Graduation Portfolio
During their Division III career, students choose semester and year-long courses based on their interests but such that they are well exposed across the essential skills of:
Reading | Scientific Investigation |
Research | Mathematical Problem-Solving |
Writing | Oral Presentation |
Technology | Technical Communication |
Systems Thinking | Artistic Expression |
Spanish | Listening and Media Analysis |
The Graduation Portfolio contains work from these courses and demonstrates the student’s accomplishments in at least 9 of the 12 skill areas as outlined by the Criteria for Excellence.
Senior Project
Division III students at Parker will culminate their studies with a capstone Senior Project, a topic or project they choose to explore independently with the guidance of an outside mentor, sometimes in a workplace internship. Presented to a public audience as part of a student’s Graduation Exhibition, the Senior Project makes an intellectual and personal bridge between high school and the world beyond.
During this project they must:
- Generate an “essential question”;
- Explore this question by:
- Engaging in formal academic research;
- Collaborating with people outside the Parker School (e.g. internship, interview series, job-shadowing, field research);
- Use their findings/work to benefit the larger community;
- Apply skills and knowledge from several disciplines to complete the project;
- Present their project to a panel.
School Service
All Division III students commit two hours per week to school service. Students are paired with a faculty mentor to perform a variety of school-related functions from tutoring to custodial assistance to research assisting to office work.