Senior Internship Program 2008 (S.I.P.)

Senior Internship Program is a potentially exciting culmination to a senior student’s education at Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School. The project offers the opportunity to experience a new and exciting enterprise or activity for up to four weeks. In taking advantage of such an opportunity with both enthusiasm and a sense of responsibility, seniors will have a chance to test themselves against the world in a significant way. Defining, planning for, and successfully completing a project will benefit seniors in preparing for the independence of college and after.

The educational value of Senior Internship must be at least equal to the learning the senior would receive by remaining in classes. A successful senior project is a graduation requirement. Project completion becomes part of the permanent record.

PROJECT SUGGESTIONS

Lists of Senior Internship choices from the past several years are posted on Rabbi Kirsch’s Internship Bulletin Board. In addition, folders with full write-ups of various internships are available for review in Rabbi Kirsch’s office.

The four main categories of internship settings include:

Creative Expression:
Examples – woodworking/furniture making, creative writing, poetry, short stories, play-writing or production, pottery, photography, art lessons/study

Volunteer work:
Examples – JCC/JFS, hospital, Red Cross, school for emotionally challenged, political campaign, state park volunteer, juvenile court system/legal aid society, museum or zoo, veternary hospital, nursery/day care, teacher’s aid, environmental education center

Apprenticeship:
Examples – newspaper reporter/photographer, veterinarian’s assistant, industrial lab assistant, artist or craftsperson, fire department or first aid squad volunteer, radio station/television station/recording studio intern, architect’s assistant, hotel/restaurant management intern, financial services intern, automobile mechanic, hair stylist

Educational:
Examples – museum work, ecological research, archeological dig, marine biology research station, foreign language study

The school has contacts through alumni to assist students in locating an individual or organization willing to serve as a project sponsor. A list of potential alumni contacts in particular fields are available from the guidance office. A Senior Internship Contact Request Form can be obtained in the guidance office. Requests will be filled within one week.



PROJECT APPROVAL

Each senior must define an individual or group project which has to be approved by the Administrative Staff. The project may be academic, artistic, or skill oriented. A wide range of projects is permitted. The most important guideline is that the project involves learning from a mentor/sponsor who is experienced in the student’s area of interest. A project may not involve a student working on his or her own.

The project must have the promise of personal growth and learning. Also, the project should be suited to the student’s experiences and goals. A project acceptable for one student, or one approved in a prior year, may not be the right project for another student. Approval of a proposal may involve several submissions. The Senior Internship Proposal Sheet is used to propose a project. If the proposal deadline is not met, a student will not be accepted into the program.



PROJECT GUIDELINES

The following guidelines are efficacious in helping seniors to plan a successful project:

1. Projects involve working with an organization or individual outside of Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School with knowledge, skill or experience in the area of the student’s project.

2. A students may not work for a family member.

3. The purpose of the project may not be to earn money. Only sufficient money to cover expenses may be earned.

4. 75 hours is required for a project. For each A.P. subject as well as varsity sport participation, a student may deduct 5 hours, with an absolute minimum of 55 hours.

5. The project should be a new experience or an extension of a student’s experience, not a repetition.

6. The proposal must give evidence that the senior will be actively participating in a project and not merely observing.



OUT-OF-SCHOOL SPONSOR

Each senior must have an out-of-school sponsor (not a close relative) whose responsibilities are:

1. To provide the opportunity, place and guidance to complete the project.

2. To verify the project by signing the proposal.

3. To provide the student with a letter stating the total number of hours completed in the project and evaluating the level of success of the project.



ROLE OF THE FACULTY ADVISOR

Each faculty advisor will be responsible as follows:

1. To assist the senior in the development of the project.

2. To follow the student’s progress by being in contact with the student twice during the project.

3. To evaluate the senior’s group presentation during the week preceding graduation.

4. To review the journal and reaction paper and return these to the student by graduation rehearsal.

5. To submit an evaluation of the senior’s project by the Thursday morning preceeding graduation.



RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SENIOR

1. The senior has the responsibility to define a project within the written guidelines and submit a proposal on time.

2. A senior must maintain high academic standards until the completion of the spring term or until A.P. courses are finished.

3. Attendance in A.P. courses is required until the exam is taken. Seniors must arrange their project to accommodate these courses and any athletic responsibility to a spring term team.

4. A senior must keep a DAILY JOURNAL in an appropriate, hardbound book (no spiral notebooks).

5. A senior will check in twice with his or her faculty advisor during the project.

6. A ONE – PAGE TYPED REACTION PAPER will be submitted with the daily journal when the oral presentation is scheduled by the advisor during the week before graduation.

7. A senior is responsible for making an ORAL PRESENTATION and participating in the oral presentation meeting which is scheduled by the student’s advisor during the week before graduation.

8. A senior is responsible for having his/her out-of school sponsor write an EVALUATION LETTER on letterhead specifying the nature of the project and the total number of hours completed. This letter must be submitted during the oral presentation along with the journal and reaction paper.

9. A senior is responsible for completing a minimum of 75 hours of work on his or her project. For each A.P. subject, as well as varsity sports participation, a student may deduct 5 hours, with an absolute minimum of 55 hours. Students must be aware of the A. P. exam schedule and sport schedule and plan accordingly.



FINAL EVAUATION OF THE PROJECT

The completed project will be reviewed and evaluated by the senior’s faculty advisor based on a pass/fail basis. A passing evaluation is necessary for graduation. The project evidence reviewed by the advisor will be as follows:

1. The daily journal
2. A one-page typed reaction paper
3. A letter of completion and evaluation from the out-of-school sponsor
4. The oral presentation




SENIOR PROJECT SCHEDULE SUMMARY

By Friday February 8th:
1. Plan a senior project and complete a written proposal.
2. Make arrangements with an out-of-school sponsor.
3. Submit project proposal to Rabbi Kirsch.


By Friday February 14th:
1. Receive approval or rejection of proposal and letters of acceptance to the program will be sent.


By Friday, February 21st
1. If necessary, resubmit proposal to Rabbi Kirsch.


May 9th THROUGH June 6th
1. Work 75 hours on senior project.
2. Check in twice with faculty advisor.
3. Keep a daily journal.
4. Write a 1- page typed Reaction Paper.
5. Obtain a sponsor Evaluation Letter.


June 8th through June 10th - Advisor group presentations

BRING THE “BIG FOUR” TO YOUR ADVISOR GROUP:
1. Daily journal
2. One-page typed reaction paper
3. Sponsor evaluation letter specifying the number of hours
4. Presentation