1. East Hamilton Capstone Project

2. What is a Capstone Project?
A Capstone Project is a service or career based project completed in a student’s Senior year.
This project is driven by an essential question and culminates in a product.
The Capstone project is a Hamilton County Graduation Requirement.
A student must complete and pass the Capstone project along with his/her academic courses in order to graduate.

3. What are the components of East Hamilton’s Capstone Project?
Parent Consent form
Resume and Personal Essay
Proposal of the project and its approval
Letter of Intent
20 Hours of service toward the project
A Mentor to work with and gain information from
Portfolio
Presentation before a panel
Product
5 paragraph reflective essay

4. Parent Consent
A letter will be given to the parents informing them of the project and its main components.
A letter of consent will also be given to the parents.
This letter is to be filled out and signed
The Fall due date for the consent form for rising seniors will be August 23rd 2011

5. Resume and Personal Essay
This document will be compiled through advisory and will follow a specific format.
Personal Statement
Your personal statement is a short essay ( words) that best describes you. This essay will be based upon one of 5 topics listed on the personal essay document .

6. Project Proposal
Each Senior must complete a proposal form and submit it to your advisor
Each proposal will be reviewed by the panel of senior advisors

7. Letter Of Intent This is a formal letter The letter of intent is typed
Follow the format given in the Capstone packet
Once your proposal is complete, type your letter of intent. This can be turned in once your proposal has been approved.

8. 20 Hours of Service/Job Shadow
For service or career based projects a minimum of 20 hours are required.
For all rising seniors, these hours are to be completed over the summer.
Those not completing hours over the summer will only be allowed to present in April.
All other students will be able to present in November.

9. Contact Information for December Graduates
Kara A. Seebach
School Counselor
East Hamilton School
2015 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road
Ooltewah, TN 37363
(423) ext. 297

10. 20 Hours of Service/Job Shadow
Students are responsible for CORRECTLY filling out the time sheet.
The time sheet must be signed by a mentor or person overseeing the hours completed.
Keep a journal of your experiences for your final reflection paper.

11. 20 Hours of Service or Job Shadow
You may NOT work for a parent or relative to complete your hours.
You may NOT be paid for your time.

12. Mentors Students are responsible for finding a mentor to work with.
The mentor must have experience in the area chosen for your project.
Your mentor may not be a parent or relative.
Students are responsible for having mentor forms filled out and turned in to the advisor.

13. Portfolio Portfolios will be graded by your advisor using a rubric.
Your portfolio will contain
A Cover Page
Five Tabs
Cover Page
Project Title
Name
Date
Advisor

14. Portfolio Tab 1 Tab 2 Tab 3 Tab 4 Tab 5 Consent form Personal Essay
Resume
Tab 2
Project proposal
Letter of intent
Any Revisions
Tab 3
Mentor and volunteer information
Time Sheet
Journal of experiences
Tab 4
Presentation outline
Written presentation (script)
Pictorial evidence of project
Tab 5
Reflection Paper (5 paragraph essay)

15. Research
Your research on your topic can include interviews with a mentor, schooling, monetary costs etc..
Copies of internet research must be placed in the portfolio along with the notes you have taken on the source.
Your research MUST pertain to your project
You must create an MLA formatted works cited page of your research materials and place this information in your presentation.
Example
Project: Interior Design (sketches and ideas to remodel a room)
Research: Interior Design/Educational Requirements
Product Example: Design sketches for a room ,material boards and a 3-D model of the end product.

16. Presentation 10-12 minutes in length
Must include a multimedia type (video, power point, etc) presentation (no posters)
The power point presentation must have visual appeal but be easily read.
You may not read directly from the power point! Be sure to PRACTICE!

17. Presentation
You will present before a panel of teachers, administrators, peers and invited guests.
Your presentation will be scored by a rubric.
You should wear appropriate dress clothes and look professional.

18. Reflection Paper
This paper must be a reflection of your Capstone Project experience
The paper must be typed
The paper must contain correct spelling, punctuation and grammar.
The paper must contain an introduction, 3 body paragraphs and a conclusion.

19. How do I Pass This Project?
You must pass all 3 portions of the Capstone Project
Presentation
Portfolio
Product
You must score a minimum of 70% of the total points for each Rubric.

20. Forms for the Capstone Project
All forms will be posted on the East Hamilton School website.
The Power point presentation will also be available on the web site.