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Senior Options

Philosophy

Senior Options will be a culminating activity available to all eligible high school seniors. The program was designed with the belief that Blind Brook High School has an obligation to educate students to become adults who are:

  • Independent
  • Problem Solvers
  • Life-long learners
  • Productive and Caring members of the Global Community

Goals

The goal of the Senior Options program is to provide an opportunity for students to apply their high school knowledge and skills to create an independent, cohesive experience in an area of personal interest during their senior year. The program offers seniors an opportunity to:

  • Extend their thinking beyond the classroom
  • Become actively involved in the community
  • Manage their time and develop self-direction, self-reliance and self-confidence

Program Description

Students must secure their own off-campus placement and supervisor. They will choose and pursue an area of interest and complete either an Internship, Community Service, Passion Pursuit or Independent Research Project. Students will not be able to receive monetary compensation nor be supervised by a family member. Students will receive school credit for successful participation and completion of this program. 

Program Dates

The start-up date of this program is during the week of May 5, 2025 (dependent on AP exams). The program will conclude on June 4, 2025 with the Senior Options Night of Celebration

NOTE: Students must have completed ALL of their required 80 hours of Community Service by no later than Friday, April 25th in order to be eligible to participate in Senior Options.  If you have not completed your Community Service by this date, you will be required to come to school every day until you have satisfied your Community Service obligation.

Program Requirements 

Students are required to submit their Senior Options Internship or Independent Research Project Proposal & Signed Student Contract to the Senior Options Coordinator (Mr. Ambrosio) by Monday, February 10, 2025. Students need to submit their Placement Location, Site Supervisor's Name, Email Address and Phone Number & what they will specifically be doing on the Senior Options Internship or Independent Research Project Proposal Form.  Both documents can be found BELOW and in the Senior Options Google Classroom. 

Students are required to spend a minimum of 25 hours per week in their chosen off-campus option. They must keep a record of the time spent and a Weekly Journal, which serves as a record of their activities and reactions to them. These entries might include observations, criticisms, explanations or evaluations of their experiences, which they share with their assigned BBHS Senior Options Teacher. Students are required to meet with the Senior Options Teacher as needed. 

Internship and Community Service  

Students will be expected to make initial contact with an agency, business or institution to determine its willingness to sponsor the students. In consultation with the On-site Supervisor, students will compile a list of duties and responsibilities to be completed during Senior Options. The Internship Proposal will be submitted to the Sr. Options Coordinators by Monday, February 10, 2025

Passion Pursuit or Independent Research Project 

Students will be required to develop a proposal in consultation with a Supervisor. The Supervisor is the person who will guide you throughout the duration of the project. It will be someone other than the BBHS Sr. Options Teacher. This proposal must be submitted by Monday, February 10, 2025 and  include the goals and objectives of the project, a description of the project, and how students expect to accomplish this project. You will work with your Supervisor in conjunction with your assigned BBHS Teacher. 

***Please Note: If the Community Service component is chosen, the hours completed during Senior Options must be IN ADDITION TO the required 80 hours of Community Service. ***

 

The Components of Senior Options are: 

Internship 

Students engage in a supervised, unpaid experience outside the high school. Internship students will be expected to assume a daily workload, spending 25 hours per week on site

Community Service 

Students will engage in meaningful work in a not-for-profit community organization (exclusive of the community service requirement). 

Independent Research Projects 

Students will design projects that emerge out of personal interest and/or expertise. These can be literary, studio, performance, research or laboratory based. Students must select an off-campus supervisor with an interest or expertise in the field. 

Passion Pursuit

Students will engage in work experience outside the high school at a site where students can design and implement projects of their own. Students will produce tangible work such as an exhibition of photographs, a painting, a film, or a set of computer programs that reflect at least 100 hours of achievement. Students must select an off-campus Supervisor with an interest or expertise in the field. 

Student Assessment

Assessments will include: 

  • Weekly Google Meet meetings with the Mr. Ambrosio
  • Weekly Journal Entries submitted by Friday each week on Passport for Good and reviewed by the assigned BBHS Teacher 
  • Weekly TimeSheet submitted on Passport for Good and approved by the off-campus Supervisor
  • Supervisor Evaluation of Student Intern Google Form 
  • Hand-written BBHS Thank You Note to your On-site Supervisor
  • Internship/Independent Project Video Testimonial
  • Final Presentation that is preapproved by the assigned BBHS Teacher and will be presented at a Senior Options Celebration of Learning Night on June 4th!