FOR THE STUDENT, A SUCCESSFUL SENIOR PROJECT WILL. . .

• Awaken in them the realization that, for a Christian and person of good will, service to others is both a responsibility and a privilege;
• Lend perspective to their problems when measured against the problems & challenges faced by others;
• Increase their understanding of social structures which oppress and marginalize others;
• Help them grow in maturity by working in unfamiliar and challenging situations;
• Help them resist cultural pressures which tend to create self-centeredness & lack of concern for others;
• Abolish the ignorance and fear which separates them from those who are different in some way;
• Help them grow in love by touching the lives of others;
• Kindle in them understanding, hope, compassion, and faith.
   

THE PROJECT SHOULD BE CHALLENGING.

• They should work in an unfamiliar environment with people outside their daily life.
• They should seek people with needs arising from factors such as age; socio-economic background; physical, varying abilities (physical, mental, emotional), etc..
• They should avoid organizations they have formerly participated in.
• They should look for work different from other service work they have done in the past.
• They should find a job that is people-centered.
• They should not choose a project as an opportunity to do career-sampling.
• They should not choose a project because friends are going there, family works there, or because they have worked there in the past.

SLUH has these expectations for its seniors:

• Students will be positive representations of their school.
• Students will be punctual and communicative with their supervisor. 
• Students will wear school dress code, unless specifically instructed otherwise by the project supervisor.
• Students will perform assigned tasks with a positive attitude and sensitivity to the unique needs and conditions of those with whom they work.
• Students will respect all guidelines regarding confidentiality.
• Students will not use cell phones during the work day.
• Students will give advance notice of absence and make up for time missed.
• Students will write in their Senior Project Journal each night. 

SLUH has these expectations for its partner agencies:

• The agency will provide person-to-person activities for the students.
• The agency will offer challenging learning experiences for the students.
• The agency will request the students to perform work that is responsible and necessary.
• The agency will fill in the daily attendance sheet for the student and note absences or tardies.
• The agency will give a fair evaluation of the work and attitudes of the students.
   

Expectations for attendance:

• During the project, students follow the work schedule of the agency. The only exception is a snow day. For safety reasons, if SLUH has a snow day, students will not report to their agency.
• Students will not work on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a federal holiday. 
• Students should not schedule medical appointments, college visits, family vacations and the like during Senior Project.
• In cases of extended illnesses, students should discuss makeup plans individually with the Senior Project organizers and their site supervisor.

Excused absences (illness, funerals, etc.):

• The student should contact the agency to explain his absence.
• A parent must phone or Dr. Kesterson’s office or email attendance@sluh.org before 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence.
• For retreats or the March for Life, the student does not need to phone in the day of his absence. These are planned absences that will be communicated ahead of time by the Senior Project organizers. 
• Multiple excused absences will need to be made up, on a case by case basis, in consultation with the Senior Project organizers.

Unexcused absences (Medical appointments, college visits, family vacations, etc.):

• The student must provide a written and oral explanation to his agency supervisor & the Senior Project organizers ahead of time.
• A parent must phone Dr. Kesterson’s office or email attendance@sluh.org before 9:00 a.m. on the day of the unexcused absence.
• The student must, on his own time, make up the time missed, plus an additional day, for each day of unexcused absence at his agency.  The student must email Mrs. Anzalone (sanzalone@sluh.org) with the confirmed make-up dates.
• Multiple unexcused absences are possible grounds for dismissal from a Senior Project site as well as disciplinary action back at SLUH. 

During Senior Project:

• A SLUH faculty or staff member will visit the agency, to check in with the student to see how the project is going, and check in with the project supervisor to see how the senior is doing.
• Seniors will write in the Senior Project Journal on a daily basis.

After Senior Project:

The Agency will. . . 

• Submit the completed daily attendance sheet to the SLUH Senior Project organizers
• Complete a brief evaluation of the student, describing his consistency, dedication and effectiveness.

The Student will. . .

• Keep his reflection journal and bring it to theology class.
• Complete an evaluation of his project. 
• Meet with his Faculty Advisor to discuss the impact of his project.
• Present about his project experience to a small group of SLUH teachers and students.