Most Woodgrove students are familiar with Capstone projects, which are meaningful projects that seniors take on to contribute to the school or community. Many Capstones take place during the two-week period at the end of the year. Woodgrove recently implemented a Capstone Committee to oversee students’ projects. 

The Capstone Committee is a group of students who will take on responsibilities such as speaking at senior class meetings and faculty meetings, visiting the sites of the students’ Capstone projects, and planning and hosting a banquet for all students who participate in a Capstone project. The Committee includes seniors Olivia Van Der Post, John Ploeger, Jurgis Petraitis, and Marie Goode.

This committee serves as the Capstone project for the students involved. Goode explained the process of getting onto the committee. “I had to fill out a Google Form and basically write some essays about why I thought I should be on the capstone committee…Mrs. Elbaum reviewed them and she selected the students that she liked the answers for,” Goode explained.

 English teacher Mrs. Andrea Elbaum is known as the Capstone Coordinator. Her duties include approving students’ Capstones, speaking at the senior class meetings, and showcasing Capstone Projects. 

Elbaum believes that Capstones should be more than just an opportunity to get out of school those two weeks at the end of the year. “I think that there are some students who take it seriously. [Students] seek out internships. A number of students do volunteer work. That will inspire them to do things throughout their lives. [Woodgrove] has a lot of students who volunteer at elementary schools,” she shared.

Signatures from parents are required in order to participate, but students may sign for themselves if they are eighteen. She also needs them from  teachers and community sponsors, who are those who are overseeing the Capstone project. With Mr. Jeff Schutte, the Activities and Engagement Coordinator, she is moving the process to permission clicks. She expressed her difficulty getting the signatures in previous years. “Everything was paper. It was a lot to keep track of for me, and I think that the permission clicks are going to make it a lot easier for the students, so that we’re not running around as much trying to collect pieces of paper from students,” she expressed.

Capstone Committee member Goode shared the roles she and her fellow committee members have within the Committee. “Our responsibility is to talk to students and streamline the capstone process for them. At the end of the year, we need to plan a Capstone experience showcase for everyone to show their Capstones,” Goode shared. 

The Capstone Committee allows students to hone beneficial skills that they can carry into college and later in life. It gives them an opportunity to develop responsibility, their management skills, and leadership skills.