SUMMER SENIOR CAPSTONE

For students who have a unique opportunity this summer, completing your Capstone experience before the school year begins may be a great option.

This can be especially beneficial if you:

• Expect to take multiple AP exams next spring.

• Will be traveling with a sports team during Spring Break.

• Have a valuable summer opportunity to explore a career field that interests you.

Summer Capstone Guidelines

• Explore a career of interest. Your Capstone experience should involve shadowing or working alongside a professional in a field you are genuinely interested in pursuing.

• Complete 25 total hours. The hours may be spread across multiple days, depending on what works best for you and your community sponsor.

• Choose an appropriate placement. Your current summer job does not qualify as a Capstone experience. You may complete your experience where a parent works; however, your parent cannot serve as your community sponsor or supervise and complete your required paperwork.

• Reflect on your experience. You will complete a daily journal and present your Capstone experience at the end of the school year. Presentation details will be shared with students who choose the summer option.

• Out-of-state experiences are permitted if you have the opportunity.

If you would like to complete your Capstone this summer, please send a detailed email to Mrs. Dolan outlining:

• What you would like to do

• Where you plan to complete your experience

• Your anticipated dates

Once your proposal is approved, you will receive the required paperwork and additional instructions.

Please note that there will still be a designated Capstone week in May during the school year. Students who complete their Capstone experience early will not report to traditional classes during that week, allowing them to focus on AP testing, athletics, or other commitments.

SENIOR PARKING SPOT PAINTING: CLASS OF 2027

UPDATE: The Senior Painting Spots are almost sold out, so please submit your forms ASAP if you want to paint a spot. Seniors may still buy a regular parking spot, but the ones available for painting are limited.

Parents’ Club is ready to help you make your first SENIOR MEMORY and paint your parking spot for the 2026-2027 school year! The cost is $100, which includes the cost of your parking permit. (You still need to submit a Parking Permit Application form to the Bookstore, but you will pay through Parents’ Club). 

TO RESERVE A SPOT, senior students are required to: 

1) complete the Google Form Contract

2) pay the $100 fee

BEFORE ANY PAINTING CAN BEGIN, senior students must also 

1) submit the 2026-2027 Parking Permit Application Form to the Bookstore:

2) obtain approval for their design

DESIGNS

Designs MUST be submitted and approved BEFORE the student is allowed to begin painting. Seniors may upload their design when they first submit the Google Form Contract to secure their spot. If they do not know what their design is yet, they can submit the design at a later date by emailing it to parentsclub@stvm.com.

PAINTING DATES

Painting dates are listed in this SignUp Genius. We are offering varying days/times in July and August. Please know that most students take more than one session to paint their design. Also note that the dates will be subject to change due to weather. 

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

We need your help! We could use 1-2 parents (in addition to the Parents’ Club coordinators) to help us mix paint and refill paint containers on the painting days. Please consider coming to volunteer – it is fun! Time slots are listed on the SignUp Genius.

SAVE THE DATE: 

AUG 17 & 18 COLLEGE KICKSTART WORKSHOPS

Attention Seniors:  STVM is hosting College Kickstart Workshops Aug. 17-18 for students in the Class of 2027. 

Throughout the workshops, students will:

• Create and begin building their Common Application account

• Receive step-by-step guidance on completing application sections

• Work on college essays, personal statements, and supplemental responses

• Strengthen activities and involvement section

• Review application timelines, deadlines, and next steps

• Receive individualized support from counselors and college professionals

Since all juniors will complete a college essay as part of their summer assignments, this is a great opportunity to receive feedback from professionals and fine-tune essays before school starts.

Workshops will be offered in both morning and afternoon sessions across the two days for your convenience. Details will be emailed to students and posted in Irish Weekly.

Reminder: seniors should make sure to ask for a letter of recommendation for their college applications by July 15 if they have not already done so.  Students should simply email a teacher by July 15 to ask that teacher if he/she would be willing to write a letter of recommendation.  Letters of recommendation do not need to be officially requested through Naviance at this time. When school resumes, seniors will be working in Naviance to complete the process of officially requesting a college letter of recommendation through the portal. Teachers will upload letters to Naviance per the due dates for the specific colleges. Please see the College and Career Planning and Timeline for the STVM Class of 2027, which was presented in February 2026, for a complete timeline.  Note: one line in this presentation was updated to extend the due date for students to ask teachers to write their letters to July 15 and for teachers to officially upload letters in the fall.