During the last month of school, 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 them. 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, the Project period will be from April 27 through May 22. Presentations will take place on May 28.
Guidelines, regulations, important dates, project proposals, and signature forms are posted in Google Classroom. It is important to note that all arrangements are the responsibility of the student, who will have guidance from their personal advisor.
Throughout the process, it will be emphasized that this project is for the Seniors 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 Mi Chau
Again, we are so pleased to give this opportunity to our seniors. Please feel free to ask questions of any member of the Committee.
FORMS:
Copy of the proposal form (Students must complete and submit it via Google Classroom)
Copy of Signature Form (Must be printed out, signed, and returned to their personal advisor)
IMPORTANT DATES:
Important Dates and Materials to be submitted
- February 20, 2026 - Completed proposal & signature forms due (Some forms may be returned for clarification or additional information).
- March 30, 2026 – Any outstanding proposals and signature forms are due.
- April 24, 2026 - Final day of classes that Seniors have been released from
- April 27 – May 22, 2026 – Senior Projects take place
- May 28, 2026 – Senior Project Presentations in the Upper School Gym (3:30 – 4:30 p.m.)
PLEASE NOTE: If there is overdue work or any other prior academic obligation that has not been met by April 24, the senior must continue at school during the project period until the work is completed. Seniors are not responsible for coursework from April 27 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 24.
GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS
Seniors are expected to know and abide by the following Guidelines and Regulations:
- 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.
- 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. During the month of April, Seniors will have individual meetings with their personal advisor to make a plan for how they will fulfill the 4-hour project requirement for each day of the project period.
- The emphasis is on individual interests, engagement, and involvement, so group Senior Projects are NOT allowed.
- Working with personal advisors, each student submits a proposal for their project. Complete proposals are due in Google Classroom on February 20. 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 their 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 March 30 for all permissions and signatures.
- Regular academic and extracurricular coursework for seniors participating in the program will be completed by Friday, April 24. Seniors are finished with their coursework (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 24.
- 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.
- 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.
- Each senior will schedule their 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.
- 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. If you plan to complete a Senior Project that involves community service, both on or off campus, you must schedule a meeting with Mrs. Raidt to discuss your plans prior to submitting your project proposal.
12. Any project that 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 Mr. Mendez prior to submitting your project proposal.
13. The Athletic Department is willing to consider seniors for several types of Senior Project roles, which may include:
- Helping to support the teaching of Lower School Physical Education classes. Up to two seniors 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, and these can also be the same seniors who work with the LS PE classes as well.
If you are interested in working with the Athletic Department, you must schedule a meeting with Mr. Hauben to discuss your plans prior to submitting your project proposal.
14. If you are interested in a Senior Project that will take place in the Lower School, you must first let Mrs. Yelton know. She will then help you schedule a meeting with Dr. Lizaire-Duff to discuss the volunteer opportunities that exist. These two things must happen prior to submitting your project proposal.
15. 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.
16. 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 the regular dress code. If they are assisting in the Athletic Department, they need to be wearing appropriate King Athletic gear.
17. 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.
18. 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.
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