Orange High School Senior Project Welcome Seniors in the Class of 2021 We are excited that the class of 2021 will be taking part in Senior Project, a tradition that began in the 1971-1972 school year. Senior Project is a practical learning situation that allows you to add to your formal education a greater awareness of the outside world through a real life work experience, an educational pursuit, a service project, or a creative endeavor. While the COVID-19 pandemic has made the traditional Senior Project experience unsafe, the guiding purpose of Senior Project remains the same. This year, Seniors will design a project that can be executed in a manner that will mirror the format (remote, hybrid, full in-person) of school at the time of Senior Project, with a full remote option available.
Purpose of Senior Project The purpose of Senior Project is to expose students to experiences which are not a part of the typical classroom curriculum and foster the development of skills in creation, collaboration and communication. Senior Project engages students with opportunities to pursue a rigorous educational interest, a community service opportunity, a career exploration, and/or a creative endeavor.
Google Classroom This course uses Google Classroom to both provide information and complete assignments. Use this class code to join: azugv4x Excel Tecc, Work Study and Vocational students, use this class code to join: nltybb4
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Role of the Senior Project Advisors Our goal as Senior Project Advisors is to assist you in creating a personally valuable learning experience that serves as a capstone of a K-12 education. Additionally, you will be assigned a Faculty Mentor who will check in with you throughout the process of creating your proposal and executing your project. The Senior Project Advisors for 2020-2021 are Mrs. Kuty kkuty@orangecsd.org and Mrs. Fludine -mfludine@orangecsd.org
Timeline Generally speaking, Senior Project has two parts: project design and project implementation. More specifically, Senior Project is a collaboratively designed, four week field experience, and an exit presentation scheduled and delivered during the fifth week of Senior Project. Senior Project Field Experience: April 26 - May 21, 2021 Exit Presentations: May 24- May 28, 2021
Eligibility All seniors are required by Orange City Schools to successfully complete a Senior Project. Students in the College Credit Plus program will work with the Senior Project Advisors to determine each CCP student’s required hours and field experience dates based on his or her college course schedule. Students in the Excel TECC, Work Study, and Vocational programs will be exempt from the four week field requirement; however, these students will still be required to present an Exit Presentation. For these students, the Exit Presentation will focus on the content of the student’s Excel TECC, Work Study and Vocational programs.
Individually or Group Students may work individually or in a group of no more than four students. Each student must individually submit his or her own required materials throughout the Senior Project process. The Exit Presentation is the only item that may be submitted and presented as a group.
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Location The ability to participate in person/on-site for Senior Project will be determined by: 1. The format of school at the time (remote, hybrid, full in-person) 2. Parent permission 3. Community Sponsor’s permission If the above requirements are met, you may travel up to one hour to get to your destination for Senior Project. However, travel time is not included in the amount of hours required to complete for Senior Project. The following apply when selecting a location for Senior Project: ● ● ● ● ●
Location must be within an hour of Orange High School. Location may not be owned or managed by a relative. Community Sponsor cannot be employed by or supervised by a relative. If previously employed at the location, activities must be completely different from those done before. Students may not be paid for work during The Senior Project Field Experience.
Transportation Orange City School District will provide transportation to projects that are within the school district’s boundary. Transportation may be available to students participating in a project beyond the boundary of the school district, based on the availability of the transportation department. Transportation requests must be made when securing a Community Sponsor. Students should work with the Senior Project Advisors when making this request.
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Community Sponsor Finding a Community Sponsor You are responsible for finding a community member to serve as your sponsor. It is never too early to begin brainstorming and reaching out to potential Community Sponsors. In December we will have a Senior Project class that will focus on securing a Community Sponsor. You will be given an electronic document called: The Role of The Community Sponsor. This document outlines the responsibilities of the Community Sponsor and must be electronically provided to your Community Sponsor once he or she agrees to sponsor you. Role of the Community Sponsor: ● ● ●
To help the student design his or her project To provide guidance to the student as they execute the project To provide expertise related to the nature of the project
Community Sponsor Communication: ● Daily check-ins by phone, Zoom, or Google Meet, with the Sponsor, or a designee of the Sponsor, are required for virtual projects ● Students completing Projects in-person will be supervised by the Community Sponsor, or a designee of the Sponsor, while on-site A Community Sponsor must be: ● ● ●
qualified to provide the experience reliable willing to follow the guidelines set by the school
A Community Sponsor cannot be: ● ● ●
a relative employed by a relative supervised by a relative
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Senior Project Mandatory Classes OVERVIEW: Beginning in November, students will be given presentations and assignments designed to assist in the development of a worthwhile Senior Project. All Senior Project assignments and information will be distributed during the mandatory Senior Project classes and completed via Google Classroom.
Class Date and Time
Class Overview
November 13 WeConnect
Senior Project Class One: Introducing Senior Project 2021; Receive Student Brochure; Join Google Classroom
December 11 WeConnect
Senior Project Class Two: Review of Senior Project Requirements; Finding a Community Sponsor; “Meet” Faculty Mentor
January 8 WeConnect
Senior Project Class Three: The Senior Project Proposal; What to talk about when meeting with a Community Sponsor
January 15 WeConnect
Senior Project Class Four: Virtual mandatory meeting with Faculty Mentor; Community Sponsor Progress Check
January 22 WeConnect
Senior Project Class Five: Virtual mandatory meeting with Faculty Mentor; COMMUNITY SPONSOR DUE
January 29 WeConnect
Senior Project Class Six: Senior Project Proposal Review
February 5 WeConnect
Senior Project Class Seven: The Senior Project Defense - Mock Defense & Defense Requirements
February 19 WeConnect
Senior Project Class Eight: Virtual M andatory meeting with Faculty Mentor; DEFENSE DRAFT DUE
February 26 WeConnect
Senior Project Class Nine: Defense Logistics; Virtual Mandatory meeting with Faculty Mentor; DEFENSE REVISIONS DUE
March 3
Proposal Defense: Students will be assigned to a timeslot and location.
Times Assigned OHS & VIrtual
April 16 WeConnect
Senior Project Class Ten: Senior Project Final Instructions
*NOTE: Students in the College Credit Plus program will be invited to attend all classes that do not conflict with their college courses.
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Senior Project Proposal All seniors required to participate in the Field Experience portion of Senior Project will submit a Senior Project Proposal. The Proposal will be completed electronically in Google Classroom, and signed electronically by the student, the parents, and the Community Sponsor. The completed Senior Project Proposal, with signatures, is due at the time of the Senior Project Defense on March 3rd. The electronic proposal document will be shared with students via Google Classroom. The Senior Project Proposal will outline in more detail the following requirements that need to be a part of each Senior Project: 1. A valid Community Sponsor 2. An Approved Category (Educational Pursuit, Career Exploration, Creative Endeavor, Community Service) 3. Communication Skills 4. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills 5. Research Processes 6. Mathematical Skills and Knowledge 7. Preparation for Success After Graduation 8. Goals and Activities created collaboratively with the Community Sponsor
Senior Project Defense As part of the Senior Project requirements, seniors will orally defend their Senior Project Proposal. Students will be scheduled to present and defend their idea for a Senior Project in front of a panel of Orange High School faculty members. The specific information that needs to be included in the Defense is explained in the Senior Project Proposal. Therefore, the foundational work of the first semester and the third quarter (second semester) must be successfully completed to be able to successfully present a Defense. The Defense allows the student, faculty and the administration to gain a deeper understanding of the Proposal and the student’s motivation for pursuing the challenge. In addition, this allows for a meaningful back and forth exchange of ideas, questions and answers. Senior Project Defenses will be held on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at OHS, both in person and virtually. Time slots will be assigned.
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Senior Project Field Experience The most exciting aspect of Senior Project is the field experience. By the numbers, seniors are required to complete 100 hours on project. That’s five hours per day for four weeks. Seniors attend project Monday through Friday -- just like a typical school week. In some instances, students will complete fewer hours because of enrollment in AP testing, College Credit Plus, and varsity competitions at the regional and state level. Students are required to propose and maintain an accurate schedule. While many projects will be virtual this year, an accurate calendar along with a daily schedule of activities will be essential. The Senior Project Advisors and the PTA partners randomly “visit” seniors to “see” students in action and count on the accuracy of the schedule. We also communicate directly with the Community Sponsor during Senior Project to maintain open lines of communication.
Senior Project Exit Presentation The Exit Presentation is the culminating activity of Senior Project. Seniors share their successes, frustrations, achievements and struggles on Senior Project with the Orange community. Taking place during the fifth week of Senior Project, seniors return to Orange High School to present the results of their project. This is a graded presentation open to students, faculty, parents and Community Sponsors. Students will be notified of the date of their Exit Presentation in April, prior to the start of Senior Project.
Senior Project as a Graduation Requirement Credit for Graduation In 2014, the Orange Board of Education voted to make Senior Project a graduation requirement. Orange Seniors who are not partially exempted from the program due to an Excel TECC, Work Study, or Vocational program, are required to successfully complete all aspects of Senior Project. Just like any class taken at OHS, there are assignments to be completed along the way. These assignments are all designed to fully engage the student, the parents/guardians, and the Community Sponsor in the process. By doing so, we ensure that all the stakeholders are aware of the obligations they have to this awesome experience.
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Semester Grades Senior Project is graded using a Pass / Fail system. Typically speaking, passing is 80%. A grade will be issued ​after the second quarter ​and again after the third and fourth quarter. Again, no grade will be issued for the first quarter. Students who fail to successfully complete the required first semester work will jeopardize their ability to successfully pass the second semester. All of the activities that are assigned for students to complete are both time and quality sensitive. If either of these sensitivities are lacking, a Senior Project would likely fail and be impossible to defend.
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