WHAT IS THE CULMINATING PROJECT?
The culminating project is a new Washington State graduation requirement. It is designed to give students a chance to demonstrate that they have the skills necessary to succeed after high school graduation by creating and completing a self-directed project of their choice. The project will require meaningful research, the creation of a product or event as an outgrowth of that research, sharing the product with others, and reflection on the learning process. In most cases, nearly all the research and activity will take place outside of class time, as the ability to work independently is part of the learning goal for this project.
WHY REQUIRE A CULMINATING PROJECT?
The State Board of Education recently revised Washington graduation requirements beginning with the Class of 2008. The culminating project is part of that revision and is required for graduation by state law.
This new requirement reads as follows:
Each student shall complete a culminating project for graduation.
The Project consists of students demonstrating both their learning competencies and preparations related to learning goals three and four.
Districts shall define the process to implement this graduation requirement.
The state learning goals are these:
Goal 1)
Read with comprehension, write with skill, and communicate effectively and responsibly in a variety of ways and settings;
Goal 2)
Know and apply the core concepts and principles of mathematics; social, physical, and life sciences; civics and history; geography; arts; and health and fitness;
Goal 3)
Think analytically, logically, and creatively, and to integrate experience and knowledge to form reasoned judgments and solve problems;
Goal 4)
Understand the importance of work and how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect future career and educational opportunities.
WHAT WILL BE EXPECTED?
As part of the Olympia School District policy, each culminating project will consist of six components:
1) A project proposal;
2) An annotated bibliography for all research related to the project;
3) A journal of all project activities;
4) A product/end-result that the student will create through the project;
5) A presentation about the project; and
6) A brief reflective paper summarizing the project and the entire process.
These components are described in more detail in the following sections.
WHEN CAN I DO THE CULMINATING PROJECT?
Students may complete the culminating project during either their junior or senior year.
HOW CAN I DO THE CULMINATING PROJECT?
The Culminating Project is required of all students, beginning with the class of 2008 (this year�s seniors). Every student must complete the Culminating Project to graduate.At this time we are offering three ways to complete the Culminating Project:1. Independent Study
2. Classes with a Culminating Project Option (CPO classes)
3. Classes which will require the Culminating Project
Independent Study is an option for juniors who would like to complete the Culminating Project on an independent basis on a project topic of the student�s own choice. Independent Study Projects are coordinated through the Culminating Project Coordinator. If you are interested in pursuing this option, contact the Culminating Project Coordinator, Mr. Pierson (spierson@osd.wednet.edu/ Voice Mail: x7309/Stop by the music office).
CPO Classes are classes that integrate the Culminating Project within existing curricular classes. In other words, there will be certain classes within each department that are designated as CPO classes. Teachers of the CPO classes have 4 different ways that they can choose to integrate the Culminating Project into the class. These choices relate to whether the project will be required of all students in the class or whether it will be an optional activity, and whether the project topic must relate to the class curriculum or be freely chosen by the student (see next page):
Culminating Project Option class (CPO):
A) Mandatory � Everyone in the class completes the CP in class.
1) It can be related to the curriculum OR
2) The topic may be student choice OR
B) Optional � Student in this class have the option of completing a CP
1) It can be related to the curriculumOR
2) The topic may be student choice
These can be thought of as:
CPO Class: Mandatory/Curricular Topic
CPO Class: Mandatory/Free Topic
CPO Class: Optional/Curricular Topic
CPO Class: Optional/Free Topic
The teacher of the class decides which of the four options will be used. This is listed in the course catalog so that you can choose carefully and realize the expectations of the classes you are considering. This year, most teachers are using an optional project format and limiting the number of projects they will supervise in each class.All students who are going to complete a Culminating Project should also attend the Wednesday CP Seminars
WHAT ARE WEDNESDAY CP SEMINARS?
Students working on a project, either in a CPO Class or as an Independent Study should plan to attend CP Seminars. These will be offered on Wednesday Mornings once or twice monthly in the PAC or the Lecture Hall. These seminars will guide you through the Student handbook and the requirements of the project components. This will be where students completing the project will get their �nuts-and-bolts� training on the project components and requirements and will minimize class time spent on these areas. Students will still be assessed on all components by their classroom or supervising teacher. You can get the schedule for when these seminars are offered from your project advisor/or CPO Teacher.
CAN MY PROJECT REALLY BE ON ANYTHING I WANT?
The safety of our students is paramount in determining which projects will not be allowed. The list of restrictions or prohibited projects is based on safety and liability issues. If you or your faculty advisor feels your project falls within a gray area, you will need to meet with the building principal, the Culminating Project coordinator, and a School District Risk Manager to see if it will be allowed. The �No� List is included in Appendix 1.
WHO WILL BE MY ADVISOR?
Every student completing a project will have a faculty advisor to work with. That person will be either the teacher of the curricular CP Option class, the teacher of the CP Class, or an assigned teacher who will monitor an independent project.
DO I HAVE TO HAVE A FIELD EXPERT?
Depending on your project, that faculty advisor may be able to help you enough with your project that additional help is not needed. However, you may find it helpful to have an additional outside resource person who is an expert in the field you are studying to help you plan your project and assist you with resources. Having this additional outside person, called a Field Expert, is encouraged, but not required. Students and parents are urged to use great care in choosing a field expert. Guidelines for choosing and working with a field expert are included in Appendix 2.
WHAT IF I NEED TO CHANGE MY PROJECT AFTER I BEGIN?
You will need to follow the guidelines outlined in the addendum process included in Appendix 3. Projects cannot be changed the last 6 weeks of a semester of a semester-length project, or after April 1 of a year long project.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT COMPLETE A PROJECT?
Failure to complete or meet minimum standards on this project would mean you will not graduate until all project components have been satisfactorily completed.
Students will have opportunities to repeat the process or re-do those components of their project that fail to meet standard to achieve graduation. Remediation steps can be found in Appendix 8.
WHAT IF I AM NEW TO THE DISTRICT MY SENIOR YEAR?
Students transferring at the beginning of the year will need to complete the project according to OHS and OSD requirements. Students transferring in the middle of the year will meet with the CP Coordinator to see how to handle each individual situation. In most cases those students will still need to complete the project, since state law requires it. If you are moving from another district to the Olympia School District (OSD), chances are, you may have already started or perhaps even completed a project at your former school. You will need to meet with the Culminating Project Coordinator to see where you are in the process. You may need to complete a partial project, or submit your previously completed project with any necessary Olympia requirements. In any case, Consideration will be given to work already completed in another district, but each case will be unique in the expectations for that student.
WHAT ABOUT RUNNING START OR NEW MARKET STUDENTS?
All students are expected to complete a culminating project for graduation. If you are a full-time Running Start student, you will need to sign up for the Independent Study option and either complete a project with an OHS supervising teacher, and/or coordinate any SPSCC project which may be eligible to be considered a Culminating Project.
New Market offers the Culminating Project in their coursework. If you are planning to complete the project at New Market, you will need to meet with either the Culminating Project Coordinator or your counselor when you successfully complete your project so that we can confirm your eligibility for graduation.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO GROUP PROJECTS?
At this point, no. This restriction may ease in future years, but as we get started with working students through this graduation requirement every student needs to be responsible for their own work.
WILL THIS BE EXPENSIVE?
There is no expectation to spend any certain amount of money. Projects need not be a financial burden. Students are strongly encouraged to spend no more than between $50-100.00, and realize that expense is not a substitute for quality work.
WHAT IF I AM A SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENT?
By law, every student will need to complete a culminating project. However, depending on your IEP, or 504 plan, your project will be tailored to accommodate your abilities. You will work with your case manager to set up appropriate modifications of project expectations on a case-by-case basis.
I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS!
Ask your project advisor/classroom teacher or the CP Coordinator, Mr. Pierson. We are here to help you get through this successfully. Mr. Pierson can usually be found in or around the band room or the music office at various times throughout the day and after school, however, he does teach at multiple buildings, so feel free to drop a note on his desk or use the following contact info if you have trouble tracking him down:
Email: spierson@osd.wednet.edu Voicemail: 596-7309