folder: first initial, last name_Senior Project.
Week 3 / After receiving feedback on your initial proposal you will edit your proposal and submit a final proposal. After receiving all signatures on this form (meaning, your topic is approved), you can share this with your research paper advisor electronically. Use the google doc folder for this.
Week 4 / You need to speak to at least three people that could be considered experts in the their respective fields. Explain the graduation project to them and determine if they could commit to being your mentor. Remember, they must be over age 23 and cannot be a family member. You must submit their contact information this week.
Weeks 5-7 / You are now in the research phase of the research paper. You will be finding reputable sources and creating an annotated bibliography. We will discuss this in House and you will be provided an exemplar to help you write your own. This is due at the end of week 7. If you need help, communicate with your research paper advisor.
Week 8-9 / You should be using the feedback from your research paper advisor to write your first rough draft of your research paper. Please review guidelines in the handbook if needed. First rough draft is due on Week 10.
Week 10-11 / Revise paper based on feedback from research paper advisor and submit second draft to paper advisor by end of week 12.
Week 12-13 / Final paper is due! You should turn your attention to finding your mentor and inviting them to attend the mentor training. Mentor agreement due in 3 weeks! Mentor training will be offered on a date (TBA) between November 9-November 20.
Week 14-15 / You will be presenting your research findings(paper) to your House project advisor (Simmons or Cox) during these two weeks. This will ensure that your research paper will connect to the product. This presentation will be 5 minutes in length.
Week 16 / The mentor agreement form is due. It is expected that your mentor will attend training with Mrs. Simmons and Mrs. Cox before beginning product.
Quick Glance Calendar
Second Semester
Due Dates / Items DueJanuary 7 / Product proposal due to project advisor (Simmons or Cox)
January 14 / Feedback given to student on product proposal
January 21 / Revised product proposal due
January 28 / TIMESHEET check—bring to House
February 4 / TIMESHEET check—bring to House
Feb. 11 / TIMESHEET check—bring to House
Feb. 18 / TIMESHEET check—bring to House
Feb. 25 / TIMESHEET check—bring to House
March 3 / TIMESHEET check—bring to House
March 17 / Copies of thank you cards/letters due
March 24 / Dress rehearsals in House
March 31 / Dress rehearsals in House
April 7 / Dress rehearsals in House
April 14 / Portfolio due
April 22 / Final graduation project presentations & Reflections due
Detailed Calendar
Second Semester
Week 1 / This is the time to finalize all plans for the product. You are preparing a detailed description of the product and receiving feedback.Week 3 / Final revised product proposal should be turned in. You cannot change your product after this point. If you have concerns or difficulty, please communicate this with your project advisor.
Week 4-9 / During these weeks, you are bringing your TIMESHEET with the signature of your mentor to House. This is to ensure that you are meeting regularly with your mentor and working diligently on your product.
Week 10 / Bring all thank you cards or letters with you to House. Thank you cards or letters should be written for anyone who has assisted you with your project, including your mentor. As the handbook states, these cards need to be approved by your Advisor before mailing. If you need thank you cards, please see your House Advisor.
Week 11-13 / You will be assigned a date and time for a dress rehearsal during House during one of these weeks.
Week14 / This is the day you bring in the portfolio for grading. The only items that you will need to add to the portfolio after this date are presentation notes and your two page reflection.
Week 15 / Final presentations!! You will have a scheduled date and time for this. You should ask off work and schedule no appointments for the day of presentations. Your presentation will be between the hours of 1:00-6:00 pm on April 22. More information to come!
House Attendance
- House attendance is mandatory. You are expected to attend each House meeting, held weekly on Thursdays from 12:30-1:00.
- Not attending House will result in a Learning Lab being assigned and you must visit the House teacher prior to attending the Learning Lab so that you can do the assignments missed during House. No exceptions will be granted concerning attendance of House or Full House; not work, illness without a doctor’s note, or appointments. You will be given one week to serve your Learning Lab. Learning Lab meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursday afternoons from 3:15-4:30.
- If you miss a deadline for an assignment in House, you will be assigned Learning Lab. The hours for Learning Lab are not flexible. The dates for the Learning Lab are not flexible. You cannot make up House any other time of the day.
- Failure to make up House time will result in a grade of F.
- Any F’s will result in loss of VIP privileges.
House Discipline Matrix
Per Year / 1st Offense / 2nd Offense / 3rd Offense / 4th OffenseMissing House meeting / 1 Learning Lab (must be complete before next House) / 2 Learning Labs and parent contact / Office referral & parent contact / Office referral & parent meeting
Late House assignment / 1 Learning Lab (must be complete before next House) / 2 Learning Labs and parent contact / Required weekly meeting with Simmons/Cox and Parent contact
Tardies to House / Verbal warning / 1 Learning Lab (must be complete before next House) / 1 Learning Lab and parent contact / 2 Learning Labs and parent contact
Not attending Learning Lab (LL) / Office referral and parent contact / Office referral & parent meeting
I have read and understand the senior House guidelines.
Student Signature______Date ______
Parent Signature______Date ______