senior project portfolio student manual 2017 · senior project 7 the ongoing journal/portfolio is a...

Senior Project

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Senior Project Portfolio

STUDENT MANUAL

2017

Senior Project

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Project Objective .................................................................................................................................. 3 SECTION ONE: THE PORTFOLIO .................................................................................................5 Portfolio Contents ................................................................................................................................. 7

The Cover Letter .................................................................................................................................. 8 The Resume ............................................................................................................................................ 13

Sample reference sheet ..........................................................................................................................16

Recommendation Request Letter .........................................................................................................17 Follow-Up/Thank You Letter ...............................................................................................................18 Acceptance Letter. ..................................................................................................................................19 Resignation Letter ..................................................................................................................................20 SECTION TWO: THE BUDGET ASSIGNMENT………………………………………………….21 SECTION THREE: Your Project …………………………………………………………………….24

Selecting a project.....…………................................................................................................. ………25

Work component……………………………………………………………………………………….27

Proposal…………………………………………………………………………………………………28

Synopsis…………………………………………………………………………………………………29

Liability Release………………………………………………………………………………………..30

Advisor/ Parent/ Guardian guidelines…………………………………………………………..……31

Advisor commitment form…………………………………………………………………………….32

Sample Work Log………………………………………………………………………………..…….33

Sample Presentation Rubric……………………….………………………………………………….36

Appendices ............................................................................................................................................. 37

Sample Portfolio Cover Page ................................................................................................................38 Job Skills Index ......................................................................................................................................39 Employment Application .....................................................................................................................40

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OBJECTIVES

The main idea of the senior project is TRANSITION. The intent of the project is to

transition students away from subject-centric learning to a real-life experience that the

student believes may be relevant to their next stage in life. Each senior will utilize the

knowledge and skills they have acquired over the past 12 years in school, as well as many

21st century skills, to successfully complete their project.

The project will showcase the student’s abilities in reading, writing, public speaking, critical

thinking, planning and implementation, self-discipline, problem solving, and organizational

skills. The goal of the project is to stretch the student to participate in and demonstrate a

new area of learning and growth.

All seniors will complete the Job Application Portfolio following the guidelines given here.

As a result of your participation in this project, you are expected to meet the following

objectives:

focus on a high interest career

recognize the importance of remaining marketable in a diverse and changing labor

market

develop a career portfolios and/or electronic portfolio

apply knowledge and skills learned

develop effective written and oral communication skills

develop life-long skills such as goal setting, decision making, and time

management

apply critical thinking and problem solving skills

demonstrate knowledge and skills increase communication skills

increase workplace skills

develop networking skills

Students will select from one of the two project strands defined below. Each strand is

unique and provides students the opportunity to explore areas of specific interest, as well as

demonstrate their personal strengths. The intent of the project is to encourage and motivate

the student to engage in a project that has direct applicability to their post high school goals

and aspirations.

Service-Oriented Strand

Students choosing this strand will devote a minimum of 20 hours toward a community

service project. For instance, students may develop and implement a unique promotion for

raising funds for the local food bank; a community clean-up effort of a public area such as

a park, down town or school; a field-trip or seminar of interest for members of an elderly

home; a clothing drive for a homeless shelter; or perhaps even begin their own non-profit

to address an unmet community need.

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Self-Development Strand

Students choosing this strand will spend a minimum of 20 hours working to develop a new

skill and demonstrate it; to construct or to create something they have never had the skill

base or knowledge to do before. For instance, students could design and build a model of a

physical product such a park or building; perform or produce a play they have written or

choreographed; develop a technology or mechanically-based idea for actual use; write a

computer program for practical application; write, edit and produce a video; organize a

major public event; or begin a business.

Students will be completing a minimum of 20 hours of community or work-based

experience. The student will develop a work plan that includes a work schedule and

assigned tasks and duties.

Students selecting Self-Development Projects will most likely perform research, participate

in training or seminars, or learn from a local expert, the skills and/or knowledge necessary

to complete their project. In this case, the student will be required to document their

sources for obtaining the new skills and/or knowledge, maintain an activity log, and

provide other relevant documentation as appropriate to document activities associated with

the completion of the project.

All students will be required to maintain a detailed activity log that includes; the major

activities, time spent on each, successes and challenges, as well as any other “aha

moments” worthy of note. Finally, the student will maintain a collection of work product

evidence for use later in the project. (see Portfolio below). Students are encouraged to be

creative in the work products they provide as evidence of their efforts.

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SECTION ONE: THE PORTFOLIO

The portfolio is a record of your achievements throughout your high school

experience. It should contain evidence of career research and planning and continuous

self-evaluation. You will use the portfolio to store items related to your academic and

career technical training, work experience, and other accomplishments. This project is

designed to assist in the development of a personal selling tool that can be used

for employment, and scholarship purposes. Once completed, your portfolio should be revised every

six months to maintain a current record of your successes and accomplishments.

Materials

*1” or 2" Three Ring Binder in very good condition, preferably with a plastic sleeve on the front cover.

* Minimum of 10 Plastic Sheet Protectors (I have them ask me)

* Professional looking personal photo, such as a senior picture or school picture

Procedures

The project is to be submitted in a three ring binder. Each page is to be enclosed in a page protector within the

binder. You may place items back to back within your page protectors if necessary. Submit all documents in the

following order. Do not number pages.

1. Cover Page

Set up exactly like the

example shown.

Font style is optional,

but choose a professional

looking font.

2. Cover Letter

Use the format provided to write a cover letter that will precede your resume.

Direct your cover letter to the business person that you will be interviewing with. Within the cover letter,

refer to the position that you signed up to interview for. Design your letter with the intention of obtaining the

identified position.

3. Resume

Determine the best format for your work experience and skills. Use provided examples as reference. You

may use a template or your own style, just be consistent among documents.

4. References Page

Your references are not to be included on your resume. Use the same header as your resume. Use provided

examples as reference.

Career Portfolio

Name

Contact information

Insert Personal Photograph

Address

Personal Telephone

Email Address

Date

Use an appropriate email

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5. Letter of Recommendation

Secure 3 letters of recommendation from adults that know your employability skills, and or scholarship

worthiness. Possible sources are employers (present or past), co-workers, teachers, coaches, principals,

priest, ministers, etc. Courtesy suggests that at least one week notice be provided. The letter should be

generic in nature and addressed to: To Whom It May Concern.

6. Supplements

You should include a wide variety of documents in your portfolio to demonstrate your scholarship abilities,

your problem-solving skills, extracurricular involvement, and volunteer activities. (Minimum of 5 is

required.) Any combination of five below is acceptable. You may use other items if approved by teacher. All

supplements must be from your 9-12 grade years.

Education

• Examples of classroom work *High school transcript

• Results of standardized test scores *List of career goals

• Results of state proficiency tests *Letters of recognition

• Recent report card (3.0 or greater)

• Additional letters of recommendation

Extracurricular Activities

• Club membership certificates

• Newspaper articles

• Athletic certificates

• Letters of participation

Related Work Experience

• Job performance evaluation Employee reference letter

• Job shadowing experience

• Award certificate (employee of the month)

Community Service

• Certificate of appreciation Award for outstanding service

• Newspaper article Letter of commendation

• Thank you notes Report describing service

CIS Job Cluster Selected future Career .

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The ongoing journal/portfolio is a documentation of your individual progress and achievement.

It should serve as an incentive for further achievement.

Portfolio Self-Assessment Grid

When assessing your portfolio, do you see:

Assessment Yes No

Quality and presentation

Diversity of selections

Creativity

Visual appeal

Completeness

Professionalism

Accuracy of information

Directions were followed

Documents were proofread for grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Evidence of understanding of the portfolio assessment activity

Evidence of growth

Evidence of integration between academic and career technical

subjects

Evidence of self-assessment activities

Evidence of good work

Persuasiveness—best candidate for the job

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The Cover Letter

A well-written cover letter is extremely important in making a good first impression. Your cover

letter should support your résumé, by motivating a prospective employer to review your résumé

and to offer you an interview. A well-constructed cover does not simply repeat information in

your resume. It should grab the prospective employer’s attention, demonstrate your passion for

your line of work, establish your suitability for the position, and highlight any past work

successes.

urce: Internet Public Library ( http://www.ipl.org/ )

Your Street Address

City, STATE Zip Code Date

Name of Person Title

Company/Organization Street Address

City, FL Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. ________________:

INTRODUCTION: State the reason for writing. Compliment the industry and the company. Show you have conducted some research on both. Name the specific position or type of work for which you are applying. (Mention the resource used in

finding out about the opening: company, news media, friend, faculty.)

BODY: Explain why you are interested in working for this employer. Discuss your qualifications, educational background, work experience, and personal skills. Point out achievements that relate to the field and indicate that you enjoy that kind of work. Refer the reader to the enclosed resume.

CLOSING: Indicate your desire for an interview. State that you will call on a

specific day to see if an interview can be arranged at the person’s convenience. If you will be in their geographic vicinity only on a specific day, stress the importance of scheduling an interview on that day!

Sincerely,

Your Name (typed)

Enclosure

Be sure to date letter.

Address the

letter to a

specific person.

Use a colon.

Single-space the body of the

letter.

Double space between

paragraphs.

Quadruple

space for your

signature

Type “Enclosure” ( Refers to your enclosed resume)

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Cover Letter Template

Your mailing address

City, STATE, and zip

Today’s date

Your addressee’s name

Professional title

Organization name

Mailing address

City, state and zip

Dear Mr. (or Ms.) last name:

Start your letter with a grabber—a statement that establishes a connection with your reader, a

probing question, or a quotable quote. Briefly say what job you are applying for.

The mid-section of your letter should be one or two short paragraphs that make relevant points

about your qualifications. You should not summarize your resume! You may incorporate a column

or bullet point format here.

Your last paragraph should initiate action by explaining what you will do next (e.g., call the

employer) or instigate the reader to contact you to set up an interview. Close by saying “thank

you.”

Sincerely yours,

Your handwritten signature in black ink

Your name (typed)

Enclosure: Resume

Source: Internet Public Library (http://www.ipl.org/)

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Sample Cover Letter #1

444 Beach Street, #7 West Lakeland Park, AZ 12345 May 13, 2001

Mr. Frank Randall, Partner Randall, Jerneys and Calpert Inc. 101 Stratford Drive

Tempe, AZ 12345

Dear Mr. Randall:

There is a reason why: • Friends hand me the dinner bill to divvy up • My checkbook always balances at the end of each month

• My three kids are never late for events • Community groups look to me to organize events

I am a “detail person” — the kind of person you need as your administrative assistant. For the last five years, I have handled all the scheduling, finances, and logistics for my family

of five. It is time for me to get back into the corporate work force and put my organizational

talents to use there.

I will contact you in the next few days to see if you or one of your associates needs an assistant. Thank you!

Kimberly Lee

Enclosure: Resume


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Sample Cover Letter #2

BRENDA J. WILSON 1703 Walnut Grove Avenue Office/Voicemail: Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 555-7983, ext. 2856

Residence/Message: (215) 555-0911

August 12, 2001

Metropolitan Children's Hospital

Attn: Robin Boyd, Human Resources P. O. Box 411067 Philadelphia, PA 19002

Re: Director for Patient Financial Services

Dear Ms. Boyd:

I was very interested to see your advertisement for a Director of Patient Financial services

in the Philadelphia Inquirer (8-11-01). I have been seeking just such an opportunity as

this, and I think my background and your requirements may be a good match. My resume

is enclosed for your review.

Of particular note for you and the members of your team as you consider this

management placement are my strong accomplishments in reducing outstandings and

reorganizing accounting and collections functions to achieve improved operating

efficiency internally and improved cash flow for the institution as a whole.

Students: Please note this is a two-page letter.

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Ms. Robin Boyd, Human Resources

Page 2

August 12, 2001

Consider the following:

• Reduced A/R days from 110 to 60.4.

• Reduced staff by 6.5 FTEs with concurrent increase in total departmental

performance.

• Reduced patients’ complaints with simultaneous increase in A/R collected.

• Improved cashflow by $1.6 million per month.

Additionally, my contributions have been mainly achieved by improving information

flow within the patient financial services function, improving patient financial services

utilization of already available MIS services, and improving cooperation between

patient services and admissions, UR, contracting, and medical records functions.

After fifteen years in patient accounting, I have a thorough understanding of every

aspect of this function in a modern hospital/medical center setting. My current

employer is very happy with my performance, but I view myself as somewhat of a

troubleshooter, and most of the reorganizations initiated here have already come to fruition, so I am eager to consider new challenges.

If you are seeking a manager who stays abreast of her field, who understands

technology, who earns 100% staff support, and who is as career-committed as it takes

to achieve total success, then please consider what I have to offer. I would be happy to

have a preliminary discussion with you or members of your committee to see if we

can establish a mutual interest. I will call you within the week to answer any initial questions you may have, and to hear about your hiring process.

Thank you for your attention to these materials. I certainly look forward to exploring this

further.

Yours truly,

Brenda J. Wilson

Enclosure Source: Internet Public Library (http://www.ipl.org/)

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The Resume

The resume is a selling tool that should outline your skills and experiences so an employer can

see, at a glance, how you can contribute to the employer's workplace.

Your resume has to sell you in short order. While you may have all the requirements for a

particular position, your resume is a failure if the employer does not instantly come to the

conclusion that you "have what it takes." The first hurdle your resume has to pass--whether it

ends up in the "consider file" or the "reject file"--may take less than thirty seconds.

The most effective resumes are clearly focused on a specific job title and address the

employer's stated requirements for the position. The more you know about the duties and

skills required for the job--and organize your resume around these points--the more effective

the resume. Be brief. A one-page resume is usually appropriate unless you have more than ten

years of relevant experience.

You will need information to write a good resume. Not just information about jobs you've

held in the past, but also information to select the most relevant accomplishments, skills and

experience for THIS position. The more you know about the employer and the position, the

more you can tailor your resume to fit the job.

The chronological resume presents your education and work experience in reverse

chronological order (most recent listed first). Be sure to include relevant accomplishments or

achievements. Be sure to use action words communicating your ability to take initiative and

make significant contributions to the workplace. You should also be aware of sentence

structure and keep all sentences in the same tense.

Limited experience. As a high school student, you may find you have limited on-the-job

experience. There are other work-based skills you might list on your resume that employers

will find valuable. These may include evidence of:

leadership skills

verbal and written communication skills

interpersonal skills – the ability to work well with others

problem-solving skills

self-motivation/taking initiative

teambuilding skills, the ability to work with and

positively influence others

creativity, focus and defined career goals

intelligence

academic and professional achievements to date

integrity/honesty/high ethical standards

maturity

flexibility/adaptability

personal and professional confidence

energy/enthusiasm

well-roundedness

DO NOT USE THE CIS RESUME

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RESUME ACTION WORDS

achieved contacted improved produced

administered contributed increased promoted

advised coordinated initiated recorded

analyzed counseled instructed regulated

arranged defined interpreted represented

assembled delegated invented reorganized

assessed demonstrated led researched

assigned designed listened responded

assisted developed located retrieved

began devised managed reviewed

bought edited manipulated revised

calculated established mediated selected

categorized estimated modified sold

classified evaluated motivated succeeded

coached explained negotiated summarized

collected generated organized taught

communicated guided outlined tested

compiled handled perceived trained

composed helped performed tutored

computed identified planned united

constructed

implemented presented volunteered


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First Last Name

Objective (Choose one of the following objectives and delete the others)

To work with professionals in the field of Arts and Entertainment

To gain experience in administration and management within the field of Film and

Entertainment

To gain experience in the field of Arts and Entertainment

To utilize and develop my technological skills in the field of Arts and

Entertainment

Education William H. Turner Technical Arts High School Miami, FL

Academy of Industrial and Entertainment Technology

Television Production program

(If your GPA is 3.0 or higher—delete these words and put your GPA here)

Expected Graduation, June 2005

Skills Word Processing Skills: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint

Audio: Hand and Wireless Microphones, Shure Microflex Overhead Boom

Microphone

Cameras: Canon GL-1, JVC 9800, Panasonic AG-456 SVHS, JVC KY-19

Studio

Nonlinear Editor: iMovie 2.0; exposed to Final Cut Pro 3.0 and Adobe Premier

Lights: 1 k Lights, Small Luna/Total Hand Light Kit

Other: 8-channel audio-board, Panasonic MX-20 and MX-50 Production

Switchers

Familiar with technical terms of the Entertainment Industry

Fluent in (specify your language(s))

Community (Write in here your community service/work experience. You may include

Service/ Work events for which you have volunteered. Follow the format below –Experience )

Name of Place Job

Description

Dates you were there

Interests (Write in here your hobbies—skateboarding, reading, watching movies, sports,

cooking, .)

Awards/ (Write your awards and affiliations with clubs, church, or other organizations and

Affiliations even productions you’ve acted in or filled a technical role.)

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Sample Reference Sheet

Chris Fulton

140 Atticus Court

Newton, MA 02161

617-964-8899

Business References

Mr. Alexander J. Holmes, CPA

Vice President of Mutual Fund Accounting

The Keystone Group

Boston, MA 02199

(617) 235-1976

As Fund Tax Manager, Alex Holmes hired me and helped train me as a staff audit

representative. He also became an accounting mentor and role model.

Ms. Kathy Hawthorne

Vice President of Corporate Accounting

Fidelity Investments

82 Devonshire Street

Boston, MA 02109

(617) 727-6237

I met Kathy Hawthorne while attending Dartmouth College. She has been a long time

accounting and finance mentor and friend. While working at Keystone, I was a member of

the Boston Society of Corporate Controllers of which Kathy served as Vice President.

Mr. Francis J. Melville

Sales & Operations Manager

The Keystone Group

Boston, MA 02199

(617) 235-1991

When

Sample Reference Request Letter

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124 East Bay Street

Miami, Florida 33131

January 14, 1996

Mr. Peter W. Lincoln

334 Houston Tower, Suite

2300 Houston, Texas 77079

Dear Peter:

I would like to enlist your assistance in my search for a new career. I have put together a

current résumé to begin marketing myself for what should be a new and exciting career.

I am open to an industry change since the field is depressed. I am looking for a job in

Management or Marketing of technical products and services. I hope to draw on both my

management experience and engineering background. Relocation is not a problem as Wendy and I find the prospect of moving exciting.

With your permission, I would like you to be a personal reference for me. I will keep you

posted when I have used you as a reference so you will know who might call and won't be

caught blind. Please let me know what you think.

If you are aware of any business associates or friends who may be thinking about hiring, I

would really appreciate your giving them a copy of my résumé or giving me their names to

contact personally.

I welcome any assistance or advice you can give me. Thanks for your support now and in the

past.

Sincerely,

Martin B. Cousins


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Follow-up/Thank You Letter

A thank you letter is an effective tool in having a prospective employer remember you after the

job interview. Keep the thank you letter short. It should simply confirm your serious interest

in the position and address any relevant information you may have neglected to include in your

interview.

Sample Thank You Letter

49 Locust Street

Denver, Colorado 80222 June 22, 1996

Karen Bewley Manager of Compensation and Benefits

National Jewish Hospital

1400 Jackson Street

Denver, CO 80206 Dear

Karen:

Just a quick note to thank you for my interview on June 21, 1996. I found the interview

informative.

I am very excited about the compensation and benefits assistant position and the chance to

work with such a great team. This position is exactly what I have been looking for, and I

sincerely hope I am the person you are looking for as well. If you have any questions or

concerns, please feel free to contact me at (617) 555-7374. Thank you once again, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Green


Should be written within

24 hours of interview.

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Sample Letter of Acceptance

Once you have been offered a job, a letter of acceptance is an appropriate professional

response agreeing to the terms of employment.

222 West Gorde Street

Tampa, FL 33650

June 21, 1997

Mrs. Theodora Reese

Director of Marketing

Capton Chemicals

245 East Sanchez Avenue

Tampa, FL 33650

Dear Mrs. Reese:

I am pleased to accept the position of web designer at Capton Chemicals at a salary

of $32,500.

As we discussed during our phone conversation, a starting date of July 15, 1997

works well for me. I will be sure to provide all of the employment documents

necessary to the Human Resources Department.

I look forward to working with you and the members of the Marketing Department.

Please feel free to contact me at (407) 555-2896 should you require any further

information.

Sincerely yours,

John Adams

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Sample Letter of Resignation

A letter of resignation is appropriate when you have decided to leave your place of

employment. You should make every effort to leave on an amicable basis. Tell your

immediate supervisor that you’re leaving before you put your resignation in writing and before

you break the news to others in your office. Always give two weeks’ notice. Be tactful about

how you break the news about leaving to close associates or mentors. Tell those people as

quickly as possible after you’ve told your supervisor, but before the news is announced to all

other employees.

222 West Gorde Street

Tampa, FL 33650

June 21, 2000

Mrs. Theodora Reese

Director of Marketing

Capton Chemicals

245 East Sanchez Avenue

Tampa, FL 33650

Dear Mrs. Reese:

Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation to become effective July 12,

2000.

I would like to thank Capton Chemicals for giving me the opportunity to grow

and learn many new and useful skills. My years at Capton and the training I

have received have allowed me to build a strong professional foundation.

I will always be proud to have been associated with such a fine staff.

Sincerely yours,

John Adams

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SECTION TWO: THE BUDGET

The purpose of this Personal Budget Web Quest is to help you develop an awareness of the process of preparing

practical budget, develop awareness of how much things really cost, and demonstrate how using a budget will

help you achieve your personal and financial goals. Each section of the budget has a spread sheet which you are

required to complete and attach documentation that proves your research.

PROCESS

Step 1: Estimate Your Income

Knowing how much you earn each month is an essential part of creating a realistic budget.

How much you earn depends on your occupation. You will be completing the WebQuest for next year when

you go off to college or enter the world of work after graduation from high school (summer wages part time work etc.)

You will also complete the first two steps (Paycheck and Taxes) for ultimate goal employment --either after

you graduate from 4 years of college, complete a 2 year associate degree, training program.

Sooner or later you will need some sort of job to start paying bills.

1. Use your CIS Job sort Print the page which shows your expected income level, for both next year and the future.

2. Highlight the salary range you will be using for your budget. If your career requires more than 4 years of

education, adjust the amount of salary and write an explanation on the print out.

3. Using the lowest amount in the salary range, enter the annual starting salary for your first job on the

Calculating a Paycheck Worksheet. Please do not enter an amount greater than $50,000 annual salary.

NOTE: As you proceed through the Budget WebQuest, save the Excel and Word files to your folder on the server.

Continue by completing the Calculating a Paycheck Worksheet

Step 2 :Taxes

1. Use the links on the paycheck spreadsheet to find the federal and state income tax withholding.

Assume a monthly payroll period, 1 withholding allowance, and single marital status.

2. Print out your calculated tax for Federal and Oregon state taxes

3. Highlight the amounts for your salary, and enter the proper amount of federal and state income tax

withholding on the Calculating a Paycheck Worksheet.

4. Next, complete the calculations for social security and Medicare withholding using the rates

indicated on the Excel worksheet.

5. Under other deductions, enter $ value you chose from the market place for the Affordable Care act medical

insurance (Finally, enter $250 for the 401K deduction in the appropriate cell of the Calculating a Paycheck Worksheet.

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For purposes of this WebQuest, we are going to contribute $250 per month to a 401K retirement plan.

(You may later need to change this amount to balance your budget.)

6. After you have completed your Calculating a Paycheck Worksheet, enter the net monthly pay in the Budget

Worksheet on the salary line and print the Calculating a Paycheck Worksheet.

7. Have your Calculating a Paycheck Worksheet checked off by Ms. Dougharity-Spencer before proceeding

Step 3: Budgeting for Expenses

Expenses are money you spend on things you need and want. A need is something you must have to survive,

such as food, shelter and clothing. A want is something you desire or would like to have or do. For example, if you

live in Wisconsin, you need a coat. You may want a leather jacket, but other types of coats could also keep you warm.

Fixed Expenses Let's start with Fixed Expenses--expenses that do not change from month to month.

Housing Expense Housing will probably be the largest expense in your budget. Experts recommend 25-30%

of your net monthly income will be allocated to your housing expense. To determine your housing expense, find an

apartment which will fit into your budget.

Print a copy of the page you visited to support your deduction and include a calculation on your print out indicating

how the rent will be allocated if you will be sharing with a roommate. Enter the amount of monthly rent

(or your share of the rent if you plan to have a roommate) on The BUDGET WORKSHEET

Transportation Expense For purposes of this WebQuest we will assume we need to buy a car to provide reliable

transportation for work. To help you decide what type of an auto will meet your needs, review the worksheet find a

car that is right for you. Print the worksheet and write the answers to the questions on the print out. If you are not

going to have a vehicle you must find the cost for public transportation in the are in which you are planning to live.

Using the advice from the worksheet, determine the type of car which will best meet your needs. Go to What car/

pick up should you have to choose a car that matches your results. Print a copy of the car you desire to purchase.

After you have selected your car, go to Yahoo! Autos Car Loan Calculator. You will borrow (finance) the total cost

of the car. Use 10% for the annual percentage rate, a 4-year loan period (you can use a shorter loan period if you wish)

and a 5.5% sales tax rate. Print a copy of your calculation to support your deduction. Enter the amount of your monthly

payment on the Budget Worksheet You should expect to spend approximately 10% or less of your net monthly

income for this expense.

Student Loan Many people take out student loans for college expenses. Assume you borrowed $10,000 if you plan to

attend a public or state university or $40,000 if you plan to attend a private university. (If you think you will actually

borrow more, use the amount you plan to borrow.) Using the FinAid Calculator, calculate your monthly loan payment.

Print the FinAid Calculator results and enter this amount on your Budget Worksheet

Auto and Renters Insurance Expense Go to an insurance website and complete the brief form provided to

determine the approximate cost of your auto insurance. Print the quote to support your deduction. ( the General,

Progressive, Geico, State Farm Etc.)

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Use the national average and divide the annual amount by 12 to convert to a monthly amount

(show the calculation on your print out). If you feel the amount is too low, make the necessary

modifications and make a notation on the print out to explain your adjustments.

Enter the monthly premium amount on your Budget Worksheet.

Renters Insurance

After reading the information provided, print the true/false "How Much Do You Know About Renter’s Insurance”

and fill in your answers.

Attach the results to your checklist in the proper order.

Enter the premium amount for renters insurance on your Budget Worksheet

Variable Expenses Variable expenses change from month to month making these expenses more difficult to budget.

To determine a reasonable expense level, you can follow the recommended percentages suggested by financial experts,

refer to the Consumer Price Index, or talk to your friends and family to see how your spending compares with theirs.

Budget Project Reflective Paper

The final assignment for the budget project is a reflective essay. This essay must address the following issues:

• What were the greatest challenges of the project? How were these challenges overcome and how might

someone overcome them in real life?

• Why did you make adjustment to some categories?

• Do you feel like your budget is realistic?

• What aspect of the project did you find most surprising? Why was this surprising to you?

• Please feel free to address and reflect on any other issues not mentioned above.

This paper is all about what you have learned and what you still want to learn as a result of this project.

Please write your reflection in essay form. Your essay should have an introduction, several body paragraphs, and a

conclusion. Beyond this, the structure of your reflection is up to you. Since this is a reflective essay, you must use the

first person (I) to refer to your experiences. Essays should be about two pages in length using 1 inch

margins and 12 point Times New Roman font. Please include a title page for your essay based on

the instructions and model online.

The essay will be graded based on the following criteria:

• This essay is a serious reflection on the budget process and contains specific examples from aspects of the

project itself.

• The essay represents a genuinely personal response to the budget process.

• The essay represents a serious effort to grasp, think about, and reflect on the difficulties and problems faced by

student after graduation from high school

• The essay is free of spelling, mechanical, and grammatical errors, and is formatted according to the instructions

provided.

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SECTION THREE: YOUR PROJECT Strand Descriptions

Service-Oriented Strand Students choosing this strand will devote a minimum of 20 hours toward a community service project. For instance, students may develop and implement a unique promotion for raising funds for the local food bank; a community clean-up effort of a public area such as a park, beach or school; a field-trip or seminar of interest for members of an elderly home; a clothing drive for a homeless shelter; or perhaps even begin their own non-profit to address an unmet community need. Self-Development Strand Students choosing this strand will spend a minimum of 20 hours working to develop a new skill and demonstrate it; to construct or to create something they have never had the skill base or knowledge to do before. For instance, students could design and build a model of a physical product such a park or building; perform or produce a play they have written or choreographed; develop a technology or mechanically-based idea for actual use; write a computer program for practical application; write, edit and produce a video; organize a major public event; or begin a business.

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Selecting a Senior Project You may already know exactly what strand you wish to pursue or perhaps you don’t know where to begin. We have provided an approach for brainstorming and selecting a topic. Remember, this is a project that you will invest a significant amount of time and energy. It should be something that you are passionate and excited about topic so that you will learn from the experience and have a great time doing it. The following steps are guidelines for brainstorming and selecting an exciting and interesting project. Step 1 – Generalize Explore a general area of interest.

Subject area should be relatively broad and something you are interested in. Examples: Environmental Science Classic Literature Visual and Performing Arts Computer Science Industrial Arts Agriculture Business/Tourism Human Services Step 2 – Narrow the subject area down What are your reasons for interest in this subject area?

Why does this subject area interest you? Does this subject area have long term interest? Why? Do you have particular skills and/or knowledge already in this area that you are looking to expand? Are there people around you or that you have access to that may be interested in getting involved or assisting you? Specifically, what parts of the subject are you curious about or are most interested in?

Step 3 – Choose a topic within the subject area that is most appropriate for the project In this step, it is important to consider your access to the resources that you will need to complete Project. The Project should stretch your abilities and create new learning opportunities, but it should not stress you out because you don’t or can’t get access to the resources you need to complete it.

Do you have some general skills and/or knowledge in the topic? Will the topic challenge you? Is this challenge surmountable? Be creative in your resolution of the challenge. If you believe your topic may include community service activities or an internship, do you have organizations or

companies within your area that you can approach to work with, or could you travel and stay with a relative to achieve access to an organization or company of interest?

Do you have access to other individuals that may have some expertise in the topic area? Remember, this is your project, but it is quite acceptable to learn from others and their experiences. Step 4 – Picking a project stand Consider the best method to showcase the topic of your project by reviewing the description of the requirements of each project strand. Below are examples of how a student might arrive at a project strand selection. It is critical to understand that any Project could fit into any project strand. The ultimate decision of how you arrive at your selection is how you best learn and how enjoy spending your time. Consider the following: Example 1 Step 1: Computer Science Step 2: Network Management Step 3: Student has taken computer classes and develops small websites as a hobby. Uncle or friends father works for a local computer consulting company that is open to an internship. Step 4: Career-Exploration with an internship working with the Information Technology team at the local computer consulting company. Or perhaps . . . Example 2

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Step 1: Architecture Step 2: Modern Design and Construction Step 3: Student has always enjoyed or been drawn by this particular design of buildings. Perhaps the student is an artist, with a passion for drawing building and landscapes. Step 4: Self-Development with a specific focus on designing and building a model of a small private residence using modern architecture design techniques. Or perhaps . . . Example 3 Step 1: Human Services Step 2: Elderly Care Step 3: Student currently volunteers at a local retirement center and has observed the interaction between the residents of the center and children that have visited other residents in the center. Student senses value in these interactions. Step 4: Service-Oriented with a specific focus on the development of a new socialization program for residents at the retirement center. Program may include a monthly event in partnership with a local elementary school where students “adopt” and visit a resident of the retirement center.

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Senior Project – Work Components The senior project consists of 4 components that include the following: Proposal The student will select a project strand and develop a Proposal (see Proposal Format - page). Students should review the proposal with parent(s)/guardian(s) and gain approval prior to the submission to the Ms. Dougharity-Spencer. The proposal will be reviewed and approved by the Administrator before any work may begin by the student. Service-Oriented projects will require prior approval by the participating organization or company. Each student must identify a Project Advisor from his/her community (responsibilities described below). One of the objectives of the project is to encourage the student to engage with members of the community that they may otherwise not, thus the Advisor should not be a parent/guardian or family member of the student. An Advisor should be someone with specific expertise related to the subject matter and topic of the project, as they will serve in an advisory role, as needed, for the student. Execution The execution component of the project is when the FUN BEGINS – when the student transitions from the world of subject-centric learning to real-life relevance and application. This is when the student get’s to apply everything they have learned over the past 12 years, as well as when students will be stretched to learn and apply new skills and/or knowledge. All students will be required to maintain a detailed activity log that includes; the major activities, time spent on each, successes and challenges, as well as any other “aha moments” worthy of note. Finally, the student will maintain a collection of work product evidence for use later in the). Students are encouraged to be creative in the work products they provide as evidence of their efforts. Portfolio Students will assemble a portfolio that includes a collection of work product including the proposal, as well as those items described above. The student should select work product that they believe best represents their experience. The portfolio must include the proposal, work plan (if appropriate) a log, and may include electronic copies of power point presentations, photographs, videos, music, models, websites, podcasts and/or other work product resulting from the student’s efforts. In addition, the student will write a reflection paper that describes the experience, the results compared to their expectations, how the project impacted them personally and their perspective toward their future. The reflection paper will be a minimum of two pages MLA format (Ariel or New Times Roman 12pt. font, 1” margins, double-spaced, page numbers and first/last name in top right margin). A guideline for the reflection paper is provided below. Presentation In the final step of the process, the student will deliver an 8-10 minute presentation to a review panel comprised of Grant Union staff and community members. The presentation should incorporate components of the portfolio and delivered utilizing multiple mediums. Upon completion of the student presentation, the Review Panel may ask the student questions related to their project.

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Your street address City, State, Zip Code Date Project Administrator Grant Union Jr/Sr High 911 South Canyon Blvd John Day, OR 97845 Dear Ms. Dougharity-Spencer: In this paragraph, describe the general area of interest for your project (step 1 of page 5 above) and why you are interested in this area. Next describe the process you went through for narrowing the subject area to a specific topic (step 3 of page 5 above). Why does this topic interest you? Begin this paragraph with a transitional sentence showing the relationship between your subject/topic and the actual proposed project. Then describe your project. Give it a name that can we can all use as a reference. What project strand did you select and why? Describe what project will be, what it will entail, who’s involved, potential costs, potential time spent, and possible resources you will utilize. If you are proposing a community service or internship, identify what organization or company you will be working with. In this paragraph, describe what you already know, your experience that may apply, or areas of accomplishment that may be relevant, etc. Explain why this proposed project will be a stretch for you. Describe what areas you are not familiar with and what skills and knowledge you expect to acquire and how you expect to acquire them. In this paragraph, describe how the proposed project connects to your post-high school endeavors. Discuss briefly what impact you anticipate this project may have on you or your community. Sincerely, Your signature goes here Type your full name Senior – Student, List the name of the school you are attending Enclosures (3) Note: The enclosures you will need to include with your Proposal are the; Senior Project Synopsis, Senior Project Parent/Guardian Consent/Liability Release Form and the Senior Project Advisor Commitment Form.

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Senior Project P – Synopsis Contact Information Student Name: Student Address:

Phone Number: Email:

Parent/Guardian:

Parent Phone: Email:

Senior Project Project Name:

Subject:

Topic:

Senior Project Strand

Service-Oriented

Organization Name:

Organization Address:

Organization Phone:

Self-Development

Project Approved Date:

Project Administrator

Project approved with the following modification:

Project Denied – Please contact

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Senior Project P - Parent/Guardian Consent/Liability Release Form To the parents/Guardians of : You son/daughter is about to embark upon an exciting educational journey! The Senior Project will provide enormous benefits for your child now and for the future. Successful completion of the Senior Project a valuable tool in determining their mastery of the educational content they have learned over the past 12 years, as well as providing them the opportunity to learn and practice critical 21st century skill that they will need for their future endeavors. Please take some time to discuss the project with your child, and initial each of the items below indicating that you have read, and approve each. I approve of my child’s selected Senior Project Pt. I acknowledge that the intent of the Senior Project t is to stretch my child to learn and demonstrate new skills and/or knowledge. I agree that my child’s Project will achieve this goal. I understand that some of the work required to complete the Senior Project will be completed outside of normal school hours. I understand that all transportation for work related to the Senior Project is the responsibility of the student or parent. I understand that all costs and risks associated with the Senior Project are the responsibility of the student or parent. I understand that my student will be required to keep an activity log that outlines time spent on major tasks of the Senior Project. I understand that integrity and honesty are just as important as all other aspects of the Senior Project. Any suspicion that my child has plagiarized or has been dishonest in any aspect of the Senior Project process may result in a referral to the Project Administrator or other school administration. I understand that the school, State, and their agents are not responsible for any potential risks resulting from the Senior Project. Accordingly, I release Grant Union Jr/Sr High, the State Department of Education and their agents from all claims arising from any financial obligation incurred, and damage, injury, or accident suffered while my child participates in the Senior Project. Parent/Guardian’s Name (Print)

Parent/Guardian’s Signature

Date:

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Senior Project Project – Advisor & Parent/Guardian Guidelines Each student will select a Project Advisor who can advise and assist throughout the Project experience. A Project Advisor should be:

A person who is knowledgeable/experienced in the subject area of your Project,

A person who is willing to assist and advise you in the Project process,

A person you can have regular contact with for a short period of time, either face-to-face or via other synchronous means such as telephone, email, web conference, etc. ,

A person who will give you constructive feedback and will challenge you to think “outside the box”, and

An adult, no longer in high school, who will encourage you. One goal of the Project is to encourage the student to meet and interact with new people and members of their community. The student is also encouraged to stretch and grow while working on the Project. Part of that growth comes from interacting and working with another adult in the community. Therefore, a Project Advisor cannot be a member of your immediate family. Family members are, however, encouraged to assist the student in the following ways:

Assist the student in thinking creatively about the Project selection process and how it best aligns with their experience, skills and expertise,

Approve by signature your agreement of the Project selection

Complete the Senior Project Parent/Guardian Consent/Liability Release Form

Encourage students to stay organized, meet deadlines and ask for help when necessary.

Supervise the “stretch” of the Project by giving support for new experiences and help the student to think creatively about how to overcome challenges.

Review the Reflection Paper and Presentation Guidelines with your child.

Remind the student that this project is supposed to be FUN and be relevant to their future endeavors!

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Senior Project – Advisor Commitment Form Student Name:

Project Advisor Information Name:

Address:

Phone Number: Email:

Qualifications:

Briefly describe how you discovered this Project Advisor and how you think he/she can best help you with your senior project:

PROJECT ADVISOR AGREEMENT

I understand and accept the responsibilities of advising this student during his/her work on the Senior Project.

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33

Senior Project Project – Activity Log DATE

Insert the date of each activity Example: 9-28-13

ACTIVITY/TASKS Describe in detail what you spent time doing and include any personal thoughts about the activity. Example: Today I met with my Advisor to review my Project Proposal. He asked me a few questions and made a few great suggestions that I had not thought about. Specifically, he asked . . . . I didn’t really know how to answer the question, so he suggested I research it a bit further. He suggested I email him my responses in a few days so that we can finalize the proposal.

TIME SPENT Insert time amount to nearest ¼ hour. Example: 1.5

ADVISORS SIGNATURE

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SECTION FOUR: PRESENTATION

Often interviews may be conducted by a panel of two or more people. Your ability to

articulate and maintain your poise may be the deciding factor in your obtaining a

passing grade Dress professionally. Plan to arrive early. Have your portfolio ready. Be

prepared for the presentation. You should also have a list of questions to ask the panel.

The following is a list of possible interview questions. Become familiar with these.

What to Expect on Senior Presentation Day

Senior Presentation Day is tentatively scheduled for April 2016. Arrive to your

presentation at least ten minutes ahead of time. Be sure to have your portfolio ready for

review. You should be prepared to make a short speech presentation about yourself and

your goals. You may use note cards. However, do not attempt to write your entire

speech on the note cards. Remember, to keep eye contact with your audience. Practice

your speech in front of a mirror if necessary.

Review the presentation rating sheet included in this packet. Become familiar with how

the judges will be rating your performance.

You must be dressed appropriately. Abide by the dress code of your desired

profession:

Professional attire acceptable for professional activities includes:

Males

• Business suit with collar dress shirt, and necktie or Sport coat, dress slacks,

collared shirt, and necktie or Dress slacks, collared shirt, and necktie.

• Clean dark colored jeans without holes. NO TSHIRTS.

• Banded collar shirt may be worn only if sport coat or business suit is worn.

• Dress shoes and socks.

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• All shirts must be tucked in.

• Hair must be neat and appropriate for the workplace.

Females

• Business suit with blouse or

• Business pantsuit with blouse or

• Skirt or dress slacks with blouse or sweater or

Business dress.

• Appropriate shoes (No Flip Flops.)

• Skirts and dresses must be of appropriate length.

• Hair must be neat and appropriate for the workplace.

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SAMPLE RUBRIC

SENIOR PRESENTATIONS TO PANELS

Student Name: ________________________________

Desired occupation: ______________________________________________

weak proficient strong

Opening of Interview 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (Dress, Handshake, Eye Contact)

Prepared Remarks 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Communication Skills, Voice, Posture, Gestures, Evidence of Practice)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Response to Panel 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Interview Skills, Confidence in Knowledge, Evidence of Genuine Research, Development of Concepts)

Portfolio NA-never saw 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Resume, Organization, Breadth

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Portfolio

Resume ……… 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Interview Skills, Confidence in Knowledge, 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Evidence of Genuine Research 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Budget 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Cover Letter 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Job Application 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Letters of Recommendation yes no

Community Service yes no

Work Samples yes no

Overall Quality 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Comments:

APPENDIX

Section Two: The Presentation

Grant Union

My Portfolio

Professional Picture Here

Name: Your name here, first then last

email

Class of 2017

Job Skills Index

.

I. RESOURCES I have no

experience with this

skill

I need frequent

assistance to

perform this

skill

I need occasional assistance to

perform this

skill

I need no assistance to perform

this skill

A. TIME

Am punctual

Have good attendance

Make and keep schedules

Meet deadlines

Avoid wasting time

Rank activities in order of

importance

Stay focused on my work

Learn quickly

B. MONEY

Use budgets

Prepare budgets

Handle money in a businesslike

way

Keep businesslike records

C. MATERIALS and

SPACE

Organize a task well

Follow proper sequences

Plan ahead

D. PEOPLE

Learn whom to ask for help

Know when to ask for help

Ask for help appropriately

Work with minimal supervision

Listen well

II. INTERPERSONAL I have no experience with this

skill

I need frequent

assistance to

perform this

skill


perform this

skill


this skill

A. TEAMWORK

Share in group effort

Follow instructions and company or

school policies

Communicate well

B. SHARING NEW SKILLS

Learn new skills from others

Teach new skills to others

Adapt to changing situations

C. EFFORT

Strive to satisfy clients

Accept responsibility

D. LEADERSHIP

Lead by example

Explain ideas well

Inspire others to follow willingly

Look for better ways to do things

E. COOPERATION

Try to reach agreements with

others

Work out compromises

F. DIVERSITY

Work well in a multi-ethnic, mixed

gender group

III. INFORMATION I have no experience with this

skill

I need frequent

assistance to

perform this

skill


perform this

skill


this skill

A. KNOW HOW TO FIND NEEDED INFORMATION

Identify the need for data

Obtain information

evaluate information for relevance

and accuracy

B. KEEP INFORMATION ORGANIZED

maintain written records

maintain computerized records

C. UNDERSTAND INFORMATION

can apply information to an

assigned task

can explain information to others

D. USE COMPUTERS

use word processing software

use spreadsheet software

use database software

use the Internet

IV. SYSTEMS I have no experience with this

skill

I need frequent

assistance to

perform this

skill


perform this

skill


this skill

A. ORGANIZATIONS

can recognize different kinds of

teams (e.g., rigid, with fixed

positions like baseball; rigid

positions but cooperative effort,

like football; flexible, shifting

roles, like doubles tennis)

can work in various types of

organizations

can be effective in a variety of

technical situations

B. FUNCTIONS

recognize what works and what

doesn’t in various situations

make adjustments when needed

see when things are going wrong

take corrective action

C. IMPROVEMENTS

look for ways to make the system

work better

suggest improvements

V. TECHNOLOGY I have no experience with this

skill

I need frequent

assistance to

perform this

skill


perform this

skill


this skill

A. CHOOSE THE RIGHT TOOL OR EQUIPMENT

can choose the right tool or

equipment, including computers,

for the job to be done

B. KNOW HOW TO USE THE EQUIPMENT TO GET THE JOB DONE

use manuals effectively

know when to ask for help

C. UNDERSTAND EQUIPMENT SUCH AS TOOLS, COMPUTERS and

OTHER TECHNOLOGIES

know how to take care of

equipment

take care of equipment

am able to prevent problems with

equipment

am able to solve problems with

equipment, including computers,

machines, and other technologies

Equipment I am able to operate (e.g. fax, phone systems, computers): Be specific Other

specific skills and experience I can offer the job market:

Signature:

Print name:

Address:

Phone: