As the old saying goes, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” This is very much on the mind of Oak Hill’s Senior Class these days, and students are buzzing with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation as Senior Project Presentation day approaches.

On Friday, March 27, Oak Hill’s Seniors will present Senior research papers and Senior projects in the eighth annual public exhibition of Senior Projects at the school. Each Senior will have thirty minutes to do a PowerPoint presentation of their research paper as well as a presentation of their related product. The presentations will be adjudicated by a panel of teachers and attended by an audience of seniors, visiting eighth grade students and invited parents and other community members.

Seniors have spent the past semester attending a series of training seminars involving each stage of the Senior Project. The most recent Senior Seminar focused on Fearless Public Speaking: Three Steps to Overcoming the Fear of Making Presentations. “If students follow the suggestions to prepare and practice, practice, practice, the presentations should go smoothly,” noted Media Specialist Anne Thompson. “I can’t wait to see the products that students have created as a result of their research.”

Research paper topics this year have ranged from vocationally-oriented topics, such as 1,2,3 to topics of current discussion and debate. Several students have done research on solar heat and the viability and sustainabilty of wood as an alternative to fossil fuels.

Valencia Buteau has built on her interest in early childhood education and her work as an intern in the Sabattus school system to research the impact of the media on the behaviors and attitudes of seventh and eighth grade girls.

“I created a survey that asked questions relating to television, movies, music, and magazines,” Val explained. “I had more students participate than I thought I would have, and I am very gratetful for all of their help. I have organized all results from the survey, and I will be making them into a handout that will be part of an interactive bulletin board outside of my high school media center.”

The Senior Project is a step toward implementing the standards-based assessment that Maine schools are moving toward to determine graduation status. Each student will be evaluated in terms of rubrics evaluating presentation skills and the content of their Projects. Earlier in the year, the faculty met to evaluate Senior research papers. Students who did not meet the standard were required to revise and resubmit their paper for a second evaluation.

“I’m looking forward to the feeling of accomplishment that will come when it’s over, Val said. “In the meantime, well, I’ll admit that I’m pretty nervous.”

“I’m sure that every student will breathe a sigh of relief when the day is over,” Anne Thompson observed. “Then they will begin assembling their portfolios for review. Students will compile collections of works completed during their high school years that demonstrate attainment of Oak Hill High School’s Expectations for Learning as clear and effective communicators, self-directed life-long learners, collaborative and quality workers, creative and practical problem solvers, integrative and informed thinkers, and citizens who are involved, civic-minded, and personally and socially responsible.”