Capstone Project

What is a Capstone Project? 

A capstone project is a project-based learning opportunity for a student to showcase the culmination of their knowledge while fostering real world skills and experience. Capstone projects can also encourage students to connect to community or outside-of-school learning opportunities. The project and process should encourage learners to apply their knowledge and mastery of the Arizona Arts Education Standards in a way that interests them and furthers their individual goals. Through the student capstone project, students should demonstrate their artistic literacy through their ability to Create, Perform/Present/Produce, Connect, and Respond as an artist.

Process 

1. Set up a meeting with the Arts Seal Mentor Teacher within the first week of the school year.


2. Interested students will meet with their mentor to discuss the seal process. In this meeting, they will review the timeline for their performance-based portfolio for their capstone project.    


3. After the student and mentor have met, the student should clearly identify the activities and/or tasks (research, interviews, service) they will partake in to complete their portfolio.  Students should then carefully craft a detailed timeline that shows the date by which each step should be completed. 


4. Students should then complete the digital letter of intent.  This occurs during their senior year (or Junior if early grad).   


5. The Director of Arts will then review students' eligibility and approve.  It will be communicated to the mentors and students via email. If revisions are requested, they must be completed and re-submitted within one week. 


6. Once students receive notification that their application has been approved, they may proceed with their final portfolio. 


8.  Students must also calendar three dates to meet with a mentor teacher during the semester to receive feedback and outline the next steps.  The purpose of these meetings is to share the progress of the project. Students will bring evidence of work to the meeting. 


9. Students must submit a copy of the portfolio with the final Arts Proficiency Seal Application to their mentor. Final approval will be determined by the mentor teacher. 



Portfolio Requirements 

We require all capstones to have an observable outcome in the form of a digital portfolio showcasing their work over the past years of study.   Portfolio elements must include a minimum of the following: