Senior Projects

During the month of May, all seniors develop and complete their own Senior Projects. The program encourages each senior to study, work, or become involved in exploring an area of interest that, it is hoped, might engage and inspire him or her. This can also be an ideal time to become involved in or continue with Community Service. Many seniors have found a project of this nature to be very rewarding. Participation in the program may also give them a small taste of real-life time management, commitment, and planning. This program is seen as a gift of time, after some very busy years, to do something they have wanted to do but never had time for. The program culminates in the Senior Project Presentation Fair, during which seniors are expected to present their projects to King faculty, students, and parents.

This year's project period is May 2-22. Presentations take place on June 2.

Guidelines, regulations, and important dates will be updated on this page in the coming months. Students will be completing the project proposal with their King advisor in Google Classroom. It is important to note that all arrangements are the responsibility of the student, who will have guidance from his/her personal advisor.

Throughout the process, it will be emphasized that this project is theirs to conceive and manage on their own.

The committee in charge of this program is made up of the following Upper School faculty members:

Chair: Megan Yelton

Committee Members: Jonathan Coulombe and Tricia Manganello

Again, we are so pleased to give this opportunity to our seniors. Please feel free to ask questions of any member of the Committee.

Senior Project Signature Form - to be completed via Google Classroom

Senior Project Proposal Form - to be completed via Google Classroom

Important Dates

Important Dates and Materials to be submitted

February 25, 2022 - Completed proposal & signature forms due (Some forms may be returned for clarification or additional information).

April 1, 2022 – Any outstanding permissions and signatures are due.

April 29, 2022 - Final day of classes that Seniors have been released from

May 2 – 27, 2022 – Senior Projects take place

June 2, 2022 – Senior Project Presentations (3:30 – 4:30 pm)

PLEASE NOTE: If there is overdue work, or any other prior academic obligation that has not been met by April 29, the senior must continue at school during the project period until the work is completed. Seniors are not responsible for coursework from May 2 on, excluding AP classes, which will continue until the exam. Otherwise, seniors are finished with their courses. Any final assessment, including an exam, must be given to seniors before April 29.

Past Senior Project Samples

A series of drawings of King buildings

Assistant at Building One Community (formerly Neighbor’s Link)

Assistant coach for a youth soccer team

Assistant for the Global Education Department (future trip planning)

Assistant teaching 1st grade at King

Assistant teaching 2nd grade at King

Assistant teaching at King in PE

Assistant to Art teacher off campus at West School, New Canaan

Assistant to Steven Brown from the Connecticut Oilers hockey program

Assisting a MS English teacher

Assisting a MS History teacher

Building a large raised garden for a parent

Building a stick rack for the varsity hockey team

Ceramics study at King

Completing a short “EP” or at least one or 2 original songs

Continuing EMS volunteer work

Continuing EMS volunteer work and increasing hours

Create a Lumina box, inspired by artist Thomas Wilfred

Creating a complete graphic novel

Creating a computer game as a teaching tool for MS

Creating a full set of 8 ceramic dinner, salad, and dessert plates

Creating a learning game app for the Middle School

Creating and producing a three-four track extended play album

Creating and publishing a comic book

Creating stage props

Designing and making a mini-collection of clothes

Developing art school portfolio

Digging and creating a working, ceramic water fountain

Doing PR work at a non-profit

Elementary school student teacher at the ACS Cobham International School in London

Improving FPV drone racing skills

Intern for the art teacher at Pear Tree Point School in Darien, CT

Interning at a clothing design company

Interning at a sports radio station

Interning with Director of Pathology, Stamford Hospital

Interning/working at a Police Department

Internship at Reelio

Internship at Rochambeau

Internship at Soundtrack Group (a post production studio in NYC)

Internship at Tegu

Internship at the Botanical Gardens in Bronx, NY

Internship at the Connecticut Boat Club in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Internship with the Global Citizens Initiative

Internship with the King Athletic Department

Learning how to make and sell jewelry

Learning to play acoustic guitar

Make multiple in-depth anatomical drawings.

Making a documentary film about the Engage Values Program (England)

New York Academy of Art intern

Obtaining boater’s license and restoring a 30 year old 5 horsepower motor

Painting a series of portraits

Performing love music with a band made up of King students and faculty

Producing a documentary style short film

Reading and writing project

Red Cross volunteer

Researching and writing a family history

SAC Capital Advisors intern

Service Learning trip to Uruguay to work with local YMCA chapters

Shadowing a doctor at Sloan Kettering

Start learning American Sign Language (ASL)

Studying the evolution of modern science fiction,

Taking cooking courses at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York

Taking self-defense classes

Teaching a Language class at West Hill

Teaching math at King

Visiting a series of Connecticut Museums and writing reviews and suggestions in a blog

Volunteering at PAWS

Volunteering at the VCA Darien Animal Hospital

Working at a Domestic Violence shelter

Working at Darien Book Aid

Working at horse barn, learning barn management

Working at Pegasus Therapeutic Riding

Working in New York City for Cayli Cavacor Reck at Knockout Beauty Internship at Berkshire Hathaway Real Estate (Greenwich)

Working with young children at JCC

Writing /Illustrating a children’s book in Chinese

Writing a fictional novel

Writing a play

Writing and producing a video

Writing and producing original music

Guidelines and Regulations

Seniors are expected to know and abide by the following Guidelines and Regulations:

1. All seniors participate in the Senior Project Program – Should unusual or extenuating circumstances possibly prevent a senior from participating, there will be a formal process for exemption.

2. Students may propose work (without remuneration), community service, activity, or study on or off campus. Off campus projects must take place within the tri-state area. The committee will consider any exceptions to location on an individual basis. Project participants are expected to commit to and be engaged in their work for a MINIMUM of four hours per day for the entire period.

3. The emphasis is on individual interests, engagement, and involvement. A maximum of 3 seniors may work together during the project. The reason for having more than 1 must be clear and approval will depend on the project.

4. Working with personal advisors, each student submits a proposal for his or her project. Complete proposals are due in Google Classroom on February 25. A “complete proposal” means all contact information and permissions are included on the proposal form. The proposal may NOT be submitted in Google Classroom without the final approval of the student’s personal advisor. In a few cases, the Senior Project Committee may send the proposal back to the senior and his or her advisor for clarification and/or additional information, or ask the senior to present an alternative plan. Sometimes, off campus signatures are hard to get. For that reason, there is a final deadline of April 1 for all permissions and signatures.

5. Regular academic and extracurricular course work for seniors participating in the program will be completed by Friday, April 29. Seniors are finished with their course work (except in AP classes) at this point and are not responsible for any further classes or assignments. Seniors’ advisors will work with their seniors to ensure that all coursework is complete, but it is the students’ responsibility to complete the work by April 29.

6. If a student has incomplete work from earlier in the semester, the work is to be made up by the time the Projects begin, or the student will be expected in class until the work is complete. See # 8.

7. AP students continue with AP classes until the exam. It is their responsibility to work their project schedules around their AP class schedules. See #8.

8. Each senior will schedule his or her program around the need for additional academic work, the need to continue in a particular class, or attend sports practice or performing arts rehearsals. Students are responsible for making their own arrangements with each of their teachers, if need be. Advisors will monitor this.

9. Personal Advisors will act as mentors to each senior advisee.They will assist their senior advisees with deciding and approving of a project, making sure the senior fills out the proposal completely and meets every deadline. They will also be communicating with parents regarding any issues with the proposal, deadlines, or other aspects of the process. They will communicate with the Senior Project Committee regarding the progress of the senior advisees.

10. Each student will need to name, and include on the proposal, any supervisor/boss with whom they will be working during the Project period. All contact information must be included as well. Advisors will be in touch with this person during the project.

11. Any project, which requires the use of any part of the theater, practice rooms, band room, or any musical, or recording instruments or technology, MUST be approved by Dr. Martino and Ms. Darnton prior to turning in a proposal.

12. The Athletic Department is willing to consider seniors for several types of Senior Project roles, including (pending any Covid restrictions):

Helping to support the teaching of Lower School Physical Education classes. Up to two seniors, one of each gender, may be accepted to assist with the PE classes.
Helping to coach Middle School sports teams along with other roles in the Department (equipment, filming, sports information, social media, special events, etc.). There are four spots available for these roles (two of each gender) and these can also be the same seniors who work with the LS PE classes as well.

Once you submit your proposal by February 25, your advisor will turn it over to the Athletic Department. Mr. Hauben or Mr. Decker will arrange an interview with each of you and you will also need to meet with Mr. McAndrews for PE positions. After the interviews and meetings are completed, seniors will then be informed of the decisions about the positions. Please contact Mr. Hauben if you have further questions.

13. At the conclusion of the Program, each participant is required to make a three to five minute presentation. This will follow the Science Fair model. All participants will prepare a display/talk/video/poster, etc. Personal advisors, administration, off-campus supervisors and interested faculty and Juniors are encouraged to attend. The projects are assessed for effective and meaningful use of time, but are not graded. Guidelines and regulations for the presentations will be posted separately.

14. Failure to meet deadlines, to complete all information, to take responsibility for all aspects of planning the project, or giving a poor presentation indicating a lack of engagement in and commitment to the project could result in any or all of the following: a blank diploma at graduation until the project is completed and presented to a selected group of administrators and faculty, an inability to participate in the commencement ceremony, a final fourth quarter comment from the Dean of Students stating that this required project was not satisfactorily fulfilled

15. Seniors on spring sports teams are expected to honor their commitment to the team by reporting to practice and games as usual and on time. Seniors whose projects are taking place on campus, will need to be in regular dress code. If they are assisting in the Athletic Department, they need to be wearing appropriate King Athletic gear.

16. If, during the Project period, a senior needs to be on campus and is not engaged in an actual project, he or she is to dress and behave appropriately so as not to distract or undermine the underclass students who are still in classes and preparing for exams. Campus cannot be a place for social gatherings for seniors.