One of the graduation requirements for #MiddletownRI High is to complete a "Senior Project." Over the past few months, many students have poured their hearts into their projects, intended to showcase their energy and enthusiasm for learning.
SENIOR PROJECTS EXPAND HORIZONS AT MIDDLETOWN HIGH
MIDDLETOWN, RI (APRIL 7, 2025) – Since sixth grade, Elizaveta Swann has been playing the flute in her school bands.
So when considering ideas for her Senior Project at Middletown High School, Elizaveta decided to learn to play a completely new instrument — the alto saxophone — and document the experience.
How hard could it be after all for a veteran musician, right? Especially when one of her close friends did the same in about a month.
Turns out it’s way, way more difficult than Elizaveta could have ever imagined, one of the 20 Senior Projects up for critique by an independent panel of judges one recent morning at the Valley Road school.
“I practiced at home whenever I could, watched YouTube videos and worked with my mentor Mr. (Phillip) Statser, (music teacher and band director,” Elizaveta said during a question-and-answer session following her eight-minute plus presentation.
“There were times I practiced so much my bottom lip bled. There were times when it was really, really tough and I’m proud of what I was able to accomplish.”
Elizaveta is one of 140 students in the Class of 2025 working to complete the Senior Project.
The guidelines are straightforward. Students are encouraged to think about delving deeply into a subject or topic that interests them, but they don’t already have mastery of.
They’re supposed to work closely with a mentor, who provides periodic advice about the area of study and ways to reach their goal.
Much of the work is self guided. Students are also asked to document their process of growth and outline the “learning stretch” that occurs from Day 1 to presentation day.
For example, Elizaveta said she first tried her hand at the alto sax in late September and it wasn’t until late January that she began to feel truly comfortable with the instrument.
To see and hear how she was doing, Elizaveta — who also is the drum major for the school band — would video her performances to pick up clues of where she needed work.
She continued to hone her technique until her Senior Project presentation before a panel of three judges.
“I’d say I probably put at least 50 hours into this,” Elizaveta said. “What did I learn? That the real world is really tough and nothing just comes to you. You have to put in the work to get what you want.”
Middletown High Principal Donna Sweet said that’s exactly the point of the Senior Project — to expand horizons and serve as a culmination of everything a student has learned from kindergarten to Grade 12.
Since she’s been at MHS, Sweet said she’s been blown away by some Senior Projects, which is one of the requirements for graduation.
“There’s no doubt after I’ve left some of these (Senior Projects), I feel like I’ve definitely learned something,” Sweet said. “It’s awesome to see our students so invested and excited about what they’re doing.”
School Librarian David Fontaine served as the Senior Project advisor for the first time this year. As a new twist, Fontaine said students were encouraged to feed information into a computer program that could offer insight on what might make a good topic of study.
“I’m perpetually impressed with what the students come up with for ideas, their pursuit and their interest,” Fontaine said. “It’s been a really rewarding experience for me personally and for so many of our students.”
Going back to the early 1990s, Middletown High has had some form of a Senior Project.
At one point, it was known as a Certificate of Initial Mastery pursued by a handful of students, not the entire senior class.
From there, the program grew into the Capstone Project, which was a requirement of graduation, but could be done at any point in a student’s four-year high school career.
Topics have included everything from building a better hockey stick to ways to reduce environmental pollution, the importance of donating organs, constructing a boat from scratch and everything in between.
While the Senior Project today might have a different name and a few new requirements, Sweet and Fontaine said that doesn’t mean it’s lessened the program’s impact one bit.
Other topics presented on the recent morning included creating a lasting mural for the school inspired by the dreams of Aquidneck School elementary students, learning and teaching skiing at Wachusett Mountain in Massachusetts and beyond.
For those students who go above and beyond, their work can earn “Distinguished” honors, while “Proficiency” is awarded to those who meet the goals of the Senior Project in every way.
For the handful of students who get the “Not Yet Proficient” designation, Sweet said it’s not an obstacle they can’t overcome. Rather, Sweet said it’s a chance to revisit what was off and make fixes before presenting to a new panel of judges.
Not surprisingly based on the depth and breadth of her work as well as the enthusiasm she brought to her project, Elizaveta was awarded “Distinguished” for her alto saxophone seminar.
“This is meant to be a showcase of their work, but a bit outside their comfort zone,” Sweet said. “Most of these presentations are the good stuff and will really ‘wow’ you when you see what they’re all about.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Senior-Project
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
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