Parent Info

Dear Senior Families,

INTERESTING OPPORTUNITY FOR SENIORS ( SENIOR INDEPENDENT PROJECT!) 

SENIORS Looking for an alternative learning opportunity fourth quarter should think about completing a Senior Independent Project! We are hoping that you will encourage your student to participate in the Senior Independent Project Program (SIP)! 

WHS seniors work independently outside the classroom during fourth quarter on a project of their own choice and design. If selected, instead of attending one or two of their classes during fourth quarter, they would spend at least five hours per week working on an internship, volunteering at a non-profit agency, learning a new skill, or researching an area of personal interest.  A successful project will require students to work outside the academic setting to fulfill a personal goal and/or passion. The purpose is for the students to become more independent and responsible as they complete their high school career. The chance to change the course of your student's life is an added bonus!

In previous years, senior projects have included:

Building a boat                                            Creating videos
Inventing phone apps                                  Starting a new business
Learning a new to you language                 Writing -children’s books or poetry
Writing/recording original music                  Working in an office/professional setting
Internships                                               Community Service Projects

Important Dates:

January/February – Students meet with Mr. Krasnoo and/or Ms. McGillis to get help with senior projects and explore ideas (dates tbd)

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

February 14-16 – Informational meetings about senior projects. ATTENDANCE REQUIRED at ONE of these meetings:

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

• Feb 15  - 3:15 p.m. in the library

• Feb 16th - 8:00 a.m. in the library

March 15 - completed applications with all required signatures due to Mr. Krasnoo & Ms. McGillis

April 1 - Faculty SIP selection committee will notify students if their projects has been chosen

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

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

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

May 31 (Friday) - One page reflection paper due to Mr. Krasnoo & Ms. McGillis

What are the expectations if a student's proposal is accepted?

• Committing 5 hours for each class dropped (up to two classes)

• Finding a mentor in the field they are exploring, having regular contact with that person, 

• Writing a weekly journal entry reflecting on their progress, submitting an entry a week to Mr. Krasnoo and Ms. McGillis

• Writing a final reflective paper and submitting it to Mr.Krasnoo and Ms.McGillis 

• Creating a culminating oral, visual or performance based component to be shared at presentation night

• Having lots of independent, self-directed hard work and a sense of personal fulfillment when they are done

If you have any questions or concerns about this program, please do not hesitate to contact one of us at the High School. 

Jennifer McGillis jennifer_mcgillis@waylandps.org  and Lee Krasnoo lee_krasnoo@waylandps.org

SIP Program Co-directors 

*Students can drop up to two classes to do a senior project. Classes that cannot be dropped include performing arts classes, A.P. classes, and courses that have culminating final projects of their own. Please encourage your students to contact us with any questions.