For the past three years, senior students of the magnet program have been earning college credits and various industry level certifications in addition to equipping themselves with valuable background knowledge and skills necessary to prepare them for them for college and their careers. As part of the Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences program, senior students are required to take part in a capstone project, whether it be a work-based environment, a school-based practical learning activity, or an off-site research facility with a mentor.
“It doesn’t seem like we [capstone class] get enough of recognition for the amount of work we do. It seems like the school doesn’t even know what we are doing,” a senior capstone class member stated. “We are basically completing a college graduate course but nobody knows that.”
The capstone class is designed to be an aid in developing skills to complete the student’s capstone project, which will be showcased in a gala in early May. Like most new classes, there are still some kinks that need to be worked out.
“The class is a lot of trial and error. We are learning how to complete a project while trying to balance the workload of the class in addition to actually doing a capstone project on the side. It’s crazy,” a capstone class member stated.
As of the 2013-2014 school year, all three strands combined to make up the capstone class, meaning all three magnet teachers (Laura O’Leary, Katie-Ray Warner and Nathan Glenn) in addition to magnet director, Greg Murrell, co-teach the class. This allows for extra assistance and more diverse opinions when in need of assistance.
“It’s hard having all four teachers only because you never know who to go ask for help from because you never know who’s going to be grading your papers. You can go to one teacher and get a completely different answer from another,” senior Hannah Blische stated. “We are all kind of on our own floundering.”