Academics & Arts
Upper School
The Capstone Experience
Laurel School’s Capstone Experience, by design, will cultivate purpose, relationships and leadership using one of four lenses— Civic Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Global Studies, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics).
Capstone Candidates will explore issues through guided research, intellectual discussion, relevant internships and purposeful events. Using expert guidance from mentors and support from cohort peers, each Capstone Candidate will create a Research Focus based on her individual interests and agency.
This innovative program provides committed, interested students with opportunities to approach real-world issues with interdisciplinary, experiential and community-based strategies while building mentor and peer relationships. In developing a sense of purpose, meaningful mentor and peer relationships, and skills of leadership, Capstone prepares a Laurel girl “to fulfill her promise and to better the world.”
Capstone Candidates will explore issues through guided research, intellectual discussion, relevant internships and purposeful events. Using expert guidance from mentors and support from cohort peers, each Capstone Candidate will create a Research Focus based on her individual interests and agency.
This innovative program provides committed, interested students with opportunities to approach real-world issues with interdisciplinary, experiential and community-based strategies while building mentor and peer relationships. In developing a sense of purpose, meaningful mentor and peer relationships, and skills of leadership, Capstone prepares a Laurel girl “to fulfill her promise and to better the world.”
The Four Capstone Categories
List of 4 items.
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Civic Engagement
Through an interdisciplinary, experiential and community-based approach, Candidates in the Civic Engagement category will explore what it means to be an engaged citizen working to improve her community, her state, her nation and her world. -
Entrepreneurship
Through an interdisciplinary, experiential and community-based approach, Candidates in the Entrepreneurship category will explore issues related to business across different stages, sizes, industries and markets and apply that learning to their own initiatives. -
Global Studies
Through an interdisciplinary, experiential and community-based approach, Candidates in the Global Studies category will explore global issues by identifying and analyzing a multitude of perspectives, including one’s own and those of others. -
STEAM
Through an interdisciplinary, experiential and community- based approach, Candidates in the STEAM category will explore many intersections of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics in order to understand and to apply multi-disciplinary strategies to an endeavor.
Capstone Requirements
List of 4 items.
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Ninth Grade
- March of Ninth Grade: Complete the Capstone application.
- April of Ninth Grade: Interviews
- May of Ninth Grade: Selections of Capstone Candidates announced; cohort activities focusing on leadership skill development and peer bonding at Laurel’s Butler Campus and in Cleveland.
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Tenth Grade
- First Semester of Tenth Grade: Bi-weekly, student-led discussions in each cohort.
- December of Tenth Grade: Students may exit or enter the program depending on what is best for individual students.
- Second Semester of Tenth Grade: Bi-weekly, student-led discussions in each cohort.
- February of Tenth Grade: Each Candidate designs a Research Focus and presents it to a panel of Capstone faculty.
- Spring of Tenth Grade: Refine research focus; Capstone Mentors assigned.
- Summer of Tenth Grade: Candidates begin background research on their topic of choice, and may complete a relevant Protégé internship.
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Eleventh Grade
- Eleventh Grade Year: Each Candidate, guided by her Mentor, works on her Research Focus; bi-weekly cohort meetings continue and serve as peer-review sessions for progress of each Research Focus.
- Spring of Eleventh Grade: Each Candidate works to complete a draft of her completed Research Focus (a paper or project).
- End of Eleventh Grade: Each Candidate submits a full draft of her work. Summer of Eleventh Grade: Candidates
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Twelfth Grade
- Fall of Twelfth Grade: Candidates finalize their research work and make plans to share their work with a larger audience.
- January through March of Twelfth Grade: Candidates share their work with a larger audience.
- April of Twelfth Grade: Candidates make oral defense of Research Focus to Mentor and Capstone committee.
- Senior Showcase: Capstone Candidates receive special designation, becoming Capstone Scholars.
Capstone Glossary
List of 5 items.
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Capstone Candidate
A participant in Capstone -
Capstone Mentor
An adult with expertise in the topic of a student’s Research Focus who helps guide her process -
Capstone Scholar
A designation for completing the Capstone Experience -
Cohort
A small group of grade-level students in a particular Capstone category -
Research Focus
A research-based paper or equivalent project designed by each Candidate with guidance from her mentor
Questions?
List of 1 items.
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Bella Patel
Download
Common Questions About Capstone
List of 9 items.
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What is the goal of Laurel School’s Capstone Experience?
While knowledge, research, and a level of expertise in one of the categories certainly will happen for a student, the goal of Laurel School’s Capstone Experience is to provide a greater sense of purpose as well as to develop skills of leadership, collaboration and relationship—qualities Laurel believes will serve a student for a lifetime in any endeavor. -
Will it cost anything?
Yes. To participate in Capstone, a student’s family will pay $550 per year, which includes all components of the experience, including the trips. -
Will financial aid be available?
Yes, for families who are eligible for financial aid from Laurel School. -
Will it be graded?
No. A student will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis; grades will not be assigned. -
Will all Upper School students be able to participate in Capstone?
No. Each cohort will accept a limited number of students. -
Does a student need to have previously developed interests or experience in a Capstone category to be a good applicant?
No. While some students may have relevant prior experiences or interests, Capstone wants students who are curious and passionate about collaboratively exploring topics in experiential and interdisciplinary ways. -
Will a student’s academic record be the only component of the admissions process?
No. The Capstone application process strives to identify students who want to develop leadership skills, relationship and collaboration skills, and some level of knowledge and expertise in a particular lens. -
Will Capstone prevent a student from taking particular classes or from participating in sports or extracurricular activities?
No. Capstone will be scheduled to avoid as many academic and athletic/extracurricular commitments as possible. -
Will Capstone prevent a student from participating in Laurel School’s Passport trips?
No. Many trip offerings certainly would serve the objectives of the Capstone program. While the Capstone cohort trips in the Tenth Grade will be covered by cost of the Capstone Experience, Passport trips offered through Laurel will not be covered by the $550 per year Capstone price.
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