Ma’avar 2008
The Senior End of Year Program

Goals:
The Ma’avar program has two primary goals:  to allow the students some choice regarding stimulating intellectual options during the last month of school and through formal group activities, keep the class together so that students may reflect on and celebrate their time at Gann.  For seniors, the third trimester ends Thursday, April 17, the last day before Pesach and the Ma’avar program begins Tuesday, April 28. The Ma’avar program ends the week before graduation with an all grade retreat on June 2 and 3. 

Schedule:
Mondays through Thursdays of each Ma’avar week students will have a choice of participating in seminars offered by faculty here at Gann, working on a pre-approved senior project advised by a faculty member, participating in an internship offsite, or some combination of these three options. On Fridays, the entire class will come together to participate in workshops here at Gann. All seniors must attend Friday activities at Gann.

Expectations:

1. Students are required to participate in the Ma’avar program that runs from Tuesday, April 29 through Friday, May 30.  This includes creating a schedule for Mondays through Thursdays which meets the 18 unit requirement outlined below and participation in the Friday programs at GANN.
2. Students are required to participate in all special programs from Monday, June 2 through Friday, June 6 and Wednesday June 11. This includes the senior celebration night, senior overnight, and graduation rehearsals.
3. Student’s transcripts (single page attachment to transcript) will reflect the work done during the Ma’avar program.
4. Students in arts, Jewish Thought, Athletics, AP classes or other classes needed to fulfill graduation requirements will be required to continue those classes throughout Ma’avar.
5. Students with unfinished work from 2nd Trimester will not be able to begin internships or seminars until all work has been turned in.

18-Unit Requirement
Ma’avar requirements are based on the assumption that a full day’s work on Monday through Thursday is 9am to 5pm including breaks for lunch, etc. totaling approximately 27 hours per week. We’ve equated this time to a total of 18 units (1 unit = 1.5 hours). We foresee students acquiring 18 units in the following three ways.

1. Full internship
   A student choosing to do a full internship is expected to work 27 hours per week at a predetermined site.  Total hours are based on the assumption that a work day is 9am – 5pm with a lunch break and a shorter break sometime during the day. Before committing to a specific internship, students must meet with Ms. Riemer. Once an internship has been approved, students may make their own schedule with their work site supervisor as long as they are at Gann on Fridays. All students participating in an internship will be expected to create a portfolio of their experience.  The portfolio requirements will be tailored to each student as part of their overall Ma’avar requirement.
   
   Please note:  We are happy to provide information about past internships and help students brainstorm where to find internships. However, the ultimate responsibility of finding an internship is on the student.
   
   
2. Full Academic
   A student may choose to participate in offerings here at school.  Gann faculty will be teaching a variety of seminars Mondays through Thursdays.  All seminars will be pass/fail. Students will sign up for seminars according to their own preference and schedule.  Students will be required to sign up for 18 units (1 unit = 1.5 hours = 1 academic block, with ½ hour of homework expected).  Students may also acquire units by continuing in their electives from the third trimester.  (Students who do not need their third trimester elective to graduate may choose to not continue the elective during the Ma’avar program). All students in AP classes must stay in the class until the exam. Each elective block (A, B and M) will count one unit each except for cases in which the elective is to fulfill a graduation requirement.
   
   Students can also propose independent projects.  They must submit their proposal to Rachel Riemer for approval.  A faculty committee will determine the number of units the research proposal is equivalent to and communicate with the faculty advisor to the project.  In the event there is not a faculty advisor to a project, the committee will assign one. Students doing independent research that does not equate to 18 units will be expected to make up the difference by signing up for other seminars. More information regarding how a student can propose an independent project follows in a second document.
   
   
3. Combination Internship and Academic
   Students who would like to do a combination of classes and internship can do so as long as they maintain a full 18 units.