The graduating class of 2016 was given the opportunity to start their senior projects in June of 2015. Now, at the end of March and beginning of April, seniors have only one full month to wrap up their 30 hours of volunteer service. Additionally, each student must attend at least one government meeting and document it for their presentation binders. Originally, students had been given their project packets in early June due to a decision made by assistant principal Ryan Smith.
“[Senior projects] are usually a decision that’s made in conjunction with the board,” Principal William Deal said. Deal and Smith work with board members, faculty members and even parents to make hefty decisions on the graduation requirements.
Students were given the opportunity to complete their hours through a popular summer camp program known as Skybacher Ministries, which was created by substitute teacher John Mohrbacher and his wife, Kristie. It allowed students to work five days a week for three hours each. These camps lasted a total of six weeks.
If students opted out of getting paid, it would have amounted to over 90 hours. That, as well as the thank you letter that was required to be sent out within 30 days, would have allowed any student to graduate with distinction.
From Nov. 26 through Dec. 6, students also had the chance to gain 40 hours at the Beaver County Festival of Trees by volunteering all day on those weekends.
But what about the students who still haven’t reached their volunteer hour minimum? With only a month left, it’s crunch time for the seniors who need to get all of their documentation together for presentations on May 11 and May 12. Between studying for finals, work, extracurricular activities and sports, that doesn’t actually leave a lot of time for the seniors to work.
“Get rolling… if you need any help, we are here to help,” Deal said. He has no concerns about students not walking at graduation due to incompletion of their projects. Due to past experience, Deal has seen students who wait up until last minute but still manage to complete their hours and letters.
Even though it may be easier for students to get down to the wire for volunteer hours, there is only one more scheduled board meeting left before projects are due. If students have yet to attend a meeting up until the one of March 17, their last opportunity is April 7 in the middle school library at 7:00 p.m.
If students are unable to attend the final meeting before May 11, they are able to attend different government meetings throughout the county. But school board meetings are particularly stressed so that on top of attending one, students become further informed of what is going on in the district.
Students who haven’t gotten the chance to complete their projects need to remember that it is crunch time and there are only 41 days left with only one remaining school board meeting until May 11. They need to buckle down so that, with only a week left, there is no unnecessary stress. Senior year is known to be a time to relax, but waiting last minute to complete a huge project will not allow for any timely enjoyment in the nice weather.