Mount Si High School
Snoqualmie Valley School District
2014-15
Guidelines

All seniors receiving a diploma from Mount Si High School must successfully complete the
High School & Beyond Culminating Project.

The student must complete all four parts (Career Research/ Portfolio/ Reflective Essay/
Presentation) of the project in order to fulfill the requirement.

The student must demonstrate that completing the project was a “learning stretch” for them.

The proposal must be approved and signed by the parent/guardian.

No projects that involve water or air activities are allowed according to Snoqualmie Valley
School District Risk Management policy.

All Running Start, WaNIC and MSHSOP students will be required to complete the High School
& Beyond Culminating Project as outlined above with the exception of the project being
completed within the classroom. Each Running Start/WaNIC/MSHSOP student will be
individually responsible for attending an overview meeting of the project and adhering to the
deadlines.
Exceptions & Exemptions
Transfer Students
Students who have transferred into the Snoqualmie Valley School District late in their senior year will
be evaluated by the high school Principal and the coordinator as to the extent of the completion of the
High School & Beyond Culminating Project. Students transferring from another school district within
the State of Washington that have a High School & Beyond Culminating Project started can integrate
their project into the Snoqualmie Valley School District project requirements. Students who transfer
from out-of-state during their senior year will be evaluated on an individual basis by the high school
principal and the coordinator.
2
Timeline
Assignments
Due Date
Class
1. Career Research
Ongoing
CWP
2. Informational Interview Teacher Sign off
______
CWP
3. Project Proposal Teacher Approval
and Parent Approval
______
______
CWP
CWP
4. Reflective Essay Draft
______
LA 12
5. Reflective Essay Final
______
LA 12
6. Presentation Outline Worksheet
______
CWP
7. High School & Beyond Culminating Project Final Presentation
______
Proposal Action Plan Worksheet (to help you get started)
1. What careers do you plan to research?
2. Why have you chosen these particular careers?
3. What skill, knowledge, experience, and personal qualities do you have that will help you complete
this project?
4. What do you expect to learn from this project?
5. Exactly what steps will you need to take to complete this project? This portion of your proposal, in
which you explain the steps needed to complete your project, is the most important part of your
proposal.
6. Are there expenses that need to be considered for the project?
7. Consider what problems you might encounter in this project and what alternatives would be
appropriate to solve them.
8. What might you use as a visual aide to support your presentation (beyond PowerPoint) that gives
the audience an appreciation of what the job looks like, feels like, where you would work, what you
would work with, who you would work with. This may include pictures, video, presentation board,
physical objects of job (clothing, tools models etc.)
3
Mount Si High School High School & Beyond Culminating Project
Parent/Guardian Consent
As the parent/Guardian of _____________________________ I/We understand that the High School
& Beyond Culminating Project is a graduation requirement established by the Snoqualmie Valley
School District. The High School & Beyond Culminating Project has four components: the career
research project & informational interview, the portfolio, the reflective essay, and the final
presentation. Students must meet minimum standards on each of the components to be successful in
meeting the graduation requirement. Those standards will be explained in LA 12 and their Current
World Problems (CWP) classes as part of their normal curriculum and grading requirements.
I/We understand that our student’s failure to meet standard on any of the components or failure to
meet any project deadlines may jeopardize his/her graduation and their LA 12, Current World
Problems (CWP) grades and Credit.
Further questions about the High School & Beyond Culminating Project process may be directed to
the Mount Si High School Counseling Center.
I/We understand that for his/her project, my student plans to explore the following career:
____________
_______
The District will provide no supervision to the student while he/she is working on this project when off
school grounds.
I/We understand that the District prohibits a student from undertaking any activity which may place
the student at unnecessary risk of harm or injury.
I/We understand that the District expects the parent/guardian to make the initial determination as to
whether a High School & Beyond Culminating Project places a student at an unnecessary risk of
harm or injury. I/We understand that if either I/we or the District concludes the proposed High School
& Beyond Culminating Project places the student at an unnecessary risk of harm or injury, the District
will not approve the activity as the student’s High School & Beyond Culminating Project.
I/We understand that while the District will periodically check to ensure the student is completing the
project in a timely fashion, it is the responsibility of the parent(s)/guardian(s) to ensure that the
son/daughter is 1) provided with a safe environment, and 2) following all necessary safety procedures.
I/We understand and accept the conditions and expectations of the project phase of the High School
& Beyond Culminating Project, and I/we approve of our student’s project as stated above.
(Continued on following page)
4
(High School & Beyond Culminating Project Parent/Guardian Consent continued)
I/We agree, to the extent the law allows, to indemnify and hold the District, its agents, officers,
employees, and volunteers harmless from and defend and indemnify the same against any and all
claims, losses, and damages from every cause, including, but not limited to, injury to person or
property, and related costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, arising directly or
indirectly out of any act, or omission to act, in the performance of the terms of this contract.
My signature below indicates that I am aware of my son/daughter’s decisions, as stated above and
approve of them.
Signature
Relationship to Student
Date
Signature
Relationship to Student
Date
Project Proposal
Name: _______________________________________________________
Career that you will research: ________________________
Final approval (CWP signature required)
Proposal approved. Student may proceed.
Proposal not yet approved. See comments for modifications.
_________________________________________________________________
CWP Teacher
Date
5
The Four Components
Career Research
The student will research a career through a variety of sources and then summarize his/her findings
in a presentation. The career research project will include, but not be limited to information regarding
education, professional responsibilities, ethical issues, salary, employment outlook and opportunities.
Will the career area explored be a viable option to support the lifestyle the student wants and where
he/she wants to live in the future? Students will complete an informational interview as part of their
project and teachers will verify interview.
Step One: Choose a career or post-high school employment
 Develop a proposal for choosing a career or post-high school employment and for acquiring a
thorough understanding of what is required for success in this career or employment.
Step Two: Using a variety of sources conduct research into the following:
 Required education, skill development, training and/or apprenticeship.
 Professional responsibilities: dress, memberships, work hours, travel, confidentiality, behavior.
 Salary: entry-level, increases, potential, opportunities, continued education
 Benefits: vacation, health care, retirement investments, days off, bereavement days.
 Employment: openings, future outlook, opportunities for advancement, possibility of
outsourcing, location.
 Tools of the Trade: What tools, technology, gadgets, are required in the day to day activities of
someone in this career?
Portfolio
The portfolio requires the student to apply information he/she has gained through conversations with
the career counselor, guidance counselors, teachers, parents and family members that prepares
them for their post high school experiences.
Required elements include:


Transcript
Resume


WOIS Terms & Classes (9-12)
WOIS High School and Beyond Plan Details
The portfolio could also contain a compilation of materials and resources that documents your journey
through this High School & Beyond Culminating Project from beginning to end. It could include the
following:
 Proposal
 College applications
 Project Timelines
 Scholarships
 Career Action Plan
 Letters of recommendation
 Parent/Guardian Consent
 Awards
 Reflective Essay
 Community service documentation
6
Reflective Essay
The essay will demonstrate your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and help you
distinguish yourself in your own voice. Listed below are the 2014-15 Common Application essay
prompts. Choose one prompt from the following to write about:
See grading criteria sheet for further evaluation details.
7
Presentation
This will be multi-media 8 to 10 minutes in length presentation. The student will present his/her
research to a class at Mount Si High School during the day. The presentation will need to include a
visual and the student’s portfolio should be available to view and discuss. The presentation will be
followed by a 3 to 5 minute question/answer period. Students must be prepared to answer questions
about their career.
Take some time to consider those who deliver great presentations. Was this person enthusiastic?
Did he/she have mastery of his/her material and make eye contact? Did his/her vocal tone rise and
fall to reflect the content of his/her presentations?
Tips to assist you in delivering a great presentation:

Plan and practice your presentation so that you know the material without having to read from your
notes.

Make eye contact with your audience. If you are unable to do this, focus on something and it will
appear that you are making eye contact with the audience.

Stand up straight and don’t slouch. Use the podium to your advantage (try not to hold onto it with a
death grip).

Relax, breathe deep and smile.

Avoid using filler words such as “uhm, like, and okay”.

Moderate the pitch of your voice. Speak loudly enough to he heard, but do not speak in a monotone.

Speak slowly and clearly and enunciate your words.

Create note cards to help you with your presentation. Your note cards should contain a brief outline of
your presentation. Do not read your cards verbatim to the audience.

Dress appropriately (business attire, uniform, etc.) Hats should be removed. No gum chewing.

If you are distributing brochures, or other kinds of materials wait until you have finished your
presentation to keep the audience focused on your presentation.

Create a PowerPoint or Multi Media presentation to support the visual and audio aspects of your
presentation.
o
Your presentation should include photo’s, products, or artifacts that help the audience
understand the career you have choose, what a day in the life might look like, where you
would work, how you would dress, or what tools you will utilize in this professional.
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MSHS High School & Beyond Culminating Project
Presentation Outline Worksheet
I.
Introduction
A. Introduce yourself and the career that you chose for your project.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
B. Summarize the following:
a. Career Choice & Why you chose it!
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
b. Education
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
c. Salary (Entry level and top end)
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
d. Employment Outlook (Projected Increase/decrease of occupation over 10-20 years)
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
e. Professional Responsibilities
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
f. Opportunities for Growth (begin entry level – what could you work up to?)
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
g. Locations for a job
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
h. Benefits (Medical; paid vacation; personal days off…)
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
i. Tools Utilized in the Career
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
j. Will the career support your desired lifestyle?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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II.
Explain the Project
A. Visual Aides: Physical products (can be photo’s) should be utilized in presentation. Use “props” to explain
what the career “feels” like, tools of the trade, how one dresses, models, artifacts of the career etc...
B. Project Description
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
C. What is the goal of the project?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
D. Research (describe the sources you used and explain how your research helped you complete the project,
i.e. job shadow, interview, etc.)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
E. Triumphs and Tragedies (describe what aspects of your project met your expectations; what exceeded
your expectations. What problems have you encountered and how did you solve them?)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
F. Additional assistance (if others helped you, tell who they were and how they helped)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
III. Reflection on Learning
A. Will you pursue this career? Explain.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
B. What is your Career Action Plan? Discuss your post-graduate plans: Now that I am graduating, I will be
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
My long-term career related goals are to:
(1st goal) _______________________________________________________________________________
(2nd goal)_______________________________________________________________________________
IV. Conclusion
A. Based on what you learned in this project, and from your high school experience, what would you share with
the audience that you would recommend more students do or what would you have done differently? What
words of wisdom can you share because of this project?
B Questions (be you should be prepared to answer from the audience-what will they most likely ask you? Why
this of all careers? During your four years, how many times have you changed your mind? Where there
careers you thought you wanted to do, but no you realize you don’t from this project? What advice do you have
for me from what you have learned? If you could redo your high school coursework, what would you do
differently looking back and why?)
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Professional Contact—Informational Interview Form
Student Name: __________________________________
Date:
Name of person interviewed:
Name of business or employer:
Interviewee’s professional contact information:
Address____________________________________________________
City _________________________________________ State_________
Business Phone:
or Business Email:
Interview Questions:
Describe your career (hours, working conditions, good & bad features of the career).
What are the requirements of your career (education/training, degrees, certifications, personal and
physical requirements)?
How do you use English, Math and Technology skills in your career? What other academic skills do
you use in your career field?
What are the advancement opportunities and what is the future outlook for your career (opportunities
for other related employment)?
What do you like best about your career and what do you like least?
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Reflection Essay
High School & Beyond Culminating Project
Running Start/ MSHOP Final Draft Evaluation
Student Name _____________________________
Reflective Essay Title ___________________________________________________________
Did Student Meet the Requirement? Yes ____ No ____
If requirement was not met student must edit essay and resubmit.
Did student meet the requirement? Yes ____ No ____
Students in 12th grade Language Arts will have their papers evaluated by their teachers. Those papers that
have met the class requirements will be acceptable to submit as part of the High School & Beyond Culminating
Project. Students in Running Start/MSHSOP will be evaluated using the requirements below.





Minimum 600 word essay with an introduction and conclusion
Content of the paper answers the prompt, either directly, or indirectly. Yes/No
Organization makes sense. Yes/No
Conventions: Paper contains little or no errors in spelling, punctuation, or usage. Yes/No
Style and Word Choice: Tone is appropriate for audience. Yes/No
Choose from the following 2013-14 Common Application essay prompts:
Running Start/Online students must upload essay to Turnitin.com. Students will be provided with log
on information.
12
Mount Si High School High School & Beyond Culminating Project
Presentation Scoring Sheet
Student Name: __________________________________________________
Teacher / Classroom: _____________________________
Date:___________________________
Career Researched: _______________________________
1. Introduction of Self (2 points)
2.










Summarizes the career research project (4 points each)
Career Choice
Why this Career
Education
Salary
Employment Outlook
Professional Responsibilities
Opportunities for Advancement
Locations for a job
Benefits
Will Career support desired lifestyle
3. Informational Interview (10 points)
4. Reflects on learning from project (4 points each)
 Will student pursue the career?
 Career action plan (what will it take for you to achieve?)
 Offers audience thoughts from HS experience, research, what suggestion they
have for underclassmen and preparation for career field-what they would have
done differently.
2
Total
_____
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Total
10
______
______
4
4
4
Total
5. Physical product, artifacts or pictures (20 points)
 Items are used to help explain what the career “feels” like or tools of the trade,
clothing, etc. (photos, products, artifacts, model, brochures)
6. Demonstrates good presentation technique (2 points each)
 Eye contact
 Clear speech/Correct volume
 Professional dress (no hats/t-shirts etc.)
7. Portfolio (5 points each) Please note if student DID NOT bring to presentation
 Current Transcript
 Current/Updated Resume
 Copy of WOIS Terms & Classes ( High School Classes, Credits, Grades 9-12)
 Copy of WOIS High School and Beyond Plan Details (1-2 paragraphs each Post High
School & Career Goal Reflection)
20
Total
______
2
2
2
Total
______
5
5
5
5
Total
Grand
Total
Project Met/ Not Met
Minimum 80 Points Required to Pass
Total Length of Presentation: _________
13
______
______
______
Resource List for Career Research
ONLINE
Map Your Career Online
www.mapyourcareer.org
An online resource for exploring career options and mapping out your career and education pathways
WorkSource
www.go2worksource.com (Statewide) or www.worksourceskc.org (Seattle-King County)
Washington Workforce Explorer
www.workforceexplorer.com
Career and economic information for Washington State.
WOIS—The Career Information System
www.wois.org
Look under the More Resources Tab
U.S. Department of Labor-Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm
Click “Search Box” or “A-Z Index”
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
http://www.lni.wa.gov/
Vocational Information Center
http://www.khake.com/
America’s Career Info Net—Career Exploration (self-assessments, career information)
www.acinet.org
Education Planner.org
www.educationplanner.org
Careers in the Military
http://www.careersinthemilitary.com/
Apprenticeship Info
http://www.lni.wa.gov/TradesLicensing/Apprenticeship/
OTHER RESOURCES:
Public Library * Informational Interviews * Job Shadows * Internships
14
Informational Interview
More Sample Questions
Informational interviews offer a way to explore a career field in a short amount of
time. Select questions that are relevant for you as you prepare for your
phone or in-person informational meeting. See the following page for
suggestions on arranging an interview.

What are entry level position titles in your career field?

What do you spend most of your time doing on the job?

What sort of environment do you work in?

What sort of people do you work with?

Does the salary provide for a comfortable lifestyle?

What kind of educational preparation do you need for this position?

How competitive is entry into your field?

What do you consider the most important college courses you completed as related to your
current position?

What hours do you typically work? Do you work on the weekends?

How much work do you take home with you?

Do you have comp-time or the option for flex-time?

How many days of vacation do you receive per year?

Can you describe your benefits package?

What is your next step along your career path?

What skills are necessary to perform your job activities?

How much variety is connected with your work routine?

What do you like about your occupation? Why?

What don’t you like about your occupation? Why?

What is the outlook for openings in your field over the next few years?

What qualities do employers look for in job applicants who want to enter your occupation?

Can you recommend the names of other people I can consult to find out more about your
field?
15
Arranging an Interview
Job Shadow or
Informational
Interview?
Job shadowing typically is
observing someone at
work for a day or even a
week. It may not be
possible for a student to
manage this type of
assignment—but an
informational interview
can fit into anyone’s
schedule.
Informational interviews
are not job interviews but
are ways to increase your
knowledge beyond a
description in a book or on
a web page. Try to
schedule a face-to-face
meeting for at least 30
minutes, at the person’s
place of business.
Finding a
Contact
Ask your family, friends
and neighbors, former
teachers or coaches for a
referral to someone who
works in a field of interest.
Schedule an
appointment
Introduce yourself and
mention the person who
referred you. If it would be
more convenient for the
interviewee, offer to call
back when he or
she has 15 or 20 minutes
free. Interviews often last
longer than 20 minutes.
Many people enjoy
discussing their
professions. Allow for
plenty of extra time.
Sample Request
Letter
Dear [Recipient Name]:
I am currently researching
positions in the field of
[industry or job field] and
[name] suggested that you
would be an excellent source
of information. I would like to
learn more about the types of
jobs available in this field and
the skills required for them.
I hope that you can find 20-30
minutes to meet with me
before the end of the month. I
will contact you the week of
[date] to set up an
appointment. If you have
questions, please contact me
by phone at [phone number]
or by e-mail at
[e-mail address]. I appreciate
your time in considering my
request.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
16
Prepare for the
interview
After making an
appointment, conduct
some basic research.
Know, in general, what
people in the position do.
Develop a list of good
questions.
Keep the
appointment
Dress appropriately. Be
sure the professional
understands you are there
for opinions and advice,
not a job. Give a very
brief background history
when you introduce
yourself. Take notes. Be
sure to thank the person
for his or her time and
information. Be sure to
collect business cards,
they will come in handy
when you send thank you
notes.
Thank you
Send or email your
informational contact a
brief thank you message
within a day or two of your
meeting. It can be a
simple statement like this:
“Thank you for taking the
time to speak with me
yesterday about your career
path. It really helped me
understand what my options
would be in this field.