Exceptional Senior Brochure
Exceptional Senior Application ’12-’13
Do you want to craft a senior year that allows you to…
- delve deeply into learning experiences that you create
- gain independence and self-awareness through internships and travel
- extend your classroom into the community and world
- pursue your passions
- stand apart from the crowd in the college application process
Then, the Exceptional Senior Program may be for you!
THE BIG PICTURE SOUTH BURLINGTON EXCEPTIONAL SENIOR PROGRAM
This is a program for motivated, independent, passionate students who want to do something innovative for Senior year. Students who have been successful in their first three years of high school can apply to this program for the opportunity to craft the senior year of their dreams. It will have aspects of an “Early College” year during which students earn college credit and skills. It will have aspects of a “Gap Year” during which students experience the openness and independence of real-world experiences that help them grow as people.
Exceptional Seniors will be part of Big Picture South Burlington, a school-within-a-school at South Burlington High School, that gives students an opportunity to approach learning in a new and exciting way. Each student participates in a democratic school community and creates an individualized curriculum based on his/her passions, strengths, challenges, and goals.
The Exceptional Senior Program includes*:
- Senior Thesis Project: A project in which each student uses her/his passions and expertise to give back to a community. This year-long project requires students to partner with community members to make a positive difference through a complex project.
- College Level Courses: Students will take at least two college level courses at local colleges or through Vermont Virtual Learning Collaborative which offers online AP courses.
- Internships: Students will have two substantive internships experiences, each accumulating over 100 hours. Students gain skills by being part of real businesses and organizations and do projects that contribute to their internship site. Internships sites can include farms, local businesses, educational programs, or any other site of interest.
- Service Learning: Students will engage in a month-long term studying a community need and doing a service learning trip to address it. Past trips have been to North Carolina to work for Habitat for Humanity, the Boston Zoo, and Nicaragua.
- Independent Studies: Students design their own learning projects, and the sky is the limit. Want to start your own business? Support a political campaign? Build a computer? Put on a concert? You can choose whatever projects interest you and lead to deep learning.
* The motto of Big Picture is “One Student at a Time.” Therefore, students can be granted flexibility if they propose alternatives ways to meet the goals of these requirements.
South Burlington High School has been recognized by the Vermont Department of Education as an inaugural member of the League of Innovative Schools, largely because of the Big Picture Program. Our flexible, individualized path towards graduation is a model throughout New England.
See Exceptional Senior Brochure for more info.
Fill out the BPSB Exceptional Senior Application ’12-’13 to apply.
Questions contact info(at)bigpicturesb.net