Ossining High School to Hold First Capstone Showcase

After four years of preparation and research on passion topics, Ossining High School seniors are starting to present their Capstone Projects.

The first Capstone Showcase takes place Thursday, and there will be a second one in the spring. The students apply the skills they acquired in technology, writing, research, reading, speaking, art and presentation in developing their projects over four years at OHS.

“Students uncovered and identified their passions, undertook rigorous academic research in their field, and have now culminated their work in projects designed to both educate and give back to their Ossining community,” according to the OHS Capstone instructional team.

The students studied research techniques and resources in several classes their freshman year. Sophomore year, they developed a research project based on a passion, question or frustration they had, or a need they saw. They used their data to present an argument on their topic in English 11. This year, they have been finalizing their research and developing and implementing their projects.

Several students will be making presentations about their work in the library Thursday. One senior has organized a panel on racism and law enforcement. Others will present on patois language in schools, racism in sports, life after the military and other topics. Examples of exhibits that are on display in the library are quality of life for cancer patients; changes to the NBA; sleep paralysis; and the Ossining Food Bank.

Students who conducted projects in OHS and other schools, community centers and with local organizations are displaying photos and information about their work in the main and gym lobbies. They chose social media awareness, gender stereotypes in children, paying for college, health insurance; Mexican culture; pitching injuries; and other subjects for their research.

A number of students had articles about their research on animal extinction; video games; concussion awareness; healthy living; and other areas published in OHS’ “The Current.” Others have art installations in the second-floor gallery about pollution, street art, landscape photography and other areas.

OHS started formally planning for the Capstone curriculum six years ago and ran a pilot. The Class of 2019 is the first full grade to complete the four-year Capstone sequence.

The Ossining School District launched the Capstone curriculum in the fall of 2014 for the fifth and eighth grades. Fifth-graders choose an advocacy group they want to learn more about, while eighth-graders select a topic involving local history.