Senior Exit Project Information

1. SeniorExit ProjectInformation Rock Creek High School

2. Introduction of Exit Committee • Committee comprised of Senior Advisors • Pat Booth, Room 117 • boothp@rockcreekschools.org • Sara Miller, Room 118 • millers@rockcreekschools.org • Desiree Renner, Room 114 • rennerd@rockcreekschools.org • Cherrie Savoie, Room 111 • savoiec@rockcreekschools.org • Contact us at 494-8591 or by e-mail

3. The Purpose • Mastery Learning • Application of Workplace Skills • time management, responsibility, perseverance • Character Traits • honesty, integrity, reliability, dependability, respect, courage, diligence, courage, assertiveness, etc. • Writing skills • Communication skills • Giving an oral presentation • Defending/justifying project • Meeting and working with new people • Career Exploration

4. The Process-Project Proposal • Project Types • Academic: project involves formal instruction from a mentor • Community Service: project provides viable service to the community • Career: project involves potential future employment • Personal Growth: project represents a unique personal challenge • 15 hours required • Hours will be increased if proposal deadline not met • Half of the hours (7.5) can be training • Taking classes, working with mentor, etc. • Community mentor w/minimum 2 years experience in field, 21 years of age • Relate to research paper

5. The Process-Research • Research Paper • Completed in Junior English • Thesis-based • Career-based • English department sets guidelines and rubric for paper • 8-10 weeks of class time provided • broken down into several assignments and drafts • plagiarism policy strictly enforced • Final copy in senior portfolio • Student is responsible for maintaining file on server • Student should have backup copies of files (home/flash drive) • Junior English teacher grades all papers (continuity) • See Research Paper Rubric in manual or on Web page

6. The Process-Portfolio • Organized notebook • Research Paper • Project Log • Student Reflection Paper • Documentation of project work • Photos (w/date stamp) • Video • separate from the portfolio • Technical drawings, blueprints, lesson plans, etc. • Costs and/or materials list

7. The Process-Oral Presentation • The Presentation • 10-20 minute oral presentation before panel of judges • Mentor, Advisor, Faculty Member • Other audience members are presenter’s choice • Visual Aids (highly recommended) • Portfolio • presented to panel 2 weeks prior to presentation • Professional dress and behavior • Timing Proctor • Videotaped

8. The Evaluation • Rubrics are provided to students in advance and are posted on website and school network • See Project Rubric in manual or on Web page • See Oral Presentation Rubric in manual or on Web page

9. Student Responsibilities • Decide project topic • Write proposal and submit to Exit Committee for approval • Due beginning of 2nd semester of junior year • all changes must be approved and proposal form revised • Find community mentor • Must not be an employee of the Rock Creek School District • Must have expertise in field (minimum 2 years); 21 years old • Decide paper topic that relates to project topic • Write research paper in Junior English • Complete project • Cannot use Rock Creek facilities to do project • Projects involving school improvements can be done w/special permission from the Board of Education • Meet all required deadlines and criteria • Keep all files in an Exit Project folder (Virtual Portfolio)

10. Paperwork • Proposal Form (located on website and school network) • Get mentor and parental signatures of approval • Submit to Exit Committee for approval • Make recommended revisions (typed) • Mentor contact forms • 3 needed in addition to the proposal meeting • Project Log • Fill out as you go • Record time spent on project • Record personal reactions • Deadline dates provided by Exit Committee

11. Exit Committee Responsibilities • Committee sets all standards • Ownership • Quality of project • Learning stretch • Submission of paperwork • Meeting of deadlines • Committee reviews all proposals • Viable • Qualifications of mentor • Costs of project • Dangerous to students

12. Senior Advisor Curriculum • Advisor Period • Letter & Envelope Formatting • Thank-you letter to the mentor done in April/May of junior year • Paper Revision • Lab time provided to make corrections to exit paper (due end of September) • Reflective Writing • Instruction provided on reflective and analytical writing • Oral Presentation Skills • Speech organization skills, technology usage • Portfolio Preparation • Instruction provided on how to properly put portfolio together

13. Communication Provide open lines of communication about the process to our: • Students • Parents • Faculty • Community

14. Proposal Idea Considerations Fields of Study for Research Paper • Medical, Psychological, Veterinarian, Author, etc. • Most of the time, this requires expertise with years of training, education, and licensing • Students under the age of 18 have too many liability issues which is too costly to mentors • Most mentors are not going to allow you to do anything with clients because of the liability and privacy issues • Writing a book requires submission to publishers

15. Proposal Idea Considerations Ownership of Project • Organizing an event, running a marathon, learning a new skill • Student must do ALLaspects of the organizing not just “show up to help” (involves setting up time frames, advertising, contacting persons to work, etc.) • Projects of personal growth usually involve giving something to the community so fundraising and/or oral presentations to community groups are involved • Being responsible to do all that is required (you affect your mentor’s place of business and other people) • Finding out that you “can’t” do the proposed project due to fear, illness, or injury

16. Proposal Idea Considerations Cost of Project • Construction of buildings, decks, rooms, creating a dress, catering an event, etc.  • Construction is a major cost undertaking and will usually involve fundraising and permission Public Presentations • Teaching to a group of people, giving presentations over a subject • cannot be USD 323 w/o special permission from committee and school board

17. Any Questions???