The "Future" Issue - 99 Volume 2, Issue 4

Another program that has recently been undergoing some changes is the AP Capstone program.
“Incoming Season 5 students had to formally apply for the AP Capstone program this year,” stated
AP Art History and AP World History teacher Vanessa Jacobs. “Students had to complete a
multiple-page application by a stated date, which helps to see who is committed to the demands
of AP Capstone,” Jacobs hopes that by making these changes, incoming students can be better
prepared and the teachers can know the students beyond test scores. “We created this process
in order to widen our pool of students and to allow students to demonstrate their willingness to
apply for the program,” continued Jacobs. “Our old system was not broken by any means, but for
programs to succeed, we have to be innovative and change things up to ensure we are
continually improving,” Jacobs finishes. On a similar note, AP Capstone teacher Mary McConnell
has also made some changes to Capstone classes, such as AP Seminar. “Mr. Hausser and I are
constantly looking for ways to make AP Seminar more fun and less grueling, while still preparing
our students to succeed in their performance tasks and exam,” said McConnell. “Next year, we are
going to trim back the length of the dress rehearsal papers and presentations, while maintaining
our focus on world history research,” McConnell stated, regarding one of the changes to a huge
aspect of the Seminar class. McConnell also shares some upcoming opportunities for previous
Seminar students. “We also hope to recruit a team of successful AP Seminar alumni to work with
new students. These Capstone fellows will receive additional training - and they’ll gain an
impressive new credential for their college applications,” finished McConnell.
The Music Department and the Capstone Program
share their hopes for the future
By: Lacey Cintron
23