MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Exeter-West Greenwich High School Senior Capstone is to empower all seniors to identify an area of great personal interest, and produce physical/written products, oral presentations, and in-depth, extended project work in their area of interest. By completing a successful senior capstone, students will demonstrate mastery of deep content knowledge while applying and connecting knowledge in real world settings.
WHAT IS THE SENIOR CAPSTONE?
The Senior Capstone is a proficiency-based graduation requirement mandated by the Department of Education. The Senior Capstone allows students to engage in personalized experience utilizing interdisciplinary skills and knowledge while investigating an area of personal interest. The Senior Capstone offers broad opportunities so that all students can achieve at high standards and apply their knowledge and skills in real world situations. Senior Capstone allows students to demonstrate proficiency through a comprehensive exhibition which makes a meaningful connection between the skills they have acquired during their years in the Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School District and the outside world. The Senior Capstone has four components:
Research - Students research a particular topic to defend an analytical or persuasive thesis on a topic related to a chosen field of interest. This interest, chosen by the student, could be a career or special hobby. The topic, however, must be legal, safe, and moral, and must include a clear “learning stretch” that emphasizes depth of knowledge and includes analysis, interpretation, and evaluation. The research paper topic must be connected to the product and can be presented in a variety of ways. Topics must be approved by the Senior Capstone Review Board and parent(s) or guardian(s). -
Product - Students choose a product in an area of interest that could be a potential career or hobby and is a demonstrable product that is related to or connected to the research paper. A demonstrable product could be a physical product, a timelapse documentation of learning a new skills or a professional portfolio documenting an internship/job shadow. Students are required to choose a mentor who is an expert in the student’s chosen field and who will assist them in their project. (The mentor cannot be a relative.) Fieldwork must include a minimum of 40 hours. The product must be legal, safe, and moral and must include a clear “learning stretch” that emphasizes depth of knowledge and includes analysis, interpretation, and evaluation.
Presentation - Students present a culminating oral presentation (8-10) minutes about their research paper and product to a panel of judges composed of school and community members. Students respond to questions from the panel about their Senior Capstone experience.
2022 Capstone Projects (2023 Capstone Projects coming soon)
2024 Capstone Student Handbook
Interested in being placed on our Capstone Mentor list for the 23-24 school year? If so, complete this brief form: https://forms.gle/QqeDM8wbeGfKPf8w5