SYNC/Capstone

PURPOSE OF CAPSTONE

The Capstone project is a Bonny Eagle High School graduation requirement, which links with the Maine Guiding Principles and the Bonny Eagle vision that will help connect student learning to post-secondary life.

WHAT IS THE CAPSTONE PROJECT?

The Bonny Eagle High School Capstone Graduation Project is a school board approved event at the end of your high school career, linked directly to the Maine Guiding Principles and Bonny Eagle High School vision. This is an exciting and dynamic culminating graduation requirement that calls upon you to develop an individual project of your choice that demonstrates the skills you have developed as a self directed and lifelong learner. Through this project, each senior will exhibit his/her skills as an effective communicator (both written and spoken), quality worker, and an integrative and informed thinker.

The main idea of Capstone is YOU. The intent is to connect your learning to a personal interest that you, the student, believe may be relevant to the next stage of your life.

The goal is to encourage and motivate you to engage in a project that relates to your post high school interests, goals and aspirations.

Students will select from one of the four project options. Each option is different and provides you with an opportunity to explore areas of specific interests, as well as demonstrates your personal strengths. it will include research and development of a major product or project over your four years of high school. Learning often takes place beyond the walls of the classroom. You may have opportunities to go outside of the school for your research, development and process.

Suggestions to assist you in selecting areas of interest for your Capstone Project may include:

Animal Care/Shelters/Colleges/Community Agencies/Computer/Tech related business/Environmental Centers/Fitness Centers/Gyms/Hair Salons/Health Care Facilities/ Historical Societies/ Culinary/ Hotels / Societies/ Restaurants/ Hospitality/ Jewelers/ Law/ Legal Services/ Libraries/ Mechanics/ Body Shops/ Garages / Retail/ Clothing/ Theatres/ Music/ Trades (plumbing, carpentry, electrical, metal works, manufacturing) Visual Arts/Photography

MOST IMPORTANTLY, no matter what form your Capstone Project takes, you should focus on an area that you are passionate about, you will be proud of and will have FUN doing!

Capstone Project Option Descriptions

Service Oriented Option 1:  Students choosing this area will devote a minimum of 25 hours toward a community service / service learning project.  For instance, students may develop and implement a unique promotion for raising funds for the local food bank, a community clean up effort, field trips or seminars of interests on topics about the environment, homeless, elderly homes, clothing drives or even begin their own non-profit to address a community need.

Self-Development Option 2:  Students choosing this option will work to develop a skill and demonstrate it; to construct or create something you are committed to or passionate about.  Examples may include design and build a model of a physical product, perform or produce a play you have written or choreographed, develop a technology or mechanically based idea for actual use. Examples might include: 4-H, Scouts, Music/Theatre involvements, environmental or agricultural interests researched and explored with compelling research data. Write a computer program for application, write, edit and produce a video, organize a major event or begin a business.

Career-Exploration Option 3:  Students who choose this option will complete an internship or job shadow experience, in a career field that the student plans to pursue after high school.  Students will begin by researching career areas of interest.  After identifying a career area of interest, the student will research and identify a local company or organization that will sponsor them for an internship or job shadow options. 

Self-Design / Combination Option 4:  For students who would like to combine two or more options, Self-design will allow students to direct their Capstone experience. In addition, this option may incorporate employment experiences or a small group (2-4) of students who want to work together.