April, 2017

Dear Parents and Guardians of East Hamilton rising seniors:

As a part of a Hamilton County graduation requirement, each student must complete a Senior Capstone Project. The Capstone Project that has been assigned involves the following:

  • An approved proposal for a Service/Career project
  • A MINIMUM of 20 hours of Community Service/Job Shadow hours
  • A portfolio containing documented research and contact hours with a mentor
  • A Resume and personal essay
  • A short, reflective paper (3 paragraph essay)
  • An oral presentation that demonstrates the research and knowledge learned
  • A physical PRODUCT tied to the project
  • A review panel that evaluates the project

A Capstone Project allows students to learn about themselves by choosing an idea, topic of interest, specialization, community need, or career choice and producing a project to demonstrate their growth in their chosen area. Your student will be using reading, writing, analyzing, organizing and researching skills to complete this project. Timely completion of this project will take an effort by students as well as parents. Students must complete and pass each component of the project in order to meet graduation requirements. The project chosen must demonstrate growth and new learning.

As a first step, your student must choose a topic and essential question. Students will then submit a proposal to your student’s advisor for approval. Once approval is given, a formal letter of intent must be submitted to the advisor. Over the summer months, students will need to complete 20 service hours by the start of the school year in August. Throughout the year, students will maintain a portfolio and work toward completing the portfolio. The finished products of the Capstone Project will be the oral presentation of the project to a panel of judges and a physical product related to their project, as well as the final portfolio. A list of deadlines will be given to the students, as will rubrics for each portion of the Capstone Project.

Senior year is an exciting time for students and parents. It will take self-discipline and hard work to complete the Capstone Project. The enclosed Parental Consent form must be completed and returned to your student’s advisor by Friday, April 28, 2017.

Thank you for all of your help and support as we work to make this Capstone Project a success.

Sincerely,

Gail Chuy

Principal, East Hamilton School