There are even more students at Freedom High School beginning their graduation project long before classes that have graduated previously.

“It’s going to progress from your ninth grade year which is your self-interests and who I am as a learner to your 10th grade year [which is how] I fit in as a citizen in a democratic society,” Mr. Frank Hernandez said. “You’re going to see more of 11th and 12th grade with service.”

The class of 2017 is the first class to participate in the sophomore portion of the project. “The 10th grade component of the graduation will… involve a strong civics and government component,” Mr. Hernandez said. “Sophomores should expect to hear more information about this as the year unfolds.”

Although some aspects of the sophomore project have not yet been revealed, the expectations regarding the freshman’s portion of the graduation project is much better understood.

“The freshman year is going to look almost identical to what you guys did last year,” Hernandez said. “We have very high expectations for them academically and behaviorally.”

These expectations also include maintaining an organized binder, updating their e-folios regularly and participating AAP activities.

Last year, the students were tasked with researching a career based on their interests. Students were able to utilize tests and inventories to find careers they might have interest in and began researching careers related to their interests.

In addition to their research, students visited a local college and prepared a presentation, which they then presented it to a panel of judges. A tri-fold board was also used to highlight their freshmen experiences and futures goals as well as an overview of their chosen career.

“I got a career, researched it, and presented it to a group of 3-4 people,” Sophomore Kayla Weismantle said. “I thought it was beneficial to us because it us gave us an opportunity to present in front of a group of people we didn’t know.”

“I went to Cal U to research… and found out many things up there,” Sophomore Noah Law said. “We did a presentation…about a month or two later.”

More expectations, guidelines and activities associated with the freshman and sophomore parts of the graduation project will be released throughout the course of the school year.

The senior class’ project will be different from previous years as well.

“We have to do [30 hours of] community service … and send thank you letters to the places where we served,” Senior Ryan Edder said. Students must also attend at least one local government meeting.

Seniors must also participate in an exit interview that will last about 20 minutes. They also must organize all of their service project information into a portfolio to be presented in front of a committee of four to six teachers.

The senior exit interviews will take place in May. Overall there is a lot of new aspects to the senior projects for all grades 9 through 12.