MARYKNOLL

SENIOR

PROJECT

2018-2019
 Senior Project Overview 2018-2019
I. GOALS and PURPOSE

Maryknoll School’s Senior Project seeks to inspire students to live a life of Noblesse
Oblige--to take responsibility for understand social issues and take informed action to make
the lives of others better. All student will set a goal, and work toward it for a minimum of
25 hours, and the reflect on and share their experience with the school community. To help
bring about positive personal growth and social change, students must work with peers,
teacher-mentors, and the community to complete this graduation requirement and essential
part of the Maryknoll experience.

II. REQUIREMENTS and DEADLINES

1. Explore a problem. Decide on a social issue or community problem you would like to solve and learn as much
as you can about it. Write a ten-page research essay and present your findings in your junior English class. (Due
May 2018 in English 11)

2. Build a group. We encourage students to bring together a small team (2-4) of like-minded students who are
committed to the cause. Support from friends will help you have more fun and be more successful. To work
alone, get approval from the senior project coordinators. (May 2018 in English 11)

3. Seek guidance. Reach out to Maryknoll faculty and find a mentor. Then hold regular meetings with them to get
direction and resolve challenges. It is the students’ responsibility to arrange frequent meetings and to
communicate often. (Due May 2018 in English 11)

4. Set goals. Collaborate with your partners and mentor to agree on exactly what problem to solve, what you want
to achieve. Decide what each group member will do to reach your shared goal; it may be one large collective
action project or smaller separate projects. Consider giving through service, learning through an internship, or
communicating through an artistic creation. (Due August 2018 to your mentor)

5. Seek new understanding. Conducting two interviews; one must be face-to-face, while the other can be done
online or by phone. Written transcripts or voice recording must be turned in for evaluation. (Due December 2018
in English)

6. Take action. Complete at least 25 hours of work toward your goal (Due January 2019 to your mentor)

7. Share your experience. Project presentations will take place during school, after mass, in grade nine through
eleven advisories. January 10th will be a school-wide celebration of your work and growth. Before you present,
you must rehearse. It should chronicle your entire process and reflect on your success in achieving the goal and
your individual growth. Student may present individually or as a group; all grades are individual; there is no
group grade. A review panel that does not include the mentor will assess it. The Senior Project Presentation
Rubric provides specific guidelines. (Due 10 January 2019)
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III. ASSESSMENT and CONSEQUENCES

1. In order to pass, students must score a minimum of 70/100. Students who score (95 to 100/100) will be
"distinguished" and be awarded a gold cord to wear at graduation.

2. Late work will result in a 20% deduction to the final score.

3. Each group member will present their specific individual contribution to the group project and will receive their
own grade. There is no group grade.