2015-2016
Senior Year Process for Completing Graduation Project
Quick Glance Calendar
First Semester
Due Dates
Summer
Items Due
Brainstorm topics AND narrow to 3 that would fit criteria for graduation project
August 13
NCGP Overview
August 20
Sept. 10
Handbook Quiz
Project proposal due to Project Advisor
Final project proposal due to research paper advisor & project advisor
Create google doc folder & share with assigned research paper advisor—need Macbook
Mentor identification—3 possible mentors—submit names & contact info to advisor
Resume due to project advisor
None (should be learning about how to write an annotated bibliography)
Sept. 17
None (should be researching topic and writing your annotated bibliography)
Sept. 24
Annotated bibliography due to research paper advisor
October 1
Research paper advisor feedback given to students
October 8
None (should be working on rough draft of paper)
October 15
Rough draft of research paper due to research paper advisor
October 22
Research paper advisor feedback given to students
October 29
Second full draft of paper due to research paper advisor
Nov. 5
Final research paper due to research paper advisor
Nov. 12
Presentations of research to Simmons/Cox
Nov. 19
Presentations of research to Simmons/Cox
Dec. 3
Mentor agreement due to project advisor (Simmons or Cox)
August 27
Sept. 3
Clarification of Terms:


Research paper advisor—the faculty member that will be your advisor for the research paper
Project advisor—the faculty member that will be your Senior House teacher; this person will advise
and coordinate the entire graduation project
2015-2016
Detailed Calendar
First Semester
Summer
Decide on a topic over the summer—you should be thinking about social issues
that you are passionate about. Come to school in August with a short list (2-3) of
potential topics. Think about the components of the project (research paper,
practical experience with a mentor, product, portfolio, and presentation) and
brainstorm how you could meet these requirements with your chosen topic.
August 12 @
6:30 pm
Parents and students should attend the Graduation Project Information Night.
Session will last approximately one hour.
Week 1-2
During the first House meeting of the year, we will go over the Graduation Project
Handbook. While your senior House teacher will be your graduation project
advisor throughout the year, you will have a staff member to help you through the
first component—research paper—of the project. You will be assigned a research
paper advisor during the House meeting and you will be expected to
communicate with this person regularly. Your research paper advisor will post
office hours on their door and be available to you by appointment during their
planning period. Please see hours and email them promptly!
After the first House meeting, you will need to create a google doc folder and
share it with your research paper advisor. Please use the following format for
naming the google doc folder: first initial, last name_Senior Project.
Week 3
After receiving feedback on your initial proposal you will edit your proposal and
submit a final proposal. After receiving all signatures on this form (meaning, your
topic is approved), you can share this with your research paper advisor
electronically. Use the google doc folder for this.
You need to speak to at least three people that could be considered experts in the
their respective fields. Explain the graduation project to them and determine if
they could commit to being your mentor. Remember, they must be over age 23
and cannot be a family member. You must submit their contact information this
week.
You are now in the research phase of the research paper. You will be finding
reputable sources and creating an annotated bibliography. We will discuss this in
House and you will be provided an exemplar to help you write your own. This is
due at the end of week 7. If you need help, communicate with your research
paper advisor.
You should be using the feedback from your research paper advisor to write your
first rough draft of your research paper. Please review guidelines in the
handbook if needed. First rough draft is due on Week 10.
Revise paper based on feedback from research paper advisor and submit second
draft to paper advisor by end of week 12.
Final paper is due! You should turn your attention to finding your mentor and
inviting them to attend the mentor training. Mentor agreement due in 3 weeks!
Mentor training will be offered on a date (TBA) between November 9-November
20.
You will be presenting your research findings (paper) to your House project
advisor (Simmons or Cox) during these two weeks. This will ensure that your
Week 4
Weeks 5-7
Week 8-9
Week 10-11
Week 12-13
Week 14-15
2015-2016
research paper will connect to the product. This presentation will be 5 minutes in
length.
Week 16
The mentor agreement form is due. It is expected that your mentor will attend
training with Mrs. Simmons and Mrs. Cox before beginning product.
Quick Glance Calendar
Second Semester
Due Dates
Items Due
January 7
Product proposal due to project advisor (Simmons or Cox)
January 14
Feedback given to student on product proposal
January 21
Revised product proposal due
January 28
TIMESHEET check—bring to House
February 4
TIMESHEET check—bring to House
Feb. 11
TIMESHEET check—bring to House
Feb. 18
TIMESHEET check—bring to House
Feb. 25
TIMESHEET check—bring to House
March 3
TIMESHEET check—bring to House
March 17
Copies of thank you cards/letters due
March 24
Dress rehearsals in House
March 31
Dress rehearsals in House
April 7
Dress rehearsals in House
April 14
Portfolio due
April 22
Final graduation project presentations & Reflections due
2015-2016
Detailed Calendar
Second Semester
Week 1
This is the time to finalize all plans for the product. You are preparing a
detailed description of the product and receiving feedback.
Week 3
Final revised product proposal should be turned in. You cannot change
your product after this point. If you have concerns or difficulty, please
communicate this with your project advisor.
During these weeks, you are bringing your TIMESHEET with the signature
of your mentor to House. This is to ensure that you are meeting regularly
with your mentor and working diligently on your product.
Bring all thank you cards or letters with you to House. Thank you cards or
letters should be written for anyone who has assisted you with your
project, including your mentor. As the handbook states, these cards need
to be approved by your Advisor before mailing. If you need thank you
cards, please see your House Advisor.
Week 4-9
Week 10
Week 11-13
You will be assigned a date and time for a dress rehearsal during House
during one of these weeks.
Week 14
This is the day you bring in the portfolio for grading. The only items that
you will need to add to the portfolio after this date are presentation notes
and your two page reflection.
Final presentations!! You will have a scheduled date and time for this.
You should ask off work and schedule no appointments for the day of
presentations. Your presentation will be between the hours of 1:00-6:00
pm on April 22. More information to come!
Week 15
2015-2016
House Attendance
 House attendance is mandatory. You are expected to attend each House meeting, held
weekly on Thursdays from 12:30-1:00.
 Not attending House will result in a Learning Lab being assigned and you must visit the
House teacher prior to attending the Learning Lab so that you can do the assignments
missed during House. No exceptions will be granted concerning attendance of House or Full
House; not work, illness without a doctor’s note, or appointments. You will be given one
week to serve your Learning Lab. Learning Lab meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and
Thursday afternoons from 3:15-4:30.
 If you miss a deadline for an assignment in House, you will be assigned Learning Lab. The
hours for Learning Lab are not flexible. The dates for the Learning Lab are not flexible. You
cannot make up House any other time of the day.
 Failure to make up House time will result in a grade of F.
 Any F’s will result in loss of VIP privileges.
House Discipline Matrix
Per Year
1st Offense
2nd Offense
Missing
House
meeting
Late House
assignment
1 Learning Lab
(must be complete
before next House)
1 Learning Lab
(must be complete
before next House)
2 Learning Labs
and parent
contact
2 Learning Labs
and parent
contact
Tardies to
House
Verbal warning
Not attending
Learning Lab
(LL)
Office referral and
parent contact
1 Learning Lab
(must be
complete before
next House)
Office referral &
parent meeting
3rd Offense
4th Offense
Office referral &
parent contact
Office referral &
parent meeting
Required weekly
meeting with
Simmons/Cox
and Parent
contact
1 Learning Lab
and parent
contact
2 Learning Labs
and parent
contact
I have read and understand the senior House guidelines.
Student Signature
________________________________________________
Date ________________________
Parent Signature
________________________________________________ Date ________________________
2015-2016