I. The Senior Exhibition

Overview

The primary requirement for seniors is the Senior Exhibition. The Senior Exhibition is project-oriented and consists of (1) a series of benchmarks and (2) a concluding fifty-five minute exhibition. Each senior decides on the objective of his/her project and works with a faculty member (i.e., content advisor) to establish the project's guiding question and the benchmarks towards the successful completion of the exhibition project. A student’s Senior Exhibition grade is based on a 50/50 evaluation of his/her benchmark portfolio and final presentation.

The Benchmark Portfolio, Content Advisor, and Exhibition Committee

Once a senior decides on a project, he/she chooses a content advisor to establish benchmarks and act as the area expert. At the same time, a three-person committee – made up of the student’s content advisor, appropriate department chair, and regular academic advisor – is established to review all submitted benchmarks. (Note: If the content advisor is also the department chair, then an additional faculty member from within the department will be chosen to serve on the student’s Exhibition Committee.) Importantly, all benchmarks must be approved by all members of the Exhibition Committee, and a student may not continue to the next round and may not give the final presentation until all previously rejected benchmarks have been revised and accepted. Thus, without a completed, fully approved Benchmark Portfolio the senior will receive an “F” for the Senior Exhibition.

Final Presentation

The Senior Exhibition concludes with a fifty-five minute presentation. The format/style of the final presentation is up to the student; however, the presentation must be appropriate to the objective or thesis of the student’s project and must be approved by his/her Exhibition Committee. The presentation must also include a question and answer session of at least ten minutes.

Schedule

The Senior Exhibition is divided into three 5-week rounds that run from the second week of school to roughly the second week of the third quarter. There is a one-week break scheduled between each round, and students are expected to use this time to revise and resubmit any previously rejected benchmarks. Again, a student may not proceed to the next round and may not give the final presentation until all rejected benchmarks have been revised and accepted.

The 2008 - 2009 schedule is as follows:

If a Student Fails

If a student fails the Senior Exhibition – if the Benchmark Portfolio is incomplete or the presentation is unsatisfactory – he/she must complete a ten- to fifteen-page research paper and defend the thesis in a regular fifty-five minute presentation, scheduled for the fourth quarter. This “make up” exhibition is graded C (Satisfactory) or F (Unsatisfactory). If the senior fails, he/she will have to enroll in (and pass) a three-week summer course to complete the Senior Exhibition and receive his/her diploma. Note that a senior may not participate in the graduation ceremony without a successful Senior Exhibition.

II. Early College Project

The purpose of the Early College Project is to provide students the opportunity to further pursue the “real work” of their Senior Exhibitions. As such, the Early College Project should represent an applied extension of the Senior Exhibition. Everything from a performance, demonstration, workshop, seminar, etc. is possible. The student works with his/her Senior Exhibition Committee to determine an appropriate direction and format/style for the Early College Project. A student may complete the Early College Project either before or after the Senior Exhibition, as appropriate.

Two examples follow: 

• Student completes Senior Exhibition on the role of women during World War II and an Early College Project developing an audio archive of interviews with women who were alive during WWII.
• Student completes Early College Project writing and directing a one-act farce and a Senior Exhibition on the use of farce in drama, citing his/her own work as a principal example.

The Early College Project is graded by the student’s Senior Exhibition Committee, two students, and at least one outside-school expert. The student must score at least a B- (80%) to successfully complete the project and thereby receive an Early College Project Certificate at graduation.   

III. Honors Program

The purpose of the New School Honors Program is to encourage the pursuit of excellence in the student body, and in particular to encourage students to go more deeply into areas of interest than the general curriculum would allow.

Any student participating in the New School Honors program must complete the general requirements of this program. However, the appropriate department will determine many of the specifics and much of the evaluation of success in meeting requirements. Thus, students in the Honors Program who want to pursue artistic endeavors would be administrated through the Arts department and would tailor their completion of the requirements to fit an artistic direction.

The general requirements of the Honors program are as follows:

1. To enter the Honors program, the student must have successfully completed his/her Junior Portfolio.
2. A student wishing to be in the Honors program must direct his/her Senior Exhibition towards his/her chosen subject area.
3. The student must successfully (90% or higher) complete a Senior Exhibition AND Early College Project in his/her subject area.
4. The student must successfully (80% or higher) complete a Level IV (Honors) course in his/her chosen discipline. These Honors courses will ‘set the high bar” for what students at the school should be achieving in that particular discipline. They are also expected to offer a larger perspective and critical insight into that particular discipline.
5. The student must become involved in an experience that is external to the school within his/her subject area. This could include a college class, an internship, a service activity, a long trip, etc. Thirty hours is the minimum requirement, with students encouraged to make their experience ongoing.
6. Students are expected to develop a showcase portfolio that demonstrates their engagement and successes in their subject area. The head of the department will determine the specific requirements for the portfolio.
7. Students are expected to be student leaders in their subject area. How this is defined will vary by department, but might include being a teaching assistant, putting on a school event, giving a lecture or workshop presentation, or tutoring.

Upon successful completion of the requirements, the student will be presented with an Honors Certificate in that particular discipline at graduation.

Some examples follow:

U.S. History Honors Certificate

1.  
   1. Student completes Senior Exhibition on the role of women during World War II and an Early College project that consists of developing an audio archive of interviews with women who were alive during WWII.
   2. Student takes and earns a B + in the U.S. History department Honors course “Looking for America” which examines key themes and the development of an American identity.
   3. Student enrolls in a George Mason class on 20^th Century U.S. History or student goes on Lewis and Clark trip or Student participates in historical reenactment for 8 hours a month for 5 months.
   4. Student creates a portfolio demonstrating his/her historical pursuits, interests and milestone events academically and personally.
   5. Student becomes a middle school TA for the U.S. History segment and gives a workshop on the role of women in WWII during community time.

Drama Honors Certificate

1. Student completes Senior Exhibition on the use of farce in Drama. Student completes Early College project writing and performing a one-act farce.
2. Student takes and earns an A in the Drama area Honors course “Advanced Acting and Directing.”
3. Student becomes involved in a local theater group, and plays two minor roles in their Fall and Spring productions.
4. Student creates a video portfolio showcasing their dramatic successes and influences.
5. Student heads up the Drama Activity on Wednesday and he/she participates in all school productions that year.

World Studies Honors Certificate

1. Student completes Senior Exhibition on the genocide in Rwanda. Student completes Early College project creating and putting on an evening discussion and activism event about stopping genocide.
2. Student takes and earns an A in the World Studies Honors course “Global Service: Kenya.”
3. Student completes 120 hours of Community Service working with a non-profit devoted to dealing with issues of war, genocide, and oppression.
4. Student creates a portfolio documenting his/her Community Service work, Global Service travels, and work on genocide.
5. Student is a member of the Amnesty International activity at school. Student participates in several community service events at school. Student encourages other students to participate in workshops and other external events, and participates in these events with them.