Post-graduate Planning and Transition Year
20 Kearsarge Ave. Roxbury, MA 02119
Capstone
Capstone is the culminating project where seniors complete an in-depth, independent research project and presentation addressing an essential question of their choice. Students are asked to choose a topic within the career, creative, or the social (issues) categories. Once they choose a topic, they must develop an essential question around this topic, which will provide focus for their research. In addition to the research component, students are required to have multiple Real Life Experiences where they have the opportunity to meet experts in their topic for job shadows, interviews, internships, and more. These Real Life Experiences take students outside of the classroom to provide hands-on experience, add a "real" element to their goals and dreams, and help them to answer specific questions about their topic. The products of the Capstone Project include a cited research paper and a formal presentation. This project gives students a chance to think deeply about issues of local and/or global concern and to test the waters in a chosen area of future study. The goal of the project is to prepare students to become resourceful, independent investigators and problem solvers in the world beyond BDEA.
Capstone Workshop & Transition Year
The Transition Year, generously funded by the HYAMS FOUNDATION, allows students to stay connected to BDEA and receive support services even after they graduate. Students who enroll in CAPSTONE WORKSHOPS during their final trimester at BDEA, build upon essential skills of goal setting, time management, conflict resolution, job preparedness, and financial literacy. After graduation, students meet monthly with the transition year coordinator who works individually with each student for an additional nine months to ensure their continued success and goal attainment after high school. An incentive based program, participating students have the opportunity to earn up to $290 over the course of the year.
The transition year helps students answer the essential question, “What next?” and provides them with the support and resources they need to ensure their success well beyond their graduation from BDEA.
