Senior Project Dreams to Reality

Coordinators: Steve Belford & Susie Thorngren

A Cure for Senioritis?

2016 Exhibition

2016 Exhibition

Senior Project Goals 

Give students the opportunity to design a project of their own

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Provide a transition from the student role to an active adult role

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Allow students to explore an area of interest – potential career, service project, personal interest

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Give students a chance to create their own goals and structure their own time

Adult Supervision Senior Project Coordinators - Steve Belford & Susie Thorngren  Oversee all aspects of the Project New Trier Mentor – New Trier Staff Member (other than Advisor)  Meet with student periodically throughout the year Community Sponsor – Professional/Expert in Field  Assist with writing goals; supervises student while on Project Senior Project Committee – NT Staff, NT Students, and Community Volunteers  Approve proposal, conduct site visits and evaluate project

Requirements: Eligibility (see Handbook)    

Passing all classes Attendance - no more than one unexcused/truancy All graduation requirements completed All fees paid and borrowed materials returned

Please note:  If a student goes on Senior Project, it becomes a graduation requirement  All final course grades will be determined by April 21 before student leaves on Project

Time Requirement: Two Types of Project Full Project: 110 hours over four weeks 

Student is released from ALL New Trier classes and advisory.

Abbreviated Project: 55-96 hours over four weeks 

Student is released from all New Trier classes and advisory, except for: APs, PLTW, Dance Lab I & II, and certain Performing Arts classes.

Creating a Project Six Steps (see Handbook) 1) Find a New Trier staff member to serve as a Mentor (form due Tues. Oct. 18) 2) Select a Topic 3) Submit the Senior Project Pledge (due Nov. 16) 4) Secure a Community Sponsor (due Jan. 23) 5) Submit first draft of Proposal (due Jan. 31) 6) Submit final draft of Proposal (due Feb. 9)

Step #1: Finding a New Trier Mentor 

Role of New Trier Mentor (see Handbook)

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New Trier Mentor Form (last page of Handbook)  due Tues. Oct. 18 by 3:30pm in the Career Center

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Optional Workshop - Finding a Mentor  Thursday, Oct. 6th during Advisery in Room 210

Step #2: Finding a Topic Four Types of Projects:  Career  Creative  Service  Academic

Finding a Topic: Questions to Ponder… 

What are you passionate about?

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Do you want to explore a career before you commit your college studies to it?

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What have you always wanted to try but never had the time or assistance?

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Can you think of a way to integrate one or more of these ideas into a Project topic?

Finding a Topic, cont.: More Questions to Ponder… 

Can you identify a faculty/staff member who may have expertise in this area?

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For all types of Projects: Where would you look for a potential community sponsor? Is there someone you know who could give you names of people to contact regarding a possible site or project?

Sample Projects 1. Career Accounting

Broadcast journalism

Chicago Opera Theater

2. Creative

Dress design

Creating a multicultural cookbook

2. Creative

Beekeeping

Glass art

3. Service

Working with UNICEF

Working with RefugeOne

4. Academic

Researching and writing a travel brochure about the DMZ in Korea

Curriculum design – teaching creativity and innovation

Popular Topics Animal care Education/ childcare

Restaurant, food, bakery Health/fitness

Music

Step #3: The Pledge (in the Handbook) 

Attend all the meetings and workshops and submit Senior Project materials on due dates

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Comply with all school rules and policies

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Attend advisor room daily and consistently arrive on time

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Attend all classes and maintain passing grades

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Maintain grades throughout second semester which commensurate with first semester grades

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Attendance – no more than one unexcused/truancy

Steps #4 - #6: 4. Secure a Community Sponsor (due Jan. 23) 5. Submit draft of Proposal (due Jan. 31) 6. Submit final Proposal (due Feb. 9) We will hold workshops to assist students with finding a Community Sponsor and writing the Proposal. Refer to the calendar in the Handbook for all meeting dates.

Requirements: Prior to Project 1. Parent Waiver This document is submitted on Feb. 9th along with the final version of the Proposal 2. Project Release Documents Signatures of classroom teachers (confirm passing grade), Advisor, coaches, and extracurricular sponsors - submitted on last day before project (April 21)

Requirements: On-Site Portion of Senior Project 

Conference with New Trier Mentor once a week

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Complete required hours (each week Community Sponsor verifies student’s hours by signing work log)

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Maintain daily log of activities on Canvas

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Submit a written reflection at the end of weeks one, two and three. Submit a longer summative reflection after the fourth (final) week. All submissions on Canvas.

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Be available for site visits from Committee members

Requirements: Following the OnSite Portion of Senior Project After the on-site portion of Project there will be a week of required activities. Participants must be in attendance to pass Project. 

May 22: Check in and submit req’d documents (9:00am-12:00pm)

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May 23: Attend Advisory; Senior Project meetings 1st – 3rd periods (8:45am-11:00am); Exhibition setup – gyms open 3:30pm-8:00pm

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May 24: Junior Advisory visits; Meetings; Exhibition setup – gyms open 8:00am-12:00pm; Committee Evaluation meetings 4:00pm6:00pm; Exhibition for the public 6:30pm-8:00pm

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May 25: Exhibition 8:00am-1:15pm – Open to public; NT students attend can during their classes. Cleanup 1:15-3:00pm (all participants help with cleanup!)

Checks and Balances The program is supported by adults who want your child to succeed on Project New Trier Mentor  Meets with student five times prior to going on Project and four times during Project  Contacts the Community Sponsor during the first week of Project to ensure that the student is on task Committee Members  Read daily logs and weekly reflections to keep up on student activity and progress  Visit student on-site during Project to confirm that student is meeting the goals s/he created in the Proposal

Survey says… 

Senior Project is an important transitional experience from high school to the world beyond: 

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93% responded Agree or Strongly Agree

Senior Project enabled me to learn new skills that will be helpful to me in the future: 

94% responded Agree or Strongly Agree

Survey says… 

Senior Project helped me develop important selfadvocacy skills, such as communication, time management, conflict resolution, etc.: 

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85% responded Agree or Strongly Agree

Senior Project required me to move beyond my “comfort zone”: 

85% responded Agree or Strongly Agree

Final Reflection Excerpts “I think I have learned as much as I would have learned if I had stayed in my classes. I learned life lessons about myself, which I will carry on into the future. If I had not participated in Sr. Project, I would have stayed in school, learned facts and formulas that I would soon forget. This experience has been a lot of work, but it is one that I will never forget.”

Final Reflection Excerpts “An unbelievably meaningful experience and totally worth missing school. I was outside my comfort zone and working like crazy, but having so much fun. I looked forward to going everyday which is not something I could say if I were still in school.”

“Senior Project was probably one of my favorite memories from New Trier because it taught me how to be independent and also how to work well and collaborate with others.”

Final Reflection Excerpts “It is sometimes hard to see how special you are when you are constantly comparing yourself to other girls around you at school that are prettier, better dressed, smarter, more popular, etc. However, I have learned that in the real world that doesn’t matter… I am hard working, responsible, outgoing, smart, a fast learner, a good listener and I get along well with others. I would have never seen all these qualities in myself if I had not participated in Project and placed myself in a different situation. If I take anything away from this opportunity, it will be more self-confidence.”

Final Reflection Excerpts “Next year when I am studying elementary education, I feel like I will be so far ahead of the rest of my peers because I got this hands on experience in an actual classroom.” “My senior project was one of the best experiences I had while in high school. I was able to explore a career that I was unsure about and learn many new life skills. To be placed in the real world teaches you so much more than sitting in the classroom.”

Community Sponsor quotes 

“This student learned so much about our client’s background, their struggles as they traveled from numerous countries to reach the US. She also worked with the children and was involved in presentations.” --Residence/Shelter for immigrants

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“This student was very beneficial in advancing our marketing efforts. She helped us learn how to create benchmarks for future interns joining the firm. She started the company’s Pinterest profile and also helped to create a timeline walk-through for projects in Revit.” --Architect

Community Sponsor quotes 

“This student has been even more helpful and engaged than four of our recent college interns. His interaction with athletic trainers, student, coaches and parents will contribute to the development of his life skills.”  --High School Athletic Trainer

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“This student was able to pitch story ideas and write a piece that will run in June; she had the opportunity to work with our inhouse videographer on shoots as well as take photographs herself that will appear in the June issue of the magazine. She also worked with our marketing/ad sales department and saw a well-rounded view of life in a small media company.”  --Make It Better Magazine

Community Sponsor quotes 

“I would hire her if I could!”  --Grade school teacher

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“Although it was stressful at times, I think it was important for her to see that not everything goes as planned and that there are going to be hurdles in life.”  --Non-profit

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“Student and student both worked as entrepreneurs at levels you would normally see out of college. They will be successful in life if they remain on this course.”  --Business owner

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“Student’s enthusiasm and time management helped us finish projects way ahead of schedule.”  --Fashion design

Advertisement! Would you like to be on a Senior Project Evaluation Committee? 

Join with a friend! We’ll be happy to put you on the same committee!

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We will not assign your own child to your committee!

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Enjoy the on-site visits to see students in action! Please add your name to our list after the meeting or contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]

Upcoming Project Dates (see Calendar in the Handbook) 

Oct. 6

Finding a Mentor – optional meeting Advisery, Room 210

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Oct. 18

New Trier Mentor Form due by 3:30 pm, Career Center

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Oct. 26

Finding a Topic - optional meeting 8:00-8:40am, Career Center

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Nov. 1

Senior Project Pledge - required meeting 8:00-8:40am, Gaffney

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Nov. 16

Senior Project Pledge due by 3:30pm, Career Center

Thanks for Coming!

Please contact us at any time if you have further questions about Project. Our contact information is at the bottom of tonight’s agenda.