Capstone Projects Open Young Minds to New Possibilities

juniors who want to learn about aviation can make arrangements to have a mentor from Oxford Airport, do field work there and learn about the instruments used in airplanes by their senior year. That is just one example of the many possibilities of the Capstone project.

Interim Principal Joseph Kobza wants the entire senior class to participate in a Capstone project and had presented the idea to the Board of Education, which approved it unanimously at its Tuesday night meeting.

The point of the Capstone, according to Kobza, is for students to use what they learned from grades K-12 to learn something brand new. The students will have free reign to choose their own topic, which may or may not be career oriented.

"The only requirements for a topic are that it is something that is legal and involves a learning stretch," Kobza said of the requirement to learn something new.

Students will choose a topic, find a mentor in the community, do field work, keep field work journals and write a reflection paper on the whole process, which culminates with a presentation before a panel of volunteers.

The latter part of the process provides a public speaking component, Kobza said. United Health Care's Toastmasters group has agreed to work with Masuk seniors on honing their public speaking skills.

Kobza said the process will begin for juniors this March, so they are not scrambling to get started at the beginning of their senior year next fall.

"All seniors will do it next year with a lot of support along the way," he said.

Board of Education Secretary Mark Hughes asked Kobza how the school would get enough volunteers to serve on panels for the approximately 300 student presentations that will be made. Kobza said school staff will account for over 100 people already and there is a year to attract volunteers. About four-to-six presentations will be made in the same room.

Masuk is reaching out to the Monroe Rotary Club and Victorinox Swiss Army and plans to approach the Monroe Senior Center for mentors and volunteers, according to Kobza. Businesses and professionals interested in serving as mentors and/or volunteering on a panel should call Masuk High School's main number at (203) 452-5823.

Completing a Capstone project will give students a leg up after they graduate, according to Kobza, who said, "A lot of places that have done this have students come back to them and say, 'Thank God I took the Capstone. In college I had to get up in front of over 20 people.'"