SENIOR PROJECT PROPOSAL

Submit in classroom before 11:59 pm on Friday, January 6, 2017

Please write all responses in blue

STUDENTS NAME: SECTION:

Seminar Class _____ Monday ___X___ Thursday __X__ Siu ______ Parker

PROJECT TITLE:
The Lowell Lions: Appreciating Art
Two to four word summary of project:
The arts at Lowell
Title to list in presentation program:
The Lowell Lions: Appreciating Art
Traveling? __X__No _____Yes (list dates and location)

Student address : 6521 N. 3rd St.

Zip Code: 19126

Student Phone Number: (cell / home): 215-305-2755

Student E-mail: SDistrict: 7550434@philasd.org Alternate: jessicaha1628@gmail.com

Parent or Guardian Name : Michelle Khua

Parent or Guardian Daytime Phone Number: 267-608-5088

Parent or Guardian Email : mkhua66@gmail.com

*Student Your electronic signature is confirmation that you agree with all components of the
proposal, that you have listed your proposed responsibilities for 60 hours, May 19 through June 2, and
and that you have developed and shared the entire proposal with your mentor.
Student Signature:
Jessica Ha

*Parent or Guardian Your electronic signature is indication that you have read the parent letter and
agree to all components of the project proposal.
Parent or Guardian Signature:
Michelle Khua

Pg 1
 Mentor Agreement
All mentor information must be filled in accurately and completely, including signature!

Mentors Name:

Position/Title:

Agency Name:

Mentors email:

Mentors Telephone Number (Please check preferred contact number)

Preferred #? Number Best times to call

_____ (cell)

_____ (work)

Agency Address:

City: State: Zip:

Mentor, please initial each item and sign below to indicate your agreement to work directly with the student
from May 19 to June 2, 2017. Failure to complete the senior project may prevent the student from
graduating.

______ I have received a copy of and read the proposal and mentor letter. I agree with terms described
in the attached narrative. (Items 1 through 7 attached: Project summary, service requirement, timeline [60
hours] and presentation plans).

_______ I agree to directly supervise the student throughout the project, May 19 through June 2, 2017.

______ I agree to provide a completed mentor evaluation (10 questions) to the student by
Friday, June 2, 2017.

_______ I agree to contact Masterman's Enrichment department by e-mail or phone if any concerns
about the student or my availability to serve in this role arise before or during the project.
Nabeehah Parker, Senior Project Coordinator 215-299-4661 option 7 nparker@philasd.org

*I have read the proposal of _______________ to complete a School District of Philadelphia senior project.
I agree to the project summary, service activity, presentation plan, proposed timeline, and the four items
listed on this mentor agreement page. I have also provided a copy of this page with my written signature.

Mentors Signature: Date:

pg 2
PROJECT TITLE:

1. Project Focus
What is the purpose of your project? What is your goal? How will you be spending most of your time
at the project site? (5 to 10 sentences)
The purpose of my project is to not think too deeply into it and simply immerse myself in this environment
where everything Ill be doing, from observing the students to talking to my mentor, has something to do
with art. Over the years I have put aside this hobby for "more important" things and subjects, such as math
and science, and although I love learning about those things, I'd like to dedicate this time to art, meaning
visual arts and poetry as well. Most of the time I will be in a classroom setting, helping out however I can
with art classes, but I'll also be working on some projects of my own. I'd like to have tangible product that
reflects my time at Lowell, but whether that'll be a video, collage, or whatever else it may be, will be decided
during the time of the project. I'm unsure as to exactly what I'll be doing, but I'll be flexible towards the
needs of my mentor as she is very busy during this two week period.
2. Project Rationale
Why did you choose to explore this topic? (2 to 3 sentences)
Like many others, as a kid, I always dreamed of being a teacher, and art has always been something I really
enjoyed doing, so I think it'll be fun to see how an art teacher handles the classroom in comparison to other
teachers. From volunteering experiences and just being around younger family members, I realized that I
love to work with kids, so the project will be combining what I want to do with what I've always enjoyed
doingworking with kids and art.
3. Academic and Personal Growth
What will you learn during your project? (5 to 10 sentences)
Be specific. Explain topics, skills, career exploration, etc.
How will the project help you stretch professionally, personally and cognitively? What academic skills and
knowledge will the project draw on and develop? What experience do you have in this area? How will you
grow to a higher level of competency or focus in a new direction?
My career plan as of now is to be an optometrist, and one of the determining factors for choosing this path is
because of the interaction I'll have with kids. I've already worked with children at the elementary school level
at various volunteer projects, such as one where I was a teacher's assistant at a summer camp for Asian
immigrants, but it never hurts to have more experience with human-to-human interaction, and learning how
to work with children is essential for my professional career as well. Personally, I feel like I've thrown away,
or rather cast aside, my love for art and I want to take this time that I have before the chaos that comes with
college to appreciate something I adore, but never seem to have the time for. I also think this will help push
me towards giving myself some free time to do the things, including writing/reading poetry and
drawing/painting, etc., that I truly enjoy doing. I hope this will help me ease my way into finding that
balance in my life, finding time to study, doing extracurriculars, volunteering and integrating my hobbies
into the mix as well. With enough perseverance and diligence, hopefully I'll be able to improve my time
management skills in order to find this balance.
4. Your Agency and Mentor
Explain the focus of your agency, and describe your mentors area of expertise. What help or guidance
do you expect to get from your mentor? We recommend that mentors have five or more years of
professional experience in the area being explored. Parents may not be mentors.
My mentor is an art teacher at Lowell Elementary School. By working with her in the classroom, I hope to
pick up a few skills that'll be helpful for the future, such as patience and the ability to communicate with
children. Rather than help or guidance, I'd like to simply involve myself with the things that she's involved
in, such as her art classes and the rap/poetry project. It isn't a matter of what she'll be teaching me per seit's
more of what I'll be learning from her indirectly just from the time spent with her.
5. Service
5a. What is your service component?
What will be your role in providing the service? Who are the individuals or community members that will
benefit from your service? How will they benefit? (3 to 5 sentences)
As I will be going where my mentor goes, I will be spending a lot of time in the classroom. Most of the time
spent at the site will be helping my mentor with teaching art classes and any other clubs and/or projects she
may be involved in. I'm not sure exactly how I'll fit into the dynamic quite yet, but I'll be like an assistant
that's willing to do whatever wherever I'm needed.
5b. Will your service be conducted at your primary project site?
__X__ Yes

______ No _____ If no, you must also complete the Offsite Service Agreement (See
Classroom)
6. Presentation (10 minutes for T, W, Th / 15 min on Fri)

6a. Presentation Format

Explain what aspects of your project you hope to highlight in your presentation. (2 to 3 sentences)
I'd like to highlight my rationale because I think finding the balance between school and doing what you love
is something that everyone can relate to. I almost can't remember the last time I felt compelled to just pick up
a pencil and draw simply because I'm always worried about a test or some paper that's due, even during the
weekends or breaks. I also hope that putting myself in this creative environment will cause a resurgence of
my love for art/poetry, and then I could maybe share some of my works as well.
6b. In addition to a PowerPoint, what components will you use to engage the audience?

___X___ Video (No longer than 2 minutes) [Maybe. See proposed timeline for more information]

_____ Demonstration

_____ Audience participation

___X___ Samples of work

_____ Simulation

_____ Other:

6c. Photo Clearances

List all clearances / permission slips that you will need for taking pictures or videos of children, agency
participants, etc. Discuss with your mentor!

Photo clearances needed

___X___ Yes _______ No

If yes, who will provide photo clearance documents?

Mr. David Lugo, the principal at Lowell Elementary School
If yes, how and when will clearance documents be distributed for parent signatures?
I will discuss this with the principal and my mentor
6d. Auditorium Presentations
Would you like to present your presentation to the whole class in the auditorium on Friday, June 2?

______ Yes ___X___ No ______ Maybe

7. Timeline

7a. Pre-Project requirements (For primary project site and / or offsite service)
Is there an orientation/training that you must attend? ______ Yes ___X___No
If yes, what is the date of your orientation?

Is there an agency application that must be completed? ______ Yes ___X___No

Are there agency clearances that you must obtain? If so, explain your plan and timeline for obtaining.
_____ none
_____ Child Abuse
_____ Criminal
_____ FBI
_____ Other (list):

Are there any health documents or tests required? If so, explain your plan and timeline for obtaining.
_____ Immunizations (list):
_____ TB test
_____ Physical Exam

(Any clearances should be obtained as soon as possible. Results can often be delayed.)

Is there a uniform required for volunteers at your agency that you must acquire in advance? If yes who will
provide?
_____Yes ____X___No

What other preparation is required before May 19?

(e.g. meetings, script writing, lesson plans, travel arrangements, etc.)
Meeting with the principal, Mr. Lugo, to discuss my project in further detail, such as the issue of photo
clearances and such.

7b. Time planning sheet

Describe how you will spend the 10 days implementing your project. Outline the proposed time
commitments for 60 hours. If your mentor is providing a menu of various activities, you may list them as a
single block. List no more than 6 hours for planning.
Specifically:
-Where will you be?
-What are your proposed hours each day? (time of arrival, time of departure)
-How will you be engaged each day?
(Include a menu of possible activities if you are not 100% sure of each days specific activities.)
 PROPOSED TIMELINE FOR MAY 19 THROUGH JUNE 2

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Time Hrs Brief Description of Activity and Location
Example
Thurs., May 2 3 9 am to 3 pm 6 Will Shadow Mentor to Observe Trials at Juvenile Court
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fri, May 19 8:36 to 3:15 pm

May 22 8:36 to 3:15 pm

Tues, May 23 8:36 to 3:15 pm

Wed, May 24 8:36 to 3:15 pm

Thurs, May 25 8:36 to 3:15 pm

Fri, May 26 8:36 to 3:15 pm

Mon, May 29 MEMORIAL DAY

Tues, May 30 8:36 to 3:15 pm

Wed, May 31 8:36 to 3:15 pm

Thurs, June 1 8:36 to 3:15 pm

Fri, June 2 8:36 to 3:15 pm

Helping out with the annual art club showing

Helping out with the "Picasso project jam slam poetry/rap project"
Writing my own poems in the spirit of the poetry/rap project
Helping out my mentor in the classroom setting
Creating my own mini art projects that mirrors what the kids have been doing in class
Observing how my mentor handles different grade levels
Planning/Executing a creative project of my own throughout the two weeks (like a video and/or
collage) as a tangible representation of my time with my mentor and the students

TOTAL # HRS ______66.5 hours_____

8. Book Selection
Please note Your selection may not be a HOW TO book. It should provide a more holistic view of
the issues surrounding your project.

What is the book you have chosen to read prior to doing your project?
Title:

Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That's Transforming Education

Author:
Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica
ISBN:
9780143108061
Brief Description (3 to 5 sentences)
The book sets out a new vision for how education can be transformed for the greater good and for all young
people to flourish. Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica are laying out what's fundamentally wrong with our
education systems and then showing how it could or should be different. The rate of disengagement and
dropouts is more than alarming and creativity is the answer to this failing system.
How does this book relate to your project? (2 to 3 sentences)
As I am exploring the arts in a public school setting, I think it'll be interesting to see whether or not schools
are lacking in creative endeavors. Even though there might be a few programs and projects here and there, as
a public school student, I don't remember doing that much creative thinking in class, so I'm excited to see
how this book touches on that.