Dear Parents,
Jupiter Christian is proud of its Capstone, a culminating experience which takes place during the senior year. Over the last four years, Capstone has become an important component of the JCS senior year. This personalized and participatory project provides a rich experience for each student, aligning with the JCS mission of excellence in teaching the mind, reaching the heart and inspiring student leaders. This graduation requirement is one that is completed within the senior year class schedule, allowing students an opportunity to explore a career field, growing their natural strengths and passions while learning 21st century skills. Through this project, students are able to explore and articulate the call on their life and how their faith and passion intersect with their future.
The yearlong Capstone allows students an opportunity to identify a career field of interest in which they will conduct a formal internship with a professional mentor in their chosen field. This internship will provide the opportunity to gain field research and real world experience as the student prepares to identify their Capstone focus. Students are encouraged to complete this internship during the summer preceding the senior year. Throughout the school year, students will conduct both academic and field research within their selected occupational field. Students will observe and partner with a professional mentor to gain real-world experience as they research, with particular focus on a problem or need within the community. After successful completion of the internship and research, the student will then develop a service learning project that allows them an avenue to apply their knowledge by a addressing a need or concern in the community associated within the occupational field of choice. At the end of the senior year, students will present their portfolio and research in a formal presentation before an audience of faculty, staff, parents and students.
The word "capstone" derives itself from the final, decorative stone used to complete a building or monument. Likewise, Capstone serves as the finishing piece of a student's intellectual, personal and spiritual journey at Jupiter Christian. Capstone provides an opportunity for our students to learn important skills in the area of communication, collaboration, cross-disciplinary study, digital and information literacy, servant leadership and real-world experience.
Capstone is largely completed within both senior English and Bible courses. This project can be completed through enrollment in senior level college prep coursework (Capstone College Reading and Writing and Capstone Worldview) or at the dual enrollment level. Students will also have a JCS Capstone Faculty Advisor who will help lead and advise the student throughout the Senior Capstone, providing opportunity to meet regularly to give feedback and support throughout the process. We are pleased to announce that the Senior Capstone will take the place of all senior final exams and students will conduct their last day of classes mid-May after Capstone presentations, followed by the senior trip and graduation.
We look forward to working with your student in the year to come and are excited to grow with them as they discover their calling and how to make a difference in our world. Please visit our website to read about the experiences of our Capstone alumni, their professional mentors and the many ways their research and projects made a difference in the local community.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Ceppo Joe Zambrano
Chief Academic Officer Upper School Principal
