1. Graduation Project Pender County Schools.

2. Goals: The Graduation Project will:  create students who will be independent and lifelong learners.  create an environment that fosters cross-curricular mentorship and resources.  invite community involvement with the school in the form of mentorship, resources, and student recognition.  provide a venue for students to connect learning, life, and work.

3. Why Graduation Project?  Students choose their own topics based upon their interests and future goals.  Students integrate learning from various high school disciplines.  Students apply learning to real-world context.  Students to stretch beyond current accomplishments.  Students experience service learning.  Students gain skills in organization, time management, self-advocacy, and self-reflection.

4. Requirements The Graduation Project is divided into four components:  RESEARCH PAPER  PRODUCT  PRESENTATION  PORTFOLIO

5. RESEARCH PAPER  6-9 pages  6 minimum sources (including 1 internet and 1 interview)  Outlines and Rough Drafts required  MLA documentation of sources  Formal support provided in English III or Junior Seminar

6. PRODUCT  Logical link to research paper  Learning stretch  Minimum of 10 hours  Verify completion with documents, photos, mentor testimony  One mentor –NO family –21 or older –Teacher or Community Leader –Background Check Required

7. PORTFOLIO  Technology utilized 1. Cover page 2. Table of Contents 3. Letter to judges 4. Final draft of paper 5. Product photos and documentation 6. Mentor/advisor evaluation form 7. Mentor/advisor meeting log 8. Reflective Essay

8. PRESENTATION  Components –Intro –Summary of Research –Description of Product –Mentor Information –Self-Reflection –Closing  Accurate, credible information  8-10 minutes with 5 minutes extra for questions/answers (total of 15 min. max)  Professional Dress

9. Scoring  State rubrics will be used for the final evaluation of each component.  Schools will not assign a numeric grade to the final scoring of each component.  Teachers may assign grades for drafts or parts, such as the resume, of a component.  If students submit a component that does not meet the minimum state requirements, the students will go into the Recovery Process.