Senior Capstone is an experiential learning experience to engage students in meaningful, self-fulfilling, and educational opportunities for post-secondary success. The two main areas for student participation are civic engagement and career exploration/readiness. The goal of Senior Capstone is to provide opportunities for authentic experiences that positively impact both individual students, schools, and the community.
Civic engagement and career exploration can range from hands-on experiences to administrative work. Career development opportunities can range from internships to job shadowing. Individual school Senior Capstone coordinators have discretion in choosing their community partners, approval of students projects, calendar dates, and any showcase of Senior Capstone content made available to the school community, parents, and partners.
Below are the responsibility for sponsors:
If agreeing to sponsor a student, complete the Permission Click that the student sends you by the appropriate deadline
Review the Capstone Handbook in its entirety.
Should be a professional in the field in which the student is working and should have direct interaction with the student daily
Set high goals and expectations for students and mentor them as they attempt to achieve them
Make students feel like part of a team and immerse them in the field
If desired, allow for service-learning opportunities, such as a guest speaker or field trips
Monitor Capstone attendance and behavior and report any indiscretions immediately to tiziana.marchante@lcps.org
Sponsor and student work on completing a schedule for the entire Capstone. Sponsor and Student complete the RRHS Capstone Schedule Form and both entities should sign it.
Sponsor may conduct an internal evaluation with the student to provide feedback, improvement and future suggestions in a workplace.
Sponsors are encouraged to attend the Capstone Gala to support the student on their achievements and learning.
Community Sponsors should avoid working with more than three students.
Below is a sample capstone project that businesses and community partners could use as an example for the student they sponsor.
SAMPLE CAPSTONE PROJECT
Where: Business X
Objective: Students will help clear a walking/hiking path on the property
Plan: Students will meet with Capstone advisor at Foundation
Survey property
Learn to read and understand map of property
Gather supplies/tools needed
Plan for numbers of hours worked per day, for allotted two week time for total number of hours
Direct report at Waterford Foundation
Product: photos; before/after; map pictures; tied to overall mission/function of Foundation
40 hours in 2 weeks; 20 hours per week; 1 hour check in with direct report at the end of each week
Unpaid
Email directly with school sponsor
SAMPLE CAPSTONE PROJECT
Where: Business X2
Objective: Students will gain marketing skills by working on a social media campaign to increase Twitter and other social media awareness about the project
Plan: Students will meet with Capstone advisor:
Research and learn about Edwin Washington Project
Gather data, talking points, research points to use in ad campaign
Plan for numbers of hours worked per day, for allotted two week time for total number of hours
Plan and map out media campaign
Product: add campaign slide deck or proposal to present to Larry Roeder, tied to overall mission/function of Foundation
30 hours in two weeks; 5 hours of in-person meeting; 25 hours remote; time log kept by student
Unpaid
Email directly with school sponsor