Senior Project Program
Dear Students and Parents:
Benton High School is honored to be a part of an exciting new program called Senior Project. This program is supported by the Louisiana State Department of Education and was implemented across the Bossier Parish School System in 2011-2012. We have high expectations for our seniors. We believe all graduating students should be actively engaged and rigorously involved in learning and applying sophisticated skills. After all, seniors should represent the most skilled and educated students in the high school.
Senior Project high schools believe that seniors should be leaders and educational role models for younger students. Success in life, school, employment, relationships, and financial responsibility all require hard work, goal setting, commitment, and problem-solving abilities.
A culminating performance demanding sophisticated skill application and student initiative should be a standard exit expectation. Benton High School is committed to the idea that every educator is a teacher of seniors. In reality, seniors are the end result of a huge effort involving a large number of people. The little child in kindergarten is simply a “senior in progress.”
Quality Senior Project programs embrace all staff, all seniors, and the community. Senior Project represents a long-term educational policy that requires a vision and a continued commitment. The purpose of Senior Project is to allow students to choose the content of their learning, to shape the process of that learning, and to produce high quality work that is the culmination of their academic journey.
Parents and students need to understand the emphasis that Benton High School and Bossier Parish have placed on this curriculum. It is also important that they understand the Senior Project grade will be given through English IV and replace the English IV literary research paper component previously required for graduation. In order for a senior to receive credit for his or her Senior Project, he or she must PASS ALL FOUR COMPONENTS: Research Paper, Product, Portfolio, and Oral Presentation (Note: in order to present to the community panel, students must successfully pass the required dress rehearsals), If a student does not successfully pass each component, no credit will be given and this will result in failing English IV. A student will not graduate without completing all of these components.
Each senior is responsible for the development and completion of his or her own Senior Project. Benton High School has designed a plan to offer students guidance throughout the project. The administration, faculty, and senior project committee are committed to the success of all seniors and feel confident that this project will enrich their learning and help prepare them for a successful future.
Sincerely,
Senior Project Committee
SPRING DEADLINES
BENTON HIGH SCHOOL
SENIOR PROJECT TIMELINE – SPRING 2013
|
DUE DATE |
COMPONENT |
|
JANUARY 14
|
PARENTAL AGREEMENT FORM #1 |
|
JANUARY 24-25
|
FORMS #5 AND #6 (STRETCH VERIFICATION AND PARENTAL CONSENT) |
|
JANUARY 31-FEB 1
|
LETTER OF INTENT |
|
FEBRUARY 4 |
COMMITMENT POSTER |
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FEBRUARY 19-20
|
RESEARCH PAPER OUTLINE (These are official due dates. There will be time in class to complete this earlier. The earlier it is finished, the quicker students may begin their papers.) |
|
FEBRUARY 21/22-MARCH 7/8
|
IN CLASS WRITING TIME (REGULAR ENGLISH IV ONLY). Students will have a writing schedule to complete during each class period. If he or she is absent, I will expect the missed pages to be turned in upon return to class.
|
|
FEBRUARY 25 |
MENTOR AGREEMENT FORM |
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MARCH 7-8
|
TYPED, 8-PAGE DRAFT DUE SUBMITTED TO TURNITIN.COM BY 5:00 PM. THIS IS MANDATORY TO CONTINUE IN THE PROGRAM. Students are scheduled to complete their last page in class. |
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MARCH 18 |
|
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MARCH 22
|
FINAL REVISED RESEARCH PAPER DUE SUBMITTED TO TURNITIN.COM BY 5:00 PM |
|
APRIL 8 |
PORTFOLIO (All forms and documents were to have been previously turned in to be graded. If they were not turned in by the assigned deadline, these forms received a “0”. I will give credit for what is in the portfolio, but I will not restore points for individual assignments just because they appear in the portfolio. The only items I will grade individually are those from mentors.)
|
|
APRIL 11-12 |
PHYSICAL PRODUCTS DUE IN THE LIBRARY BY THE START OF SCHOOL.
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APRIL 22-30 (Specific dates TBA) |
DRESS REHEARSAL (Exact dates will depend on EOC testing, but students will rehearse sometime during this time.)
|
|
MAY 1-2
|
SENIOR BOARDS |
**STUDENTS MUST SUCCESSFULLY PASS ALL COMPONENTS (PAPER, PRODUCT, PORTFOLIO, DRESS REHEARSAL PRESENTATION) IN ORDER TO BE ALLOWED TO PRESENT TO THE COMMUNITY PANEL.
Some forms and assignments have not been included in this timeline and will be included later as the semester progresses.
