WHS Senior Independent Project (SIP)

What is the Senior Independent Project? 

The Senior Independent Project (SIP) Program is available to all WHS seniors. The program started in 2010, and has inspired a number of WHS students to create a unique project. The goal of the program is to allow motivated seniors to come up with and design their own projects to be completed during the last quarter of their senior year (students will be excused from 1-2 classes). 

Seniors are welcome to explore a creative interest and/or a vocational possibility that their previous classwork did not address. Past projects have included: 

• building a boat

• assembling a go-cart 

• building a smoker and experimenting with smoked meat

• studying a variety of religions

• doing genealogical research

• learning a new language

We have found that taking responsibility for designing their own projects has been a huge motivating force for the students that have participated so far. Parents/guardians of these students say that they have never seen their children so excited and invested in what they were doing, nor so dedicated to the work they had set for themselves, as they were in their last term at WHS. 

Interested students should do some brainstorming about what exactly their project would consist of. Deciding on an area of interest such as art. music, education, computers, scientific research, a craft, or a form of community service would be the first step. A more challenging aspect is coming up with a workable project that will fit into the last 6 weeks of the school year and then finding an internship or mentor to help the student accomplish their goal(s) (we can help you find a mentor/sponsor if need be). Depending on the nature of the project, students may also ask teachers to serve as mentors. The initiative for the project needs to come from the student, however, parents can suggest people or places to contact.

2023/24Project Timeline: 

January/February - Come meet with Mr. Krasnoo and/or Ms. McGillis to get help with senior projects and explore ideas

Winter Week Sessions - Tues. Jan 30 Block 1, Period 4 & Thurs. Feb 1 Block 2, Period 3 in B125 (the library classroom) 

February 13 - 16 – Informational meetings about senior projects. ATTENDANCE REQUIRED at ONE of these meetings - 

• Feb. 14, 15, & 16  - meetings will be held during all three lunch blocks in the library

• Feb 15  - 3:15 p.m. in the library 

• Feb 16th - 8:00 a.m. in the library

March 15 - Applications/proposals with all required signatures due to Mr.Krasnoo &
Ms. McGillis

April 1 - Faculty SIP selection committee will notify students if their projects have been selected

April 2 - 5 Informational Meetings Students must attend ONE of the meetings during this week.  Attendance is MANDATORY.  Dates & Times TBD

April 8 -  (First day of 4h quarter) PROJECTS BEGIN!! Students working on selected projects do not attend dropped classes 

Journal entries due on the following Fridays by 11:59 p.m.

• April 12  - 1st journal entry due

• April 19  - 2nd  journal entry due 

• April 26 - 3rd  journal entry due

• May 3  - 4th  journal entry due

• May 10  - 5th journal entry due

• May 17  - 6th journal entry due

• May 24  - 6th journal entry due

• May 30 (Thursday) - Culminating projects displayed in The Commons 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM - ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED

May 31 (Friday) - Reflection paper due to Mr. Krasnoo & Ms. McGillis