2015-2016
Senior
Project
Guide
Montwood High School
National Honor Society
Dianna Rios- Sponsor
What is the NHS Senior Service Project?
The NHS Senior NHS Project is an active learning project designed to create a career, hobby, sport or
interest related learning experience. This is not babysitting for family member, collecting items, a bake
sale, working at a camp, or any other kind of usual community service. This project is an original design
made by, you, the student. The Senior Service Project will include the following items: topic investigation,
product planning, action plan designing, and reflection on experience, and demonstrate both community as
well as student impact. The Senior Project must fulfill one of the categories NHS follows to include:
animals, children, elderly, environment, poverty or school. The project must bring in a minimum of
$500.00 to be donated to the community to any organization and/ or shelter of students’ choice.
Why the NHS Senior Service Project?
The project will allow students to implement leadership strategies and skills and learn some they have not
had the opportunity to. The projects are expected to reflect quality work; they will be challenging and will
give students a unique experience and learning opportunity. Although the project should be designed to
benefit others, this is also an opportunity for you to create a project you relate to personally or to your
future.
The project also allows you to demonstrate your abilities which define you as a National Honor Society
member. You will have to manage and plan your time accordingly. When problems arise you will need to
solve them and facilitate them so your project may be successful. You will need to communicate and
coordinate with adults other than your NHS sponsors and do it professionally. All of the mentioned will
demonstrate you ability to lead and work in a team environment as you complete your Senior Service
Project. The project may also result to be the start of a career interest.
What will my Senior Service Project include?
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An original experience or product involving a minimum of 15 hours or more. You are also required
to have a community contact person/community contact- someone from the
place/organization/group/etc. your project is benefiting.
Weekly sponsor meetings a month before your project date. At these meetings, you will give your
sponsor updates and progress of your project. At that time questions and concerns can be
addressed and sponsor can assist you.
A portfolio that will serve as a collection of evidence is required. This will help guide you in following
the requirements and all records are always at hand for credit or future purposes.
A formal presentation to be given in front of your peers, sponsor, faculty, staff, and relatives.
Members MUST be present at both their project and at the presentation during Senior Banquet to
earn credit
Steps to follow:
This guide and your sponsor are your first resources. Read the guide information carefully. The following
steps are designed to help you through your project but not necessarily in this order:
1. Select a topic, decide on a product, and write an essential question.
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2. Find a Community contact person at the place you would like your project to benefit.
3. Give your community contact person the letter from your guide.
4. Have your community contact person sign the Team Agreement.
5. Discuss your project with your parents or guardians.
6. Give your parents the Parent Letter from your guide
7. Have your parents sign the Team Agreement.
8. Write your Proposal letter for both Mrs. Trujillo and Mrs. Menchaca.
9. Meet with Mrs. Trujillo and Mrs. Menchaca to discuss project and fill out necessary paperwork
10. Finish your product. Don’t forget to document your hours
11. Collect and assemble the parts of your portfolio
12. Prepare, practice and present your project
A topic, a product, an essential question
Choose a Topic:
The first step in your Senior Project is to select a topic. Start this step by brainstorming. Your senior
project should be driven by a career interest, a skill you have or a strong interest area. There are
several ways to arrive at a topic.
Identify a possible career
Maybe you really know what you want to do for a first career or you’re fairly certain it will be one of a
couple of choices you have in mind. You might know that you want to be a teacher or definitely do
something that has to do with airplanes or one of a thousand other career paths. If you are one of
those fortunate people, list your possible future career(s) below:
1. _________________________________
2. _________________________________
3. _________________________________
4. _________________________________
5. _________________________________
Identify a skill or area of expertise
Is there something you are especially good at? You can center your senior project on a skill that you
can use to benefit someone in your community. List five skills or areas of expertise:
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1. _________________________________
2. _________________________________
3. _________________________________
4. _________________________________
5. _________________________________
Identify a passion or an interest
What do you really enjoy doing? What are you really good at? Maybe your career will not center on
this interest but your senior project could be designed around educating, advocating or entertaining a
group of people. What hobbies do you pursue? Where do you spend time surfing on the Internet?
List up to five passions: things you really enjoy, or in which you are kind of an expert:
1. _________________________________
2. _________________________________
3. _________________________________
4. _________________________________
5. _________________________________
Identify a problem
Think about something in the world that really bothers you. What makes you mad? What do you think
about people throwing trash everywhere? What about babies born addicted to drugs? Are there
situations in your world or the world beyond that you would like to change? List up to five problems
that you think someone should tackle:
1. _________________________________
2. _________________________________
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3. _________________________________
4. _________________________________
5. _________________________________
Choose your product
Your product will be a blending of a topic and your skills and abilities
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A Product or Experience is something that you create or engineer, that can
be seen, held, tasted, heard or smelled.
 Your product or experience must be directly related to your topic and the
result of an active verb.
 “ACTIVE” your product requires an active verb such as
Plan
Entertain
Organize
Inspire
Create
Serve
Coach
Coordinate
Manage
Teach
Advocate
Facilitate
Just showing up and helping somewhere and following directions does not
constitute a Senior Project - that is volunteering. Volunteering is an excellent way to
do research, to scope out an environment to determine needs and gather
information. If you do volunteer somewhere, get a good idea of what is going on and
ask what needs there are that you might fill. Look for a way to actively use your
skills to create, organize, plan or educate.
You are required to spend a minimum of fifteen hours of time on your product
or experience.
Your product or experience must benefit the community or help someone. It
must also:
1.
Be of real interest and meaning to you (Relevance)
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2.
3.
4.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Push you into areas of challenge, beyond your comfort zone (Rigor)
Benefit others (Service)
Allow you to show your ability to meet the following standards:
Manage your time and resources effectively and successfully
Solve problems
Communicate effectively
Work as a team
Involve an adult mentor who is an expert on your topic
Write an Essential Question that defines your Product
Essential questions are questions that require you to plan a course of action. Your Essential
Question is the question that is answered by your Product. Everyone will begin with the basic
Essential Question, “How can I use my career direction, skills or abilities, or a strong area of
interest to create a product or experience that benefits the community or helps someone?” It is
your job to narrow down and define that general question for yourself.
The resulting question will guide you as you create your product and serve to keep you on track.
Begin your refined question with “How can I use my interest in…?” or “How can I use my skill
in….?” If you are focusing on a career, a sample Essential Question might be, “How can I use my
interest in becoming a firefighter to educate elementary students about fire safety?” If you are
utilizing a skill you might ask, “How can I use my web design skills to create a new website for the
museum?” If your topic is skateboarding you might ask the question, “How can I use my skill and
interest in skateboarding to benefit the community?” and then refine it into, “ How can I use my
skill and interest in skateboarding to create an enrichment activity for students in the community?”
You can begin with an essential question to create the idea for your product. If you have a product
in mind, creating the question can keep you focused on that product. Either way,
Essential Questions:
 Cannot be answered by opening an encyclopedia.
 Help you develop the ability to think critically, problem solve and understand complex systems.
(These skills are the skills that you will need to succeed in the world of work. They are
among the ones that employers want their employees to have. These skills will enable you
to succeed at higher paying jobs and careers.)
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Find a Community contact person
In years past, the project required a community contact person, but now the project may use a
less involved individual, your community contact.
Your community contact should be a person:
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Who is an expert on an aspect of your project.
May not be an immediate family member or be someone under 23.
Should be someone with whom you can work on a professional level.
May live in your community, or in some cases, be someone who lives a distance away.
That will have adequate meeting time so you can complete your product.
Will able to give you feedback on your product.
If your community contact person/contact is out of the area, you must be able to overcome
distance barriers by using the Internet, emailing pictures or other correspondence. Also, note that
sometimes you may have more than one person who gives you crucial help. You can have many
informal community contact persons but one official community contact person.
You may already know who your community contact person will be, but if you don't, here are a
few suggestions about how to find one:
Ask your parents if they know anyone who is an expert in your topic area.
Ask an expert (who, for whatever reason, isn’t able to be your community contact
person/community contact) for any suggestions.
Ask your peers. Often, other students know adults who would qualify as experts in your
topic area.
When you call a possible contact-to-be, it's important to be clear about the reason for your phone
call and to be polite. You may have to explain about the Senior Project and give them some idea
of what you want to do in order for him/her to have enough information to decide. Below is a
suggested script to use. If you know the person's name, ask for him or her. If not, ask who would
be appropriate to speak to regarding getting information about the company or the topic you are
interested in.
Hello, my name is________________. I am a senior at Montwood High School...
I am calling you today to talk with you about serving as my community contact person for my
National Honor Society senior project.
My project topic or idea is _________________
You may have some direct involvement with or knowledge about this topic.
I would need to meet with you regularly and have you assess my project.
Would you be willing to meet with me to learn more about my ideas for a project and further
discuss being my community contact person?
Thank you!
This person may or may not agree to serve as your community contact person, but be sure to
thank him/her regardless! You may have to contact several people before you find the right
person. When you have found a community contact person, give the individual your
Community Contact Information Letter.
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Your parents and the community contact person you choose will be part of your team that
supports you as you do your project. Talk over your ideas with your parents. Give them the
Parent Info Letter to help them better understand the Senior Project, and get their feedback.
Your sponsor will have copies.
Lastly, you will need to have them both sign the Team Learning
Agreement and turn it in to your sponsor.
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Community Contact Person Information
Letter
Student: Give this letter to your mentor and have
him or her sign Team Learning Agreement
Dear Community Contact,
Thank you for supporting a Montwood High School student in completing his/her National Honor Society
Senior Project. The Senior Project provides students the opportunity to design, develop and implement a
challenging project that is rigorous and has personal meaning. We very much appreciate you sharing your
time and expertise. Your on-going work with the student will be essential to his or her completion of a
successful project.
Although the Senior Project is an individualized learning experience, all Senior Projects have three
common components. Each student is required to complete the following:
1. Produce a product showing the use of academic, technical and organizational knowledge and skills.
2. Create a portfolio containing a collection of artifacts documenting the Senior Project process from
beginning to end.
3. Present Senior Project in a formal setting before his or her classmates; parents and community contact
persons will be formally invited to attend.
In your role as Community contact person, you will meet the following expectations:
Provide advice and feedback for the student as he or she designs and creates a product
Assess the student’s collaboration and professionalism
Assess your student’s product
Ongoing communication between you and your student is critically important. If you have questions or
concerns throughout this year, please contact the National Honor Society sponsor listed below.
The Socorro Independent School District is committed to the safety of all students and staff. As such, SISD
requires community contact persons and all adults who work unsupervised with students to complete a
background check. Included in this packet is the district release form granting permission to conduct the
background check.
Please sign the Team Learning Agreement and the SISD background check forms. Return the both
forms to your student, the background check form in the provided sealed envelope. Once the form is
complete with your and the parent/guardian signatures, it will be added to the student’s portfolio. In
addition, we would like you to consult and support the student on their project. Then at the conclusion of
the project, please write a short performance review letter. This letter will document the student’s project
progress, success and give the NHS sponsor some knowledge on how they worked with you.
Again, thank you very much for your participation. The Senior Project enables students to engage in
unique learning opportunities, only possible with your support.
Sincerely,
Margarita J. Trujillo, National Honor Society Sponsor
Montwood High School
Mtruji06@sisd.net
(915) 937-2582
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Parent/Guardian
Information letter
Student: Give this letter to your
parents or guardians and have
them sign Team Learning
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Your National Honor Society student will be completing his/her Senior Project. The Senior Project provides students
the opportunity to design, develop and implement a challenging project that is academically rigorous and has
personal meaning. This project is mandatory and will be facilitated through Advisory Groups which will meet once a
week two months prior to their project date.
Although the Senior Project is an individualized learning experience, all Senior Projects have three common
components. Each student is required to complete the following:
1. Produce a product showing the use of academic, technical and organizational knowledge and skills.
2. Create a portfolio containing a collection of artifacts documenting the Senior Project process from beginning to end including a
reflective essay explaining challenges, acquired understanding and skills, unanswered questions and relevance to future goals.
3. Present his/her Senior Project in a formal setting before his or her classmates; community contact persons and
parents/guardians will be formally invited to attend.
The senior project experience includes your student participating and working with adults outside of the traditional
classroom. Specifically your student will meet the following expectations:
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Your student has selected a topic about which he/she has interest.
Your student must work with a community contact person who is an "expert" about that topic.
Your student will be contacting the community contact person using the forms of communication outlined in the Student
Guide to the Senior Project.
Communication with the community contact person and activities such as meetings, phone calls, research and planning
may be completed during school hours and non-school hours.
Your student will be guided by the NHS sponsor.
As with any school program, the senior project should never involve the student participating in any activity which is
prohibited by district policies or the code of conduct.
Activities may be completed both on and off campus. When participating in activities off campus, your student will not be
under the direct supervision of school staff.
Any costs incurred are the responsibility of the student, parent or guardian.
Please read and sign the Team Learning Agreement. Your student will return it to the NHS sponsor.
We encourage you to ask your student about his/her project. Your on-going support will be essential to his/her
completion of a successful project. If you have questions or concerns throughout this year, please contact your
student’s sponsor listed below. In addition, all the necessary paperwork and resources are found on the Montwood
High School website on the National Honor Society page.
The Socorro Independent School District is committed to the safety of all students and staff. As such, SISD requires
community contact persons and all adults who work unsupervised with students to complete a background check.
Your child’s community contact person will be required to meet these requirements.
We are excited about the active learning that is taking place through the Senior Project and hope that your student
will look back with pride on his/her accomplishments.
Thank you,
Margarita J. Trujillo, National Honor Society Sponsor
Montwood High School
Mtruji06@sisd.net
(915) 937-2582
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Team Learning Agreement
Student - I accept the following responsibilities:
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I will complete all required components of the project by due dates.
I will meet regularly with my community contact person for guidance and support.
I will represent the school and my class positively in the community.
I guarantee that all my work will be authentic and truthful.
I will discuss my project plans and expectations with my parents and involve them.
I will get approval from my community contact person and NHS sponsor for modifications I want to
make in my project.
Signed_________________________________________________ Date______________
MHS Advisor - I accept the following responsibilities:
 I will be aware of the topic of this student's senior project plan and review the letter of intent.
 I will meet regularly with this student to assess progress, make suggestions, provide support and
feedback for completing the research and reflection and the portfolio for the senior project
 I will communicate with this student's parents/guardian as needed.
 I will assess the student’s portfolio and product or experience, if appropriate.
 I will respect the student’s right to be responsible for his/her own learning by not solving problems
for him/her but offering support and advising as the student works through each part of the senior
project.
Signed_________________________________________________ Date________________
Community Contact / Mentor - I accept the following responsibilities:
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I will meet with my student for support and guidance on his/her senior project. I will review the
student's plan and discuss completion goals and timeline
I will offer my expertise and suggestions for successful completion of the project
I will contact the student’s advisor and/or parent if questions arise concerning the student’s
behavior or safety.
I will submit to a background check as required by Socorro Independent School District.
I have read the Community Contact Person Information Letter.
I will complete a recommendation of performance letter based on the student’s experience.
Signed________________________________________________ Date_________________
Parent/Guardian - I authorize my student to participate in all senior project activities on and off
campus, as identified above. I accept the following responsibilities:
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I understand that my student needs to successfully complete this project as a final requirement to
receive his/her NHS stoles. I will support my student throughout the time of the project and discuss
progress weekly.
I will be aware of my student’s topic, community contact person and progress throughout the
project.
I release the school from responsibility when my student is off campus to complete this project.
I will respect the student’s right to be responsible for his/her own learning by not solving problems
for him/her but offering support and advising as the student works through each part of the senior
project.
I have read the Parent/Guardian Info Letter.
Signed________________________________________________ Date_________________
Parent/Guardian, please be sure community contact person has already
signed or that you know who your student’s community contact person is.
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Write a Project Proposal Letter
For most of your high school career you have been in classes required for graduation. While you
may have had some opportunity to choose certain electives, most of the material taught has been
selected by your teachers or the school district. Similarly, NHS service projects have been
selected for you and often set up for you too. Your senior project allows you to make the decision
about what you will learn. You have the opportunity to explore something that has special interest
to you.
The next formal step in this process is to write a Project Proposal Letter. Your letter should be
addressed to your NHS sponsor and school principal and state what your topic is, what you will
do for your product and who (the community or an individual) it will benefit.
Your letter should follow the following format:
Paragraph 1:
The first paragraph of your letter
States what is driving your Senior Project (A career interest, skill or strong interest area.)
Describes how you became interested in the career or gained the skill or interest. (Was there an
experience you had that sparked your interest or a person who inspired you?)
Paragraph 2
The second paragraph of the letter
States the essential question that you will try to answer
Contains a description of your project and who will benefit
Tells who will be your community contact person and why you chose that person
Explains where you intend to access resources for information
Proposes a timeline for completion of project
Paragraph 3
The third paragraph of the letter is a disclaimer against any fraudulent behavior. It should include
at least two sentences stating your understanding of fraud and explain that you know the
repercussions of fabricating information about your project.
This letter must be proofread and free of all errors.
An example of a Project Proposal Letter follows:
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October 13, 2012
National Honor Society Sponsor
Montwood High School
12000 Montwood Dr.
El Paso, Texas 79936
Formatting the Letter
 Block style
 Date is 1 inch from the top edge
 4 lines from date to addressee
 Single space paragraphs
 Double space between
paragraphs and elements of
block style
 4 lines from closing to name;
sign your name in between
Dear National Honor Society Sponsor:
Ever since I was in elementary school I have wanted to be a Dental Hygienist. I think this might be
because when my mother took me to the dentist, her hygienist was so friendly and caring. She let
me look at all the tools she used when cleaning my teeth, and she would always finish my
treatment by giving me a new, bright pink toothbrush.
Because of my interest in Dental Hygiene and my love of kids, I decided to do my senior project
on that topic. My essential question was, “How can I educate small children about tooth care in a
fun and interest-grabbing way?” I decided I would create a puppet show for a kindergarten class. I
plan to spend time with the dental hygienist from my dentist’s office, Sherry Wilson, who will be my
community contact person. I will learn about what kids need to do to care for their teeth and then
write a puppet show. I hope to make the puppets or find some that will work. I will go back to my
elementary school and contact a kindergarten or first grade teacher to see if I can present my
show to a class. I will also try to contact a dental business to get them to donate toothbrushes and
toothpaste to the class.
I understand that fraud or presenting something I did not do, as if I did, is illegal. I will do all the
work and will not falsify any information concerning my project. I am fully aware that I am
responsible for my own actions and will accept any consequences for me not being honest and
truthful in any aspect of my project.
Sincerely,
John Smith
1365 Main St.
El Paso, Texas 79936
Note: Any changes in topic or product may only be made with permission from
NHS sponsor and then, must be accompanied by a new Project Proposal Letter.
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Project Proposal Letter Scoring Guide Scored by Advisor
Student Name(s)______________________________________ Date____________________
Senior Project Topic/Product___________________________________________________
Scored
by____________________________________________________________________________
Print name Sign Name
□
Follows letter formatting
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Free of all errors
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States what is driving the project
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Describes the interest in the project
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States essential question
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Contains a description of project and who benefits
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Identifies a community contact person
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Includes resource ideas
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Proposes a timeline
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Includes disclaimer paragraph
Rate Student: Circle one: 6-5 Exceeds 4 Meets 3-2 Needs Further Work
Notes____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
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Approval of Proposal for Senior Service-Learning Project
Due in student file THREE months prior to project date
Committee members: Please examine the student’s proposal and make recommendations to
assist the student in reaching successful completion. The proposal should include:
1. An introduction and brief description of the project including reasons for choosing project idea.
2. A statement as to why this is an acceptable project, why it is needed, and how it fulfills the
ideas of service-learning.
3. A proposed timeline in narrative form.
Student Name: ________________________________________
Community Contact Signature: _____________________________Date: ___________________
Recommendations:
Family Signature: _______________________________ Date: ___________________
Recommendations:
Advisor Signature: _______________________________ Date: ___________________
Recommendations:
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Implement the Product/Experience
Once your topic is chosen and your Project Proposal Letter is written you are ready to complete the
actual product. You will need to coordinate, produce, plan, and organize all the elements needed for
your particular activity or for the application of your topic that benefits the community or helps
someone. Here timelines will be helpful, and you must document the time you spent on the actual
product, (that is the preparing for and execution of that part of the project that people actually see hear
touch, etc.) You must also document your meeting time with your community contact person.
Document the time spent on your product using the Project Hours Log (p ) which will be turned in with
your portfolio. You may record time spent meeting, time spent constructing, planning, organizing and
executing. Any research directly connected to the execution of your product may also be included. You
MUST SIGN and DATE the bottom and turn it to certify that you did complete the necessary
hours. In addition, your NHS sponsor must initial the form after you complete all your hours.
Also, record the meetings, phone conversations or email exchanges you have with your community
contact person on the project hours log. Be sure to have your community contact person rate and
initial each face to face meeting.
This log is a required element of your portfolio.
Once a month you will be asked to turn in an Evaluation of Progress for Senior Service-Learning
Project form. Your advisor has these forms which must be signed by all members of your team and be
in your student file by the specified due date.
Due dates for Evaluation of Progress
for Senior Service-Learning Project
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Two Month prior to project Date
One Month prior to project Date
2 Weeks prior to project Date
1 Week prior to project Date
Record the hours spent on your product.
Have your community contact person, advisor or parents initial each entry.
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Montwood High School NHS Senior Project 2012-12
Project Hours Log
Student name
Date
Describe Activity/Goal/Accomplishment
# Hours
Community contact
person or parent
initials
Total
Hours
I certify that I completed all the necessary hours for my project.
Print Name: _______________________________________
Date:_______
Signature: _____________________________________ Sponsor Initials:_______
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Evaluation of Progress for Senior-Learning Project
Due in student file two months prior to project date
Committee members: Please examine the student’s work to date and make recommendations to
assist him/her in reaching successful completion.
Students: Please attach a typed summary of your meeting with your committee members, indicating
purpose and results.
Student Name: ________________________________ Hours to Date: ____________
Community Contact Signature: _____________________ Date:_________________
Recommendations:
Family Signature: _______________________________ Date: ___________________
Recommendations:
Advisor Signature: _______________________________ Date: ___________________
Recommendations:
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Evaluation of Progress for Senior-Learning Project
Due in student file one month prior to project date
Committee members: Please examine the student’s work to date and make recommendations to
assist him/her in reaching successful completion.
Students: Please attach a typed summary of your meeting with your committee members, indicating
purpose and results.
Student Name: ________________________________ Hours to Date: ____________
Community Contact Signature: _____________________ Date:_________________
Recommendations:
Family Signature: _______________________________ Date: ___________________
Recommendations:
Advisor Signature: _______________________________ Date: ___________________
Recommendations:
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Evaluation of Progress for Senior-Learning Project
Due in student file two weeks prior to project date
Committee members: Please examine the student’s work to date and make recommendations to
assist him/her in reaching successful completion.
Students: Please attach a typed summary of your meeting with your committee members, indicating
purpose and results.
Student Name: ________________________________ Hours to Date: ____________
Community Contact Signature: _____________________ Date:_________________
Recommendations:
Family Signature: _______________________________ Date: ___________________
Recommendations:
Advisor Signature: _______________________________ Date: ___________________
Recommendations:
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Evaluation of Progress for Senior-Learning Project
Due in student file one week prior to project date
Committee members: Please examine the student’s work to date and make recommendations to
assist him/her in reaching successful completion.
Students: Please attach a typed summary of your meeting with your committee members, indicating
purpose and results.
Student Name: ________________________________ Hours to Date: ____________
Community Contact Signature: _____________________ Date:_________________
Recommendations:
Family Signature: _______________________________ Date: ___________________
Recommendations:
Advisor Signature: _______________________________ Date: ___________________
Recommendations:
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Write: The Reflection Paper: One per Group
What you did and its relevance and meaning to you. Here is a suggested outline for your Senior
Project Reflection Paper.
Introduction:
Share a story, personal experience or quote related to your project. Be creative. The point is to grab
the audience’s attention.
Body of Paper – discuss:
A. How you chose your topic. Include research to explain your rationale for selecting
this project.
B. What you did for your product or experience.
C. The process of decisions you made and steps in doing the project including your
research
D. The importance of teamwork and your product, including those who helped you.
E. The importance of communication in connection with your project
F. Problems you encountered and ways you overcame or solved them
G. What you learned from doing your project:
a. about the topic,
b. about your community.
c. about yourself - your time management, communication, organizational skills
and abilities.
H. What you would have done differently to improve your product or your experience
I. Questions you might still have as a result of doing the project
J. How your project connects to your future – 1. Career direction, 2. Transferable skills
Conclusion:
Review what you covered in your presentation. Reflect on the Senior Project as a whole
experience. End with a parting thought, or use a quote to describe your experience, or with a
lasting image or a moment that will stay with you or that you will look back on when you think
about your senior project.
Be sure to include as many details, examples and “anecdotes” (stories) as you can, to describe your
experience. Your essay should be in MLA format and 3-4 pages.
NOTE: For use in your presentation you may convert your final paper into a PowerPoint
that will lead you through your presentation.
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Write Thank You Letters
When finished with your product, write a thank you letter or a hand written card to those people who
helped you. This is the best way to show appreciation. Please make a photo copy of the thank you
card or include a copy of the thank you letter for your portfolio. These letters must be proofread and
free of all errors. You can write more than one if you chose. You may write one to your contact, but
you are required to write one. It might be to your advisor, contact person or someone else who had
profound impact on your experience.
Sample Senior Project Thank You Letter
Your address here
7475 S.W. Nichols Street
Portland, Oregon 97232
Current date
May 9, 2007
Name and address of
Community contact person/Advisor
Ms. Tia Jones
Personnel Director
Northwest Supply Company
Portland, Oregon 97070
Salutation
Dear Ms. Jones:
Thank you for your help on my Senior Project this year.
I realize you are very busy, and I appreciated the time you gave me.
Body
Closing
Even though I was not very excited about doing the project at first,
I ended up feeling a real sense of accomplishment about organizing
the gift boxes for soldiers in Iraq.
It is with enthusiasm that I look forward to going to Chemeketa next
year and am confident that the skills I learned in high school will
help me be successful there. Thank you again for your support.
Sincerely,
Your signature
Your typed name
Freddie Fox
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Assemble your Portfolio
You will be handing in a portfolio or binder of your accomplishments. Pay close attention to
the following Portfolio Contents (use the same order as the checklist) and check them off as
you add each piece. If you have questions, ask your advisor. Refer to the Portfolio Scoring
Guide to view the standards that will be used to grade the portfolio. This is the record or
collection of evidence of your Senior Project.
Check Off the Portfolio Content Requirements
Project Cover (the front of portfolio)
Your name
Project title
YEAR
Title Page (first page seen when opening portfolio)
□ Your Name
□ Project Title
□ Advisor
Essential Question (written on a single page)
Acknowledgements
Thank those who helped complete the project
Table of Contents
Project Proposal Letter
Signed Team Learning Agreement
Project Hours Log
Evaluations of Progress for Senior Service-Learning (4)
Current Resume and with senior project included
Recommendation from a community contact
Product scoring guide scored by community contact person
Community Contact Person Relationship Scoring Guide
Copy of thank you note/card
Reflective Essay
Reflective Essay Scoring Guide
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Prepare your Presentation: show and tell what
you did and its relevance and meaning to you.
After your Product is completed, the next step will be for you to do a formal presentation of
what you did and its meaning to your future.
The presentation must meet the following requirements:
 Be 8-12 minutes long.
 Be presented formally.
 Include a “High Quality”* visual aid. (A PowerPoint, poster or display board.)
 Include research results
This type of presentation requires that you plan, organize and practice. Practice is what will
help you to meet the time requirement.
Presentation Preparation Tips
1. Plan your introduction. A good introduction will grab your listener’s attention, clearly
inform them about what you will cover and be under a minute in length. (You might start
with a quote, a fact, personal experience, a demonstration. Write it out on a card!
2. Plan your conclusion. Leave the audience with a thought. Take only 30 seconds or
less.
3. Organize your information and thoughts. Write your ideas on separate 3x5 cards
then arrange them in an order that makes sense to you, or create and arrange your
PowerPoint slides in the order in which you will use them, including your introduction and
conclusion.
4. Make sure you have a plan to use your visual aid. Put blank cards in spaces where you
will refer to your visual aid.
5. If you have a product that can be displayed, plan how you will display it and write that on
another card. Place that card in a logical spot.
6. Be sure you have made prior arrangements for any AV equipment (overhead,
computer, etc.) or for a stand or easel, for a poster.
7. Review each card and fill in details, facts and interesting tidbits, as necessary.
8. Put your cards in order and start practicing.
9. Be sure you do several practice presentations. Remember the presentation should
last 8-12 minutes. You will have one opportunity to practice your presentation and
receive feedback from your NHS sponsor.
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Facility Request
USING ANY SISD FACILITY FOR YOUR PROJECT
As you prepare to organize and launch you senior project. One thing to remember is
that IF you are using ANY Socorro Independent School District building, parking lot
or athletic field, you must complete a facility request form. Your facility request form
must be submitted to StuCo Director in Activities office no later than two months
prior to your service project. Keep a copy for your records. Forms may be picked up
in the Activities office, Business office or with your NHS sponsor
To be picked up at the StuCo Office
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Fundraiser Request
FUNDRAISING FOR YOUR PROJECT
As you prepare to organize and launch you senior project. One thing to remember is
that IF you are going to sell tickets, products, etc. you must complete a fundraising
request form. Your fundraiser request form must be submitted to StuCo Director in
Activities office no later than two months prior to your first selling date and or
service project. Keep a copy for your records. Forms may be picked up in the
Activities office, Business office or with your NHS sponsor.
To be picked up at the StuCo Office
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DUE DATES: Senior Project Requirements


Project Topic Due THREE months prior to project date
Project Proposal Letter Due THREE months prior to project date
Essential Question Due THREE months prior to project date
Evaluations of Progress for Senior Service-Learning (#1)
Due TWO months prior to project date
Signed Team Learning Agreement Due ONE month prior to project date
Evaluations of Progress for Senior Service-Learning (#2)
Due ONE month prior to project date
Evaluations of Progress for Senior Service-Learning (#3)
Due TWO weeks prior to project date
Evaluations of Progress for Senior Service-Learning (#4)
Due ONE week prior to project date
Current Resume and with senior project included Due ONE week prior to project date

My Presentation Date: TWO weeks before Spring Senior Clearance date
Acknowledgements: Due on project presentation day
Project Hours Log: Due on project presentation day
Copy of thank you note/card: Due on project presentation day
Reflective Essay: Due on project presentation day
FINAL PORTFOLIO DUE: on project presentation day
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