The Senior Experience

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The Senior Experience

• A step by step guide from beginning to end

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Table of Contents

• Click on the links below to learn about the
  different parts of the Senior Experience
• Section 1 Help! I dont know what I am doing
• An introduction to the Senior Experience
• Understanding the prior approval forms
• Ideas for each type of project
• Section 2 Ive been approved, now what?!
• Prior experience steps
• During the experience steps
• Section 3 Approved? Check. Experience done?
  Check.
• Finalizing your experience
• Organizing your papers

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• Congratulations!
• You are on your way to graduation. The senior
  experience is just ONE piece of your final Senior
  Culminating Project.
• This PowerPoint is going to take you through
  the Senior Experience process step by step.
• Good Luck!

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The Culminating Project

• The Three Pieces of the Culminating Project
• Senior Portfolio
• Showing what you have accomplished the last 4
  years. To be completed during Careers class.
• Senior Experience
• Participating in a hands-on project and
  connecting it to a possible future career. To be
  discussed and worked on during advisory.
• Exit Presentation
• Sharing who you are, what you have learned and
  where you are going. To be worked on during
  Careers class.

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Step 1 What Do You Want to Do After High School?

• The first thing you need to do is think about the
  following questions
• What career are you interested in having as an
  adult?
• What skills do you have that you want to utilize
  in a career?
• What could you do to help your community?

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Step 2 Pick an Experience Type

• Those questions are to help you decide what type
  of experience you want to complete.
• You have 3 choices
• 1. Job Shadow
• 2. Service Project
• 3. Performance or Skill-based Project

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The Job Shadow

• This is a good experience to do if you have a
  career or two in mind for after high school.
• During your experience you will follow a person
  who has that job.
• You will ask questions and get a feel for what
  that job entails on a daily basis.
• There is an 8 hour minimum for the Job Shadow
  Experience.

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Service Project

• If you want to do a project that helps your
  community, this is the experience for you.
• You will come up with a project to complete that
  benefits the community, and carry out that
  project.
• You would be required to work with an agency or
  organization for this project
• The time minimum for a service project is 8 hours.

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Performance or Skill-Based Project

• This is a very hands-on experience.
• You will demonstrate a skill your have (ex.
  rebuilding a car engine) or show your abilities
  in front of an audience (ex. a solo concert)
• The minimum time frame for this experience is
  also 8 hours, but it is very likely you will do
  more.

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Experience Dos and Donts

• DO Venture out of your comfort zone
• You may not job shadow anyone at Ephrata High
  School
• Get out of the environment you are in everyday
  and see/do something new
• DONT Wait until the last moment
• It is hard to give something you full attention
  if you are constantly worried about deadlines and
  just getting it over with

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Experience Dos and Donts

• DO Go big or Go home
• Pick something that could be life changing for
  you, not just something you can get done in a
  weekend.
• This experience is meant to help you grow as a
  person and guide you toward a career you will
  love.
• DONT Job Shadow/Work with a close family member
• Again, this is meant to get you away from your
  comfort zone (school, work, family) and get you
  out there in your community.

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Experience Dos and Donts

• DONT Double Dip!
• You may not use your time to accomplish two
  different tasks at once.
• For example
• Timmy wants to be a carpenter. For his project,
  he is going to build an intricately carved canopy
  bed. He would not be allowed to use school
  time/class time to work on his project. He would
  have to work on it outside of the normal school
  day.
• Bethany wants to be a dancer. She is going to
  put on a recital for her project. She would not
  be able to use the recital if it were already
  being put on by her ballet class. Instead, she
  would need to create a separate recital that she
  promotes, plans, and stars in.

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Having Troubles?

• If you are having difficulties choosing a focus,
  see Mrs. Mary Friend in the counseling center.
• She is full of great ideas (and has good
  community contacts).
• There will also be ideas after the approval forms
  are described on this presentation.
• Cant wait long?
• Click here For Job Shadow Ideas
• Click here For Service Project Ideas
• Click here For Performance or Skill Project Ideas

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Step 3 Make Some Phone Calls

• Before you can start filling out the required
  paperwork for your experience, you need to make
  some phone calls
• Come up with a list of at least 3 businesses,
  agencies, or possible supervisors that you would
  like to work with for your project.
• Then, call the first one on your list..

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Phone Calling Etiquette

• Making professional phone calls can be scary.
  Here is a sample introduction to a conversation
• Hi, my name is ________. I am a senior at
  Ephrata High school. In order to graduate I need
  to complete a senior project, and I was hoping to
  talk with someone about the possibility of me
  completing a _________ (job shadow, service
  project) with someone on your staff.

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Phone Calling Etiquette

• Make sure to get names of contacts, contact
  information, and possible dates of your project.
• If the business is not interested be sure to be
  polite and thank them for their time

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Step 4 Paperwork

• Before you can go out into the community for your
  experience YOU MUST BE PREAPPROVED for your
  project.
• Download a copy of your approval form on the
  Ephrata website www.ephrataschools.org
• Go to Ephrata High School and click on the link
  for Senior Information
• There you will find the link to the approval
  forms.
• OR click on the desired link below
• Job Shadow Prior Approval Form
• Service Project Prior Approval Form
• Performance or Skill-Based Prior Approval Form

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The Prior Approval Form

• Step 1 Fill out the following information in
  the Step 1 box
• Your Name
• Your Career Interest
• Information about your supervisor, business,
  agency, program
• Supervisors name (not your EHS advisor)
• Expected dates for your project

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The Prior Approval Form

• Step 2 Signed Letter of Approval from Supervisor
• At this point you probably have a verbal
  agreement with your supervisor that you will be
  working with for your Senior Experience.
• Now we need written consent as proof that your
  supervisor knows you are coming.
• Have them write and sign a letter, then attach it
  to your Prior Approval Form

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The Prior Approval Form

• Step 3 Career/Service Research Paper
• This will be a typed paper showing the school
  that you have researched a career and know what
  you are getting in to.
• This is to be in bullet form, 12pt Times New
  Roman font

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The Prior Approval Form

• Step 3 Career Research Paper
• Please use spell check before you attach this
  form. If it is not done in a careful manner, it
  will be handed back to you to be redone.
• Research the career using WOIS or Occupational
  Outlook Handbook (see EHS library Careers and
  Scholarships link)

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The Prior Approval Form

• Step 3 Career Research Paper
• Click on the link below to see an example of a
  Career Research Paper
• Job Shadow Example
• Service Project Example
• Performance or Skill Based Example

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The Prior Approval Form

• Step 4 Get it signed
• Once you have contacted your supervisor, gotten a
  letter, AND typed and printed your research
  paper, get this form signed by your
  parent/guardian and your EHS advisor (the one
  from advisory).

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The Prior Approval Form

• Step 5 Turn it in
• Turn in the following items to your advisor by
  the deadline
• 1. Completed prior approval form
• 2. Signed letter from supervisor
• 3. Career Research information sheet

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The Prior Approval Form

• Step 6 Approval Committee
• The approval committee will look over your plans
  for your project.
• They will either approve it or ask you to reapply

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The Prior Approval Form

• Step 6 Approval Committee
• If it is approved, they will give you the
  direction packet for completing your project
• If not approved, there will be comments written
  for you to look over. You will then need to
  reapply.

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The Prior Approval Form

• Step 7 Keep it!
• Keep the approved copy of the approval form,
  letter and research paper.
• You will be turning this in again with your final
  project.

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Job Shadow Ideas

• How to begin
• Identify a career you are interested in
• Make a list of 2 or 3 locations where you think
  you could complete a job shadow
• After you find a supervisor you should make a
  list of questions to ask as you complete your job
  shadow.
• Your supervisor will be expecting you to be
  interested and ask questions- dont let them down
  by being non-reactive and silent!

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Job Shadow Ideas
Career Business/Agency Who to Contact
Performing Arts Columbia Basin Allied Arts Randy Johnstadt
Masquers Theatre Randy Johnstadt
Speech Therapy Jody Armstrong
Banking WA Trust Bank Shelley Deitrich
Horizon Credit Union Joanne Hill [phone]
Dental Dr. Harrisons Office
Dr. Jacobsen [phone]
Beauty and Hair Jodys Salon
Education Quincy School District
Moses Lake School District
Lineman/ Engineering PUD
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Job Shadow Ideas
Career Business/Agency Who to Contact
Construction Lakoduk Construction [phone]
Jacobsen Construction Chris Jacobsen [phone]
Flower Arranging/ Florist Basin Florist Jennifer Adams [phone]
Chiropractor Dr. Brent Bedford [phone]
Dr. Bill Davis [phone]
Dr. Rob Ross [phone]
Accounting Sam Barnes [phone]
HVAC work Quincy Heating and Air [phone]
Auto mechanic Barrys Denver Morford
Welding/ Fabrication Katana [phone]
Genie Industries in Moses Lake
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Job Shadow Ideas
Career Business/Agency Who to Contact
Quail Point Kennels [phone]
Optometrist Dr. Sisson (Ephrata Eye Care) [phone]
Pharmacist Safeway
Rite Aid
Realtor/Real Estate Sales Gary Mann Reality John Parker
Ag Sales John Deere (Quincy)
Ford New Holland (Quincy)
Veterinarian Animal Tracks Veterinary Clinic [phone]
Ephrata Veterinary Clinic [phone]
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Service Project Ideas

• How to begin
• Identify a need in the community
• Contact an agency or organization that would
  assist you with your project
• Example- If you wanted to collect socks for the
  homeless, you might want to work with a place
  like the food bank.
• Develop an action plan (probably with the aid of
  the organization) to meet this need
• Collect resources necessary to complete the
  project
• Make a timeline and a schedule for completion

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Service Project Ideas
Agency/Organization Extra Information Contact
Ephrata Food Bank Mike Donovan, Director [phone]
Paws Claws Animal Shelter (Quincy) [phone]
Ephrata Senior Center (Ephrata) [phone]
Lions Club (Ephrata) Help with White Cane Days Contact Linda Ebberson at EHS
Autism Society of Washington (Ephrata) Mike Scellick [phone]
Wags Whiskers (Ephrata) Not an animal shelter, they spay and neuter pets [phone]
City of Ephrata Wes Crago [phone]
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Performance or Skill Ideas

• How to begin
• Identify a skill you have
• Develop an action plan. How will you show off
  this skill?
• Who is knowledgeable in this area and could be
  your supervisor
• Collect resources necessary to complete the
  project
• Make a timeline and a schedule for completion

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Performance or Skill Ideas
Performance/Skill Who to Contact Phone Number
Sagebrush Bell Ringers Darla Grubb
Carpentry- Lakoduk Construction [phone]
Dance- Ballet Instructor _at_ Ephrata Recreation Center Laurie Walker
Once you decide what type of skill/performance
you would like to do, contact Mary Friend in the
counseling center. She will help you find a
supervisor for your experience.
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Ive Been Approved!

• Now what?!

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Pre-Experience Steps

• At this point you should have (1) submitted your
  prior approval form, (2) had it approved and
  returned back, and (3) received the last packet
  for the Senior Experience.
• Remember, You need to KEEP the approved form with
  all attached documents to be turned in with your
  final packet.

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Pre-Experience Steps

• Lost your final packet? No problem! Just click
  on the one you need below.
• Job Shadow Experience Packet
• Service Project Experience Packet
• Performance Based or Skill Related Experience
  Packet
• Or go to www.ephrataschools.org, follow the links
  to the EHS page, then Senior Information.

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Pre-Experience Steps

• Before you go out into the community to complete
  your experience, you need to do a little prep
  work.
• The prep depends on what type of experience you
  choose to do.
• We will follow the steps for the Job Shadow, but
  other experiences will have similar steps.

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Pre-Experience Steps

• Take a look at the Senior Experience Packet
• No matter what experience you are doing, each
  packet has very similar pieces.

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Pre-Experience Steps

• Page 1 Cover page
• This form will be important after your project is
  complete.
• You will be turning it in with your final packet
  when you are done with the experience.
• But for now, turn to the next page

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Pre-Experience Steps

• Page 2 Planning Your Job Shadow
• Begin by filling out the information section at
  the top of the page

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Pre-Experience Steps

• Page 2 Planning Your Job Shadow
• The Before Section
• These are things to do before you go on your
  experience
• Make sure your experience has been approved
• Review the appropriate dress list and question
  list
• Fill out and submit a parent permission slip if
  school will be missed
• Fill out and submit a pre-arranged absence
  request form if school will be missed

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Pre-Experience Steps

• Page 2 Planning Your Job Shadow
• The After Section
• These are things to do after/during your
  experience
• Fill out the service log form
• Complete a student evaluation
• Give supervisor a supervisor evaluation
• Send a thank you card to your supervisor (if
  appropriate)
• Complete the reflection paper

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Pre-Experience Steps

• Page 3 Questions List
• It is important that while you are completing
  your experience, that you learn as much as you
  can about that career, regardless if you are
  doing a job shadow, service project or
  performance/skill.

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Pre-Experience Steps

• Page 3 Questions List
• Try asking some/all of these questions while you
  are out in the community. Take notes and ask
  good follow up questions

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Pre-Experience Steps

• Page 4
• Remember that you are representing Ephrata High
  School when you are out in the community
  therefore, you are expected to act and dress
  accordingly.

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Pre-Experience Steps

• Page 4
• Be one time!
• Showing up late tells your supervisor that you
  are not taking your project seriously
• It also wastes the supervisors time while they
  wait for you to show up

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Pre-Experience Steps

• Page 4
• Professional Conduct
• Be professional!
• Be friendly, be confident
• Be respectful
• Watch your language-
• Avoid slang and most of all, cursing

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Pre-Experience Steps

• Page 4
• Professional Dress
• Dress appropriately for the job you are doing
• A farmer may not need to wear a suit and tie.
• If shadowing a lawyer, do not show up in
  sweatpants after sports practice.
• And please, show as little skin as possible
  (think EHS dress code)

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During the Experience

• Page 5 Experience Log Form
• During your experience you need to keep track of
  the hours you spend (a minimum of 8 hours for
  each project)
• Start by filling out the top information
  section of this form

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During the Experience

• Page 5 Experience Log Form
• Each day, keep track of the date, number of hours
  spent, and have your supervisor sign your paper

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During the Experience

• Page 6 Student Evaluation Form
• Fill out the top information section at the top
  of the page

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During the Experience

• Page 6 Student Evaluation Form
• Next, answer the questions regarding your
  experience
• Finally, sign the bottom and date it

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During the Experience

• Page 7 Supervisor Evaluation Form
• Fill out the top portion prior to giving to your
  supervisor
• Then give this form to your supervisor along with
  a pre-addressed and stamped envelope.
• Your supervisor will complete the form, then mail
  it back to the high school.

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Approved? Check. Experience done? Check.

• Finalizing Your Experience

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Finalizing the Senior Experience

• You are almost finished with this piece of the
  Senior Culminating Project graduation
  requirement.
• The following slides will discuss the Reflection
  paper, and what pages need to be completed and
  turned in for your final project

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Finalizing the Senior Experience

• Page 8 The Senior Culminating Project Reflection
  Paper
• This is to be a typed, 4 paragraph essay
  addressing the following questions

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Finalizing the Senior Experience

• 1. How did you plan/prepare for your project?
• What steps did you take? Where did you research
  your career? What did you do to prepare yourself
  for the experience?
• 2. What did you learn during the experience?
• Might include that you realized that this is the
  career for you, or that this was definitely NOT
  the career for you.

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Finalizing the Senior Experience

• 3. How is this related to your future plans?
• Did you do an art portfolio that you will now use
  when entering an art program? Did it teach you a
  life skill that can be used in your future plans?
• 4. How have your classes prepared you for your
  next step in life?
• Did advanced biology teach you the skills you
  need to pass biology in college? Did you develop
  your photography skills which you will now take
  with you as you enter a journalism program?

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Finalizing the Senior Experience

• This reflection paper needs to be typed, double
  spaced, and 12 pt Times New Roman font.
• Please use spell check and proof read your paper
  before you print and submit it.

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Organizing Your Papers

• The following slides will show you what papers
  are required in your final packet that will be
  turned in.
• You are almost done..

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Organizing Your Papers

• The following papers will be turned in to your
  advisor when you are completely finished with
  your experience
• 1. What You Need to Complete the Senior
  Culminating Project Cover page
• Page 1

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Organizing Your Papers

• The following papers will be turned in to your
  advisor when you are completely finished with
  your experience
• 2. Signed Approval form
• With all attached documents

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Organizing Your Papers

• The following papers will be turned in to your
  advisor when you are completely finished with
  your experience
• 3. Service Log Form
• With signatures

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Organizing Your Papers

• The following papers will be turned in to your
  advisor when you are completely finished with
  your experience
• 4. Student Evaluation Form

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Organizing Your Papers

• The following papers will be turned in to your
  advisor when you are completely finished with
  your experience
• 5. Four Paragraph Reflection Paper

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Organizing Your Papers
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Turn the completed pages into your EHS advisor.
Page 4
Page 5