What do I need to know about my

Graduation Project?

•Designed to be a showcase of an individual’s education•Supposed to challenge and stretch the student•Part of a national trend toward standard requirements•Originally required by the state of North Carolina as a graduation exit requirement•Now required by the state of North Carolina as part of the new accountability model

•ABSS requirements will change for the Class of 2014 and beyond•Graduation Project will be rebranded as the Capstone Project•Purposes will remain the same with an added emphasis on technology•Structure and evaluation will be streamlined

Requirements for members of the Class of 2013

4 components1. Paper

• Written junior year• Connected to subject of product

2. Product• Connected to topic of paper• Consisting of at least 20 hours of work

3. Portfolio• Organized and complete collection of work

materials• Collected in a binder

4. Presentation• Scheduled during semester student is

enrolled in English IV• Discusses entire Graduation Project process

in front of panel of community judges

Grade:

• Each component is evaluated based on a rubric.

• Average of grades on all four components.

• Becomes student’s English IV final exam grade.

I’m a senior. What should I be doing now?

1. You should already have an advisor. If your advisor is no longer at Williams, you will be assigned to his/her replacement if one is available. If you wish to select your own advisor, this should be done immediately.

2. You should already have an approved application. If you have not completed an application or if your application was not approved, see your advisor to take care of this immediately.

3. You should already have written your GP paper.

This year:4.Start working on your approved product.

Make sure to record time and activities on your Log of Product Hours.*Check in with your advisor frequently.

5.Purchase a binder and page protectors and begin to assemble your portfolio.

6.Practice your presentation with your advisor.

Requirements for members of the

Class of 2014 and beyond

3 components1. Product

• Service oriented or learning oriented• Consists of at least 20 hours of work

2. Portfolio• Digital collection of work products and 4

student-selected exemplars• Stored in a digital dropbox in Gaggle

3. Presentation• All students present in the spring• Discusses entire Graduation Project process

in front of panel of community judges

Grade:• Each component is evaluated based on a simple checklist.

• Student works with advisor until each component is satisfactory.

• Student receives pass or fail grade.• Completion of project is recorded on student’s transcript.

I’m a junior. What should I be doing now?

1. You should already have an advisor. If your advisor is no longer at Williams, you will be assigned to his/her replacement if one is available. If you wish to select your own advisor, this should be done immediately.

2. You should already have an approved application. If you have not completed an application or your application was not approved, see your advisor to take care of this immediately.

This year:3.Start collecting digital copies of work products

that you’re proud of for your portfolio. Save these in the designated dropbox in Gaggle.

4. Check in with your advisor frequently. Use him or her to help you select exemplars for your portfolio.

5. Add and update accomplishments and activities to your digital résumé in Career Cruising as needed.

Check with your advisor frequently.

Check the Graduation Project webpage on the Williams

website for updates as they become available.

Good luck!