Senior Project Handbook

SENIOR PROJECT 2022-23 HANDBOOK

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations, you have now reached the final stage of your secondary school education at Vistamar! This handbook, provided to you by the Life Planning Office, in collaboration with the entire Staffulty, is intended to help make your Senior Project go as smoothly as possible. This handbook is designed to provide students, staffulty, and mentors with resources to guide you through the successful completion of a Senior Project The Senior Project is a graduation requirement of all Vistamar students Through the Senior Project, students are challenged to take ownership of their educational experience; communicate logically and effectively; evaluate how content is shaped by the context in which it was created; formulate and develop meaningful claims supported by reason and evidence; and integrate diverse knowledge, perspectives, and skills.

OUR MISSION

Vistamar School empowers students, preparing them to contribute and excel in higher education and in life, and commits to:

● A broad and balanced program that challenges and engages students, building their individual skills and inspiring a passion for learning

● An intimate atmosphere that fosters initiative, responsibility, knowledge of self and connections to others

● Diversity of thought and culture that encourages authentic exchange of perspectives, mutual respect and a mature understanding of the world.

● In their studies, in their work, and in their communities, Vistamar students will embrace lives of learning, integrity, and purpose

Approved by the Board of Trustees, 2004

OVERVIEW

The Senior Project is the last formal learning experience of a student of Vistamar School This project can show your potential, demonstrate prior learning, explore new areas of interest, and help you develop a stronger sense of self More importantly, the Senior Project should capture your imagination It can offer you an adventure, tapping into your interests at an inflection point in your life. The goal of Senior Project is to engage your sense of curiosity proactively by having you initiate, develop, and engage in a plan of action. The Senior Project Committee and Project Mentors will advise you through a process of discovery, encouraging you to embrace what’s possible and challenge yourself This Senior Project Handbook explains the expectations, process, and intended outcomes of this incredible capstone experience

The Vistamar Senior Project is a student-directed, challenging project to be completed by every senior. The Senior Project, based on an interest identified by the student, is shaped by an essential question about the student’s chosen topic. The essential question is a broad, open-ended question unable to be answered with a simple yes or no, that drives any large research project After that question is created, the project entails researching and answering that question and then telling us what you learned about the topic of your question The project is divided into types: analytical, applied/experiential, and creative

The Senior Project will give you a model for learning anything that you want in the future In fact, the Senior Project:

• helps with transition into life after high school

• gives you a different kind of learning experience

• puts into practice knowledge and skills

• helps you to learn skills and habits of mind by doing

• helps with direction and focus for the future

• helps you to see the value of process

• demonstrates how everything is about learning

• provides an opportunity to take responsibility, claim ownership, and feel empowered.

TYPES OF PROJECTS

All Projects should enable you to explore the following attributes of a Vistamar Graduate:

● Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: A Vistamar graduate identifies and addresses authentic problems with creative and research-based solutions

● Communication: A Vistamar graduate listens effectively and expresses ideas for a variety of purposes and audiences

● Curiosity: A Vistamar graduate explores novel ideas and multiple perspectives to seek information, answers, or change in our world

● Empathy and Compassion: A Vistamar graduate serves the community through a collaborative approach that celebrates diversity, unity, and kindness

● Social-emotional Readiness: A Vistamar graduate develops integrity, flexibility, and perseverance through goal setting and reflection

Senior Projects can be grouped into three general types Projects from different disciplines will vary in form and design, but the processes related to academic inquiry and research allow for the following types:

1. Analytical

An Analytical Senior Project is inquiry-based research driven by an interest in exploring a subject in more depth or pursuing a path of inquiry that is not part of the program already offered to students in the Vistamar curriculum. This category of project is inclusive of, but not limited to, the disciplines of African American Studies; Anthropology; Art History; Biological Sciences, Neuroscience, and Biochemistry; Chemistry; Communication; Criminology, Law and Justice; Economics; English; Foreign Languages; Gender and Women’s Studies; History; Mathematics; Psychology; Religious Studies; Sociology; and Statistics.

2. Applied/Experiential

An Applied or Experiential Senior Project is action-based research driven by an investigation of academic, professional, and/or technical knowledge represented by current academic literature, professional practice, and/or technical application. This category of project includes, but is not limited to, the disciplines of Architecture; Biology, Business; Chemistry; Computer Science; Design; Disability Studies; Education; Engineering; Environmental Science, Foreign Languages; Health Sciences; Physics; Public Health; Public Policy; and Urban Planning

3. Creative

A Creative Senior Project is an expressive exploration of a political, cultural, economic, and/or social issue, but students are encouraged to think outside of the box Students do not necessarily need to have previous experience within the artistic medium and knowledge of theory in the field, this could be a chance to stretch and grow your creative skillset. Students should partner with a Senior Project Mentor or Site Supervisor with an academic background in the creative field of interest including, Creative Writing; Digital Art; Music; Painting; Photography; Print Media; Performance; Sculpture; and so forth

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

Here you will find a thorough and chronological explanation of the Senior Project process, including essential information on planning your project, handing it in, presenting it, and graduating.

event/task When

Senior Project Kickoff Meeting

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Identify a Vistamar Project Mentor 1st G-Block

Submit Project Plan - Draft 1st G-Block

Submit Project Plan - Final 2nd G-Block

Identify an external Site Supervisor (if applicable) 2nd G-Block

Submit All Senior Project Pre-Departure Forms (see forms section)

Thursday, April 27, 2023

AP Exams May 1 - 12, 2023

Upload Daily Digital Artifact: Snapshots to Google Classroom May 8 - 19, 2023

Upload Final Written Artifact: Portrait of a Graduate to Google Classroom

Upload Community Presentation to Google Classroom

Sunday, May 21, 2023 by 11:59 pm [PT]

Sunday, May 21, 2023 by 11:59 pm [PT]

Community Presentation Night Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Senior Retreat Wednesday, May 24 - Friday, May 26

SPRING TRIMESTER G-BLOCK

All seniors will be assigned to a spring trimester G-Block, led by a group of staffulty serving as Project Mentors, which will afford students the opportunity to solidify their proposal, conduct an industry exploration, and prepare for the experiential component of their Senior Project.

Week 1 - Proposal Drafts and Planning

Students will work on fine-tuning drafts of their Proposal, reviewing the Senior Project timeline, and engaging thoughtfully with the written artifact prompts Project mentors will also guide students through the Senior Project Rubric

Week 2 - Outreach

Students will begin drafting professional communications to potential project sites and/or industry professionals to participate in exploratory research (i.e. interviews, site visits).

Week 3 - Professional/Industry Exploration

Students will conduct an industry exploration that looks at career pathways related to their Senior Project, including global and national trends, professional trajectories, etc Students will also continue to identify industry professionals and organizations that will serve as a project site, case study, or interview opportunity. Students will create a LinkedIn Account or update an existing profile.

Week 4 - Proposal Dyad

Students will work collaboratively to address the essential question(s) related to their Senior Projects with support of Project Mentors. Students will present their proposal, essential question, and benchmark goals to classmates for feedback.

Week 5 - Presentation Planning

Students will review the Senior Project Rubric and prepare elements of their Community Presentation based on information gathered during the professional/industry exploration.

Week 6 - Pre-Departure Check-in

Students will meet with their Project Mentor before starting the experiential component of their Senior Project. This will be an opportunity to ensure all required off-campus forms have been completed and students have a clearly articulated timeline/schedule. Moving forward, students will be expected to provide weekly updates to their Project Mentor, the format of which will be at the discretion of the Project Mentor.

Beyond the scope of G-Block, students will still be required to check-in regularly with their Project Mentor.

TOPIC SELECTION

The first stage of your senior project is selecting the topic for your fieldwork Fieldwork, be it Analytical, Applied/Experiential, or Creative, must get you out of Vistamar and involve talking to professionals or experts in your selected field. A Senior Project deserves a great deal of contemplation and discussion. The only restrictions that apply to your choice are that:

● it’s legal and appropriate,

● your parents/guardians agree with it,

● and it represents a learning stretch for you.

● Fulfills the Senior Project Rubric

A learning stretchmeans that your Senior Project will serve to “stretch” your skills and knowledge in a particular area Your project must be both challenging and achievable for you Therefore, if you have skills or experience in a topic you are considering, you will have to explore this subject in a genuinely new and more challenging manner, not just repeat what you already know or have already learned.

It is the belief of the Senior Project Committee that if you take great care in this decision and challenge yourself, you will find your project journey much more enjoyable and rewarding than if you make an easy and quick decision Here are a few suggestions to make your topic selection process more worthwhile:

● Choose a topic you are truly interested in! From our experience, seniors who completed a Senior Project and who chose topics of interest to them enjoyed the project more, experienced fewer problems, and got more out of the project Students who chose topics they weren’t really interested in had more difficulty and got less out of the project.

● Dare to dream! Rather than making quick decisions regarding your project, make a list of the possibilities Seek advice and input from family and friends Ask yourself, “What have I always wanted to do or to learn more about?”

● Don’t get discouraged! If you are having difficulty finding an off-campus site or industry professionals to interview, allow the Senior Senior Project Committee, Project Mentor, staffulty members, and other adults within our community to help you locate potential mentors

● Approach potential community mentors personally! Act as though you are preparing for a job interview; dress nicely, give them the facts about your plans, and sell yourself! A personal discussion will generally be more effective than a phone call!

● Maintain contact with your mentor! Once you ’ ve found a mentor, establish a schedule with them that is convenient for both parties. If you do not plan to start your fieldwork for several months, keep the lines of communication open with your mentor Schedules change, life happens, and extenuating circumstances occur, so stay on top of the situation

FINDING A SITE SUPERVISOR

As the saying goes, with privilege comes responsibility One major responsibility in planning your Senior Project is to find a Site Supervisor. Rather than rushing out to find the first available adult, take some time to consider the qualities you will need in a mentor and proceed accordingly. In addition to your Project Mentor, the Site Supervisor, typically someone who works off-campus, will advise you, check up on you, and if necessary, help you through any rough spots during your Senior Project. Your Site Supervisor will need to sign the Site Supervisor Agreement Form (see pg 23) indicating a willingness to be part of your Senior Project

IDENTIFYING A PROJECT LOCATION

Most formal high school learning takes place in a classroom, in a library or on the Internet However, the Senior Project introduces you to the idea that any place can become a site for learning The Senior Project provides countless options for you to choose where to learn and what you want to learn Since the Senior Project is experience based, you can research your essential question during the experiential phase in a variety of places beyond Vistamar’s campus. For example, any of these can be a component of the research during the experiential phase of the Senior Project:

• job shadowing

• interning at an organization, corporation, or non-profit

• setting up an interview with people in the field who have expertise with your chosen topic

• volunteering at a community service/non-profit site

• networking with people at their place of work, fundraisers, or at special events

• meeting interviewees to discuss your project

• making observational notes at an art museum, a community park, a mural site, a music event, a lecture at a local college, etc

Learning happens everywhere, in all contexts of your life. It is important for you to transition out of the high school experience with the desire and understanding that learning will never stop. The goal of Senior Project is to have you step outside of your comfort zone and to meet new people in new contexts

DIGITAL ARTIFACT: SNAPSHOTS

Once your AP tests are complete, you can begin your project To keep track of your progress and log the time you are spending on your project, you will submit a daily snapshot and caption of your experience. Examples of snapshots include a selfie of you at your internship, a screenshot of your code or research in progress, a screenshot of a source or website you spent time exploring, a picture of you with someone you interviewed, a picture of your sketch in progress Snapshots will help you to remember your process while also helping you to be accountable for your time

Along with each snapshot, write a brief caption explaining what is happening in your image. The caption should be 4 - 5 sentences (or bullet points) that explain what you were doing in the moment and why it mattered. It is reasonable that you would have several possible snapshots each day but you need only to submit one

To submit, look for the assignment on google classroom

WRITTEN ARTIFACT: PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE

Now that you have completed your senior project experience, it is time for you to reflect on that experience via a 3 - 4 page paper. Your paper should be a thoughtful and comprehensive written reflection, which if done well can become the talking points in your Community Presentation Yourpaper shouldexplore whatyou learnedfrom this experience as wellas address all5questions relatedto the Portraitofa Graduate below:

● How has the Senior Project experience allowed you to identify and address a real world issue with creative and research-based solutions?

● In the process, what did you learn about effective communication from the people who advised you and how did your approach evolve throughout the experience?

● How did your Senior Project experience allow you to explore new ideas and multiple perspectives?

● During your Senior Project how did you learn to appreciate the work and life experience of others?

● How did your Senior Project experience require you to be flexible and what challenges did you have to overcome?

Format Requirements:

● 3-4 typed pages (double-spaced, 12 font, Times New Roman)

● Be sure to address each of the portrait questions evenly, with around 150-200 words each

● Include your name and the title of the assignment

● Upload your Written Artifact to the Senior Project Google Classroom course page by Monday, May 22, 2023

● Please familiarize yourself with the Senior Project Outcome Rubric before you produce your Written Artifact. While it is our hope that all Senior Projects earn “distinguished” status, you must meet or exceed the criteria for “non-performing” to pass. As a reminder, successful completion of a Senior Project is a graduation requirement.

Reflection Ideas

Some questions you might want to consider, in addition to the formal prompts, include:

● What led me to my topic?

● What went right? What went wrong? How did I solve the problems I encountered?

● Am I proud of my project? Why or why not?

● What did I initially set out to do? In what ways did my goals change along the way?

● What gave me the biggest sense of accomplishment? What would I have done differently?

● What was the most difficult part of my fieldwork?

● How similar is my impression of myself to the impression others seemed to have of me?

● What did I expect this project to do for me? Did it meet my expectations?

● Could this project have future implications for me at college or in my choice of employment?

SENIOR PROJECT OUTCOMES RUBRIC

The Senior Project Outcomes Rubric below is a tool for the student to evaluate their performance throughout the Senior Project. The Project Mentor will use the Senior Project Outcomes Rubrics over the course of the experience as a way to check in with the student about where they are in the process of developing the Senior project, and where they need to be The student should use the rubrics to ask themselves the following questions, and share their observations when checking in with their Project Mentor about their overall progress:

● Which level (Distinguished, Proficient, Basic, Non-Performing) best describes my performance for each rubric category?

● Which challenges or obstacles are influencing my performance?

● What resources are available to help me improve my performance, and how can I access them?

● If my Project Mentor and I disagree about my performance in a particular rubric category, what examples can we share with each other to communicate our perspective, in an effort to come to an agreement?

Senior Project Outcomes Rubric

COMMUNITY PRESENTATION

Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2023

The final phase of your Senior Project is the Community Presentation. Each senior must deliver their Senior Project Community Presentation before a panel of Project Mentors, Staffulty, family, friends and guest scholars Before listening to your presentation, Project Mentors will read through your Senior Project Portfolio, familiarizing themselves with your project After listening to your presentation, each Project Mentor will judge the quality and validity of your presentation using the standards of the Senior Project Presentation Rubric as a guide. Please familiarize yourself with the specific requirements of these standards outlined in the Senior Project Outcomes Rubric, as it is your responsibility to be able to meet them. You must receive a passing score on your presentation in order to successfully complete your Senior Project and graduate Students who do not receive a passing score on their presentation will need to deliver subsequent presentations in an effort to pass

You are encouraged to use notes and technological aids to help organize and deliver your presentation as well as emphasize speaking from memory rather than simply reading your presentation.

Your Senior Project Community Presentation can include, but is not limited to, the following elements:

● Be 8 to 10 minutes long and have a recognizable introduction and conclusion

● Describe the experiential nature of your work, including information about how you decided on your Senior Project. What insights did you gain from your experience?

● Describe your learning stretch. How was your project a challenge for you and how did it “stretch” your skills and knowledge? What types of problems did you have to solve?

● Discuss your growth as an individual through the entire Senior Project Use insights gleaned from your reflection paper to assist you

● Include information about how your Senior Project did/might change your perspective and/or professional goals.

● Address at least 2-3 competencies from the Portrait of a Vistamar Graduate throughout your Community Presentation

● Provide references to at least three of the sources (interviews, site visits, internships, scholarly research, etc) you used to research your Senior Project

● Include a slide presentation that incorporates video, audio, or digital images from your experience that will serve to help your audience better understand what you did and what you learned from your Senior Project. This aid must be integrated into your speech and should not take up more than two minutes of your time Clips from your fieldwork video would work great! If your Senior Project resulted in an actual product, this product or pictures of the product should be part of your presentation

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

RESPONSIBILITIES OF A STUDENT

The Student is ultimately responsible for conceptualizing and developing the project and for completing the Senior Project within the prescribed schedule Responsibilities of the student include, but are not limited to, the following:

● The student is responsible for fulfilling all Senior Project requirements within 3-weeks. If a student has extraordinary circumstances that prevent Senior Project requirement fulfillment within 3-weeks, they should meet as early as possible with their Project Mentor

● The student is responsible for completing the Senior Project prior to graduation in order to receive a diploma

● The student is responsible for networking with faculty and locating a site supervisor (if applicable), preferably a Vistamar staffulty member or off-site community member.

● The student is responsible for choosing their topic or subject matter based upon their interests. It can include prior coursework experience, but may be an opportunity for exploration of new academic, professional, or artistic knowledge

● The student is responsible for constructing a research or project design appropriate for their topic or subject matter.

● The student must independently construct the research or project design, with support from the Project Mentor to determine the soundness and integrity of the design.

● The student is responsible for seeking out data or statistics to support their project goals and incorporate findings from their own or external peer-reviewed journals into their work when possible If appropriate, the student may need to work with their Project Mentor and relevant resources to learn how to use analytical tools or software.

● The student is responsible for proactively arranging the Community Presentation of their completed Senior Project in order to fulfill the Community Presentation requirement.

● The student is responsible for tracking the Senior Project Forms, securing signatures, and submitting signed forms by the deadlines

● The student is responsible for submitting their final Senior Project (written artifacts and documentation of community presentation) to the Life Planning Office by Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 11:59 pm [PT].

RESPONSIBILITIES OF A PROJECT MENTOR

● The Project Mentor is responsible for helping the student understand and operationalize their research or project design, including:

o Whether the proposed topic or subject matter are suitable for the field

o Whether the research question responds to a gap/need and can be answered

o Whether the project can be completed within the timeframe allotted

o Whether essential question chosen is appropriate

o Whether the student’s findings and conclusions can be reasonably drawn from quantitative or qualitative sources

● The Project Mentor is responsible for enthusiastically mentoring the student as they craft a research or project design appropriate for a novice researcher

o Is the research or project design overly complicated or ambitious?

o Can data/information be accessed or collected with relative ease?

o Can data/information be accessed or collected within a reasonable timeframe?

● The Project Mentor is responsible for reviewing drafts of the Senior Project Proposals, Communications, and Written Artifacts, and for providing effective feedback for each draft within a reasonable timeframe

● The Project Mentor should conduct check-ins with students regularly throughout the duration of the Senior Project timeline.

● The Project Mentor should use the Senior Project Outcomes Rubric to provide structure for feedback and benchmarks for student performance and achievement

● The Project Mentor will complete comments on myVistamar for their group of students by May 30, 2023.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF A SITE SUPERVISOR

The student and Site Supervisor should agree upon the logistics of the Senior Project partnership Students should fully discuss the purpose and function of the Senior Project with the Site Supervisor Supervising a student is a tremendous opportunity, but it also involves responsibility It is your responsibility to make sure this experience is mutually beneficial to the organization and student. The Site Supervisor’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

1 Reviewing and approving your “SMART” (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timebound) goals for the Senior Project Site Supervisors may choose the most appropriate method of assessing student involvement based on industry standards and organizational needs

2. Encouraging professional growth by identifying specific responsibilities and discussing/planning other activities, tasks, and projects as initiated by you.

3 Assigning work responsibilities and overseeing all activities, projects and tasks given

4. Providing you with regularly scheduled meetings to give feedback.

5. Be available for Vistamar Senior Project Committee outreach.

6 Completing a Senior Project review form at the conclusion of the partnership

7. Discuss the following expectations with each student:

● Time Schedule

● Telephone/Email use (including cell phone)

● Parking permits and/or identification name tags

● Office procedures and policies

● Completion of office forms

● Appropriate attire

HOW TO FINDA PROJECT SITE

Think about what you’d like to do! Do you dream of a career in finance? Have you thought about becoming a doctor or a lawyer? Would you love to know more about cars? Do you listen to a podcast when you drive and always wonder what it’s like to work behind the scenes? Do you dream of an internship with a tech start-up? All of the questions above have led to successful internships for past BB&N seniors, some through a connection that an adult had and some because of the imagination and energy of the senior

Look around you!

Did you read about an interesting entrepreneurial endeavor? Is there a social justice or non-profit organization you like? It can't hurt to ask if they'd like a volunteer.

Be Proactive!

Once you have found a place you would like to work, you should initiate contact with a phone call or an email (see below).

HOW TO GETA SITE SUPERVISOR

Start with a Phone Call

1. Start with a Phone Call (or see below for the “Start with an Email” section) You may feel shy about making a phone call to someone you ’ ve never met What do you say? Please know that you may ask for help from your Project Mentor or any staffulty member at Vistamar

Call the contact number and ask to speak to Mr. Abc, Ms. Abc, or Dr. Abc. Always be mindful of pronouns and academic credentials.

Hello My name is Vee Viking andI’m a senior atVistamar School Iam reaching outbecause Iam very interestedin andIam hoping to talktoyou about thepossibility ofapart-time spring internship or shadowing opportunity aspart ofmy experientialSenior Project.

Provide context about how you came to know about the organization, any contacts who suggested that you reach out

My teacher/coach/family friend, <<InsertName>>, suggestedthatIcontactyou.

You now have the ball rolling, but be prepared to answer a few questions as the conversation continues.

Every senior atVistamar Schooldesigns their own culminating experience atthe endofour academicyear. Eachactivity mustbe supervisedby aqualifiedadult professional. I’mplanning to <<continue Spanish, explore the culture andpolitics ofLos Angeles, builda comprehensive socialmedia campaign andwebsite>>for myprojectandIhope togainpracticalexperience in thatarea andIthinkyour organization wouldserve as agreatplatform to explore that. I’m happy to forward a letter toyou from my schoolwitha fullexplanation ofthe Senior Project, ifyou’d like some more contextandtime to think.

Your point of contact may ask what kind of things you would like to do during your prospective internship Please remember that we want this to be a beneficial experience for both of you Many professionals enjoy sharing their knowledge and expertise, but they may also expect you to contribute something meaningful to their work.

I’m hoping to be able to shadowyou ifthatispossible, andlearn howyou make decisions <<interview clients, design aproduction schedule, installan exhibition>> Iam optimistic thatIwillbe able to make contributions ofmy own andIwouldwelcome the opportunity to help withanyprojectsyou see fitfor me.

2. Follow up with a face-to-face meeting

Ask if there is a mutually convenient time where you could briefly meet to discuss this possibility further

You should meet your supervisor to make sure that this is an adult you can work with and to make sure that you both understand what to expect. Come prepared with one or two questions of your own: Will I be able to observe interactions with patients? May I attend your upcoming team meeting? Could I learn how to help assess your social media analytics?

3. Send a letter from the School

Send a copy of the letter from the School that describes the Senior Project and thank your point of contact for considering the supervision of a Vistamar senior. Alternatively, bring the letter with you to your meeting See Appendix for a copy of this letter

4. Send a thank you note

Follow up with a brief note or email from you thanking your point of contact for their time and let them know that you ’ re looking forward to working with him in the spring

Congratulations! You’re on your way!

1.

Start with an email

If you prefer to start with an email, or if that is what your internship contact has indicated they prefer, you should follow the same general outline of introduction and explanation noted above.

Dear Ms Abc,

My name is Vee Viking and I am a senior at Vistamar School. I came across your organization during the planning stages of my senior project and became interested in the work thatyou do. Every senior at Vistamar School designs their own culminating experience at the end of our academic year The goal is for students like me topursue an area ofinterest, learn aboutaprofessionalindustry, connect it to prior learning, and share my experience in a community-wide presentation at my school. Each activity must be supervised by an adult professional. I’mplanning to <<continue Spanish, explore the culture andpolitics of Los Angeles, build a comprehensive socialmedia campaign andwebsite>>for my project and I hope to gain practical experience in that area and I thinkyour organization would serve as a great platform to explore that I’m happy to forward a letter to you from my school with a full explanation of the Senior Project, ifyou’dlike some more contextandtime to think.

I hope I can speak further about the possibility of an internship, shadow opportunity, or site visit Is there a convenienttime when Imay call?

Thankyou,

Vee Viking (yourphone number)

2. Follow-up with a phone call

Give them about a week to answer your email and then call As you know, it’s very easy to read an email, close it, then have it become buried beneath a hundred other emails When you call, you may encounter Ms. Abc directly or have to go through her assistant. Remember to be polite and respectful. Hello. My name is Jane Smith and I’m following up on an email I sent to Ms. Abc about a week ago concerning a spring internship. May I speak with her? Is there another time when I may call? May I leave a message?

3. Arrange for a meeting

Meet with your point of contact, and give them the letter from the School that describes the Senior Project and thank them for considering the idea of supervising you See PowerSchool for a copy of this letter. Discuss your future internship and be prepared to ask and answer questions. 17

4. Send a thank you note

Follow up with a brief email thanking Ms Abc and letting her know you ’ re looking forward to working with her in the spring! Congratulations! You’re on your way! Note: Part-time means an internship of less than 40 hours per week. Think about how much time you want to devote to this one activity (e.g., two full days (16 hours) or two or three full mornings (12 – 15 hours)? Your exact schedule does not have to be set right away, but you need to think about what else you might be doing, including athletics and mini-courses as you should be striving to have a balanced project

FORMS

SENIOR PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM

(Due by March 7, 2023)

Re-read The Portrait of a Graduate above before you move on. All projects need to be opportunities for growth in these areas

1. Student Name:

2. Project Type: Analytical, Applied/Experimental, or Creative

3. The Essential Question I plan to answer is:

4. Briefly describe your Senior Project: list your goals for your project, what you would like to learn from the experience, and how the project will help you to stretch your comfort zone (100-250 words):

5. Identify any potential or existing external (i.e. non-Vistamar) entities with whom you are communicating Please list organization and/or site sponsor ’ s name, an email address, and their relevance to your Senior Project goals

6. What are your specific objectives? Check out the following list (add more that sync with your project!):

Career Exploration objectives might speak to ways your project increases your knowledge of a specific profession

Skill Development objectives might include learning/creating new technology, developing oral, writing or artistic skills; organizing and interpreting data; observing and practicing leadership or other interpersonal skills

Academic objectives could include ways your senior project builds on specific courses you ’ ve taken, such as how your time in an art museum develops the skills and knowledge you have gained in your studio art or humanities classes

Values objectives might be linked to community service, politics, or diversity

7. How will you know that you have fulfilled your project goals? (100-250 words)

8. What challenges do you anticipate? (50-100 words)

9. Which of the Senior Project Rubric areas of Proficiency do you think will be easiest to achieve? (50-100 words)

10. Which of the Senior Project Rubric areas of Proficiency do you anticipate will be most challenging? (50-100 words)

11 What resources - financial, human, and material - will you require in order to successfully accomplish your proposed plan?

VISTAMAR SCHOOLSENIOR PROJECTPERMISSION FORM WAIVER, RELEASEAND INDEMNITYAGREEMENT

Vistamar School will be sponsoring an off-site educational opportunity for students completing their senior projects. Seniors will pursue a learning experience during a two week window in May. Students will work with various community members and a mentor as apprentices in a business, arts, or service program. Students will be provided lodging through a homestay.

I, parent/legal guardian of Vistamar Student consent

to the following:

1. Provide permission for the above named student to participate in this school-sponsored off-campus activity

2 Authorize medical treatment in case of emergency

In consideration for permitting the student named above to participate in the above described activities, I for myself, my child (and my spouse), as the parent or legal guardian of the student named above, hereby voluntarily release, discharge, waive, and relinquish all claims that each may have against Vistamar School, its officers, agents, and employees, arising out of or in any way related to the above described activities, including, but not limited to, claims for bodily injury, personal injury, emotional distress, property damage, or wrongful death occurring to the student arising out of the stated activity This release, discharge, waiver, and relinquishment also pertain to any instruction or supervision related to the activity on the part of Vistamar School, its officers, directors, trustees, employees, and agents I understand that I am responsible for the charges associated with this trip as described in the materials attached herein as scheduleA, except where such charges have been reduced by financial access grants through the Supplemental Needs Fund

The student and the parent(s)/guardian(s) further agree that in the event any one of them makes a claim against Vistamar School, its officers, directors, trustees, employees, or agents, arising out of, or in any way related to, the above described activity, including, but not limited to, a claim for bodily injury, personal injury, emotional distress, property damage and/or wrongful death arising out of or participation in the activity, then such student, parent(s) and/or guardian(s) shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Vistamar School, its officers, directors, trustees, agents, and employees, from said claim(s)

The parent(s)/guardian(s), acknowledge that they have read this “Permission, Waiver, Release, and IndemnityAgreement” and are aware of the legal consequences of signing this binding document.

Parent/Guardian

Print Name

Signature

Date

EMERGENCYMEDICALAUTHORIZATION FORM

From to I hereby give my permission any chaperoning adult to seek and authorize emergency medical treatment for including, but not limited to, medical procedures, dental procedures, surgery, hospitalization, and/or the prescription of medication as deemed necessary by medical professionals. I assume full financial responsibility for any treatment

Health Insurance Insurance Carrier:

Policy/ Group: Parent/Guardian Information

Print Signature: Date: Phone:

Additional Emergency Contact If Parent/Guardian Cannot Be Reached. Call:

Contact 1: Name:

Relationship: Phone: Contact 2: Name:

Relationship: Phone:

Allergies:

Medications:

OTHER INFORMATIONACAREGIVER SHOULD HAVE:

SITE SUPERVISOR & STUDENT AGREEMENT

NameofStudent:_______________________________________________________

NameofSiteSupervisor:_________________________________________________

NameofBusiness/Organization:___________________________________________

Address:______________________________________________________________

Phone:_____________________ Email:______________________________

WebSite:

IamparticipatinginVistamar’sSeniorProjectprogram,andIaffirmthefollowing:

1.Iwillworkin-personwiththeabove-namedsitesupervisorfromMay___ throughMay___,2023,approximately20hoursaweek,totaling40hours,or,dueto 3ormoreAPexams,atotalof30hours. I will not be paid for my work.

2.Iwillarrangeformyowntransportationtoandfrommyprojectsite.

3.Ihaveshownmysitesupervisormyseniorprojectproposalor,ifIwasnotableto meetwithmysitesupervisor,Ihavediscussedmyseniorprojectproposalwiththem overthephoneorviaemail.

4.MysitesupervisorunderstandsthegoalsIhopetomeetwhileworkingonmyproject, agreesthatthesegoalscanbereasonablymetwithinthetwoweeksdevotedtomysenior project,andwillsupportmeinmeetingthesegoals.

5.IunderstandthatIamultimatelyresponsibletofulfillmySeniorProject objectives.ThesuccessofmySeniorProjectdependson my commitmentto followingthroughonmyobjectiveswiththeassistanceofmySiteSupervisor.

StudentSignature:______________________________________ Date:_________________

SiteSupervisorSignature:________________________________ Date:_________________