I. O.P.T.I.O.N.S.
Program is an optional, credit-bearing full year course driven by a curriculum based on real life experiences. It encourages students to explore areas of personal interest, to use community talent/expertise to enhance their learning, and apply the gained skills/knowledge to the design and implementation of a Senior Project.
II. The O.P.T.I.O.N.S.
Curriculum includes challenging topics which enable our students to function in the world of real life experiences. It will include a Life Skills component which will better prepare our students to cope with an ever changing world as well as a Senior Activities component which will be tailored toward our students’ transition to the world of college or careers.
III. The Senior Project
The Senior Project is an original piece of student work which will entail the higher reasoning skills of Bloom’s taxonomy: analysis, synthesis, application, evaluation, and extrapolation. The format will be either a mentored internship project or an independent project. Work will begin during the 9th period of the third marking period on a limited basis and continue into the fourth marking period on a full time basis during periods 7, 8, 9 and beyond. Students may work on- or off-campus as outlined in their project proposal. Students working on-campus will work in designated areas supervised by the faculty advisors. Students working off-campus will be supervised by their mentor sponsor.
IV. The Senior Exhibition
Students will present their Senior Project findings/documentation to a panel of their peers and community members using the available presentation technology and learned skills generated from the O.P.T.I.O.N.S. Curriculum.
V. Grading Policy
Numeric grades will be given for work completed in the O.P.T.I.O.N.S. program. Final course grade will be based on 20% for each marking period and 20% for the Senior Exhibition.
VI. Additional Requirements
All school regulations apply regarding to student attendance policies on absences and tardiness. Pertinent permission slips for off-site work will be available and handled as per school policy. Successful completion of the O.P.T.I.O.N.S. program requires students being able to properly manage their time.
O.P.T.I.O.N.S. Program Requirements
The student is a participant in the O.P.T.I.O.N.S. Program which involves the O.P.T.I.O.N.S. Curriculum and the Senior Project.
All Internship Projects or Independent Projects will:
• Produce a new and tangible work such as a drama or short story, a series of paintings or sculptures, a film or recital, a web page, a written record of a series of science experiments, a problem solved or investigative field case study, or a set of computer programs.
• Select a mentor with the approval of the O.P.T.I.O.N.S. Team.
• Submit Parent Consent form from a parent or guardian to participate in the chosen project.
• Submit a written Project Proposal orally to the O.P.T.I.O.N.S. panel.
• Provide their own transportation for off-site internship.
• Commit a minimum of 50 hours to the project as verified by the time logs (40 hours if taking a class other than English, Government or Economics Period 7 or 8).
• Notify faculty advisor in a timely fashion of any problems with internship or independent project.
• Abide by school rules for attendance and decorum.
• Meet with mentors according to the requirements of each option and keep a collaborative JOURNAL with mentor.
• Receive an overall evaluation by the mentor.
• Present their Project before an audience including the mentor when possible, a small group of juniors, and invited guests.
• Attend regular weekly seminars/feedback sessions with faculty advisor during project.
• Submit an O.P.T.I.O.N.S. Program self-evaluation questionnaire
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT CHOICES
1. INTERNSHIP PROJECTS
are mentor supervised educational experiences outside North Salem High School mirroring the firm or organization’s expectations for employees and culminating in a final O.P.T.I.O.N.S. Project.
Program is an optional, credit-bearing full year course driven by a curriculum based on real life experiences. It encourages students to explore areas of personal interest, to use community talent/expertise to enhance their learning, and apply the gained skills/knowledge to the design and implementation of a Senior Project.
II. The O.P.T.I.O.N.S.
Curriculum includes challenging topics which enable our students to function in the world of real life experiences. It will include a Life Skills component which will better prepare our students to cope with an ever changing world as well as a Senior Activities component which will be tailored toward our students’ transition to the world of college or careers.
III. The Senior Project
The Senior Project is an original piece of student work which will entail the higher reasoning skills of Bloom’s taxonomy: analysis, synthesis, application, evaluation, and extrapolation. The format will be either a mentored internship project or an independent project. Work will begin during the 9th period of the third marking period on a limited basis and continue into the fourth marking period on a full time basis during periods 7, 8, 9 and beyond. Students may work on- or off-campus as outlined in their project proposal. Students working on-campus will work in designated areas supervised by the faculty advisors. Students working off-campus will be supervised by their mentor sponsor.
IV. The Senior Exhibition
Students will present their Senior Project findings/documentation to a panel of their peers and community members using the available presentation technology and learned skills generated from the O.P.T.I.O.N.S. Curriculum.
V. Grading Policy
Numeric grades will be given for work completed in the O.P.T.I.O.N.S. program. Final course grade will be based on 20% for each marking period and 20% for the Senior Exhibition.
VI. Additional Requirements
All school regulations apply regarding to student attendance policies on absences and tardiness. Pertinent permission slips for off-site work will be available and handled as per school policy. Successful completion of the O.P.T.I.O.N.S. program requires students being able to properly manage their time.
O.P.T.I.O.N.S. Program Requirements
The student is a participant in the O.P.T.I.O.N.S. Program which involves the O.P.T.I.O.N.S. Curriculum and the Senior Project.
All Internship Projects or Independent Projects will:
• Produce a new and tangible work such as a drama or short story, a series of paintings or sculptures, a film or recital, a web page, a written record of a series of science experiments, a problem solved or investigative field case study, or a set of computer programs.
• Select a mentor with the approval of the O.P.T.I.O.N.S. Team.
• Submit Parent Consent form from a parent or guardian to participate in the chosen project.
• Submit a written Project Proposal orally to the O.P.T.I.O.N.S. panel.
• Provide their own transportation for off-site internship.
• Commit a minimum of 50 hours to the project as verified by the time logs (40 hours if taking a class other than English, Government or Economics Period 7 or 8).
• Notify faculty advisor in a timely fashion of any problems with internship or independent project.
• Abide by school rules for attendance and decorum.
• Meet with mentors according to the requirements of each option and keep a collaborative JOURNAL with mentor.
• Receive an overall evaluation by the mentor.
• Present their Project before an audience including the mentor when possible, a small group of juniors, and invited guests.
• Attend regular weekly seminars/feedback sessions with faculty advisor during project.
• Submit an O.P.T.I.O.N.S. Program self-evaluation questionnaire
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT CHOICES
1. INTERNSHIP PROJECTS
are mentor supervised educational experiences outside North Salem High School mirroring the firm or organization’s expectations for employees and culminating in a final O.P.T.I.O.N.S. Project.
Requirements
In addition to the general Senior O.P.T.I.O.N.S. requirements, interns will:
make initial contact with an agency, business, or institution to determine its
willingness to sponsor the student as an intern.
Intern may not work for monetary compensation.
Internship work will be completed off-campus at the site of the intern’s mentor.
2. INDEPENDENT PROJECTS
require students to utilize a mentor’s expertise to complete an in-house independent project with appropriate support documentation under O.P.T.I.O.N.S. staff supervision.
Independent Project work will be completed on the premises of North Salem High School.
