Capstone
Palisade Glacier High School
Bishop Independent Study School
Welcome to our Capstone Website!
Capstone, a graduation requirement for PGHS and BIS, includes real life experiences, personal reflections, writings, and technology integration aimed to provide students with a set of skills that will prepare them for life after high school.
We were inspired to include this course into our curriculum after learning about the successful implementation of Capstone at Lopez High School in Arroyo Grande, CA. LPHS is a WASC Accredited Model Continuation School which focuses on (and generates great results in) attendance, attitude, and achievement. Their concern before Capstone was that their academic curriculum wasn't offering enough "real world" learning and skills for students. They developed six unique units to meet this need, providing students with a set of learning opportunities and life skills so students would truly graduate college and career ready.
The LPHS staff has graciously permitted us to use their curriculum at our school sites with the belief that the experience is valuable and truly helps students succeed after high school. To see their great work, visit the Lopez Capstone website. Several examples of high quality Capstone binders (both physical and digital) are also provided there.
Capstone, a graduation requirement for PGHS and BIS, includes real life experiences, personal reflections, writings, and technology integration aimed to provide students with a set of skills that will prepare them for life after high school.
We were inspired to include this course into our curriculum after learning about the successful implementation of Capstone at Lopez High School in Arroyo Grande, CA. LPHS is a WASC Accredited Model Continuation School which focuses on (and generates great results in) attendance, attitude, and achievement. Their concern before Capstone was that their academic curriculum wasn't offering enough "real world" learning and skills for students. They developed six unique units to meet this need, providing students with a set of learning opportunities and life skills so students would truly graduate college and career ready.
The LPHS staff has graciously permitted us to use their curriculum at our school sites with the belief that the experience is valuable and truly helps students succeed after high school. To see their great work, visit the Lopez Capstone website. Several examples of high quality Capstone binders (both physical and digital) are also provided there.
Navigating the Website
The links provided on this website will guide you through the steps to complete the Palisade Glacier High School / Bishop Independent Study School Capstone requirements. If you place your cursor over "Capstone Home" on the left menu, you will find links to the Capstone Overview and Credit Breakdown pages. Below are brief summaries and links to pages for each of the six units of the Capstone Course. You can also easily access these pages using the lefthand menu.
1. Job Readiness - Students identify their strengths and interests, explore careers, research education options, build a résumé, request recommendations, and prepare for getting a job.
2. Independent Living Skills - To best prepare for life after high school students learn key aspects of what it takes to live on their own. They cover practical information on housing, cars, finances, taxes, insurance, goals, and interpersonal skills.
3. 21st Century Skills - In addition to content knowledge students need key skills for the workplace and for lifelong learning. In this unit, students must show proficiency in 4 key areas and document this work in their capstone binder.
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4. Field Experience - After identifying a few careers they are interested in pursuing, students take the initiative to contact someone from an industry of interest who is willing to advise them. The student’s goal is to work hands-on with that field advisor for at least eight hours in a job shadow or mentored capacity. Students will conduct the field experience outside of regular school hours and document their experience with photos or video.
After the field experience, students reflect on how it went, what they learned, and what does it mean for their future. Their field advisor also evaluates them on their involvement. The reflection and photos become key artifacts in their Capstone binder. |
5. Community Service - Giving back helps others, bolsters our community and matures our character. Students need to serve for 20 hours. They can complete their service in multiple sessions with a variety of non-profit organizations. We recommend as much hands-on experience as possible, especially in a field of their interest.
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6. Binder & Presentation - This is the culmination of students' Capstone experience. During their time at PGHS/BIS, students will compile artifacts demonstrating their proficiency in various learning and life skills into a Capstone binder. They will summarize career interests and educational options, prepare a professional job portfolio, document field experience, make an independent living budget, and reflect on how they have matured. Before graduating, students present their binder, summarize their learning, and answer questions before a small panel of adults. This concludes their Capstone graduation requirement.
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