Introduction to the Senior Internship Program

Dear Seniors,

We would like to offer you an exciting proposal for the last four weeks of your senior year. Darien High School is piloting a Senior Internship Program where seniors can experience the working world first-hand and explore their future career interests. Picture yourself writing for a newspaper, working at an art museum, assisting with sports coaching, or helping in a laboratory or medical facility. More internship work sites are being added every week!

The purpose of this program is to expose you to the workplace outside of your formal educational experience. Interns will work twenty-five to thirty hours per week in an unpaid position at a pre-approved work site. Since internship work hours will generally occur during the school day, you can still participate in sports and other extracurricular activities.

Thirty students will be selected to participate in this initial pilot program from across the academic spectrum. Student interns will report to their work sites for the last four weeks of school, including final exam week.

If you are selected, before starting the program you must:

Meet all graduation requirements, academic and otherwise
Obtain sign-off from all of your teachers before beginning the internship
Have administrative approval to participate in the program
Have parental permission

Interested seniors can apply online by completing the “Senior Internship Application”.

You must also print and have a parent sign a copy of your completed application.

Signed applications must be submitted to Mrs. Hyatt at the attendance desk by November 25, 2009.

The Senior Internship Program Committee will review all applications and will inform students of a decision early in January 2010.

We think this is a very valuable opportunity for seniors and urge you to apply. If you have questions, please see the Internship Fact Sheet on the web site, or e-mail Mrs. Gretchen Webster, English Teacher and Intern Committee chairman, at GWebster@darienps.org.

We look forward to receiving your application.

To Apply for a Senior Internship You Must Complete the Application Form

DHS Senior Internship Program Fact Sheet

The Senior Internship Program is designed to provide students with workplace experience, opportunity for career exploration and transition from high school.

The Senor Internship Pilot Program will run the last four weeks of the academic year.
Interns will spend four weeks in an unpaid internship working twenty-five (25) to thirty (30) hours per week at a pre-approved work site.
Student interns can participate in sports or other after-school extracurricular activities since internships will generally occur during school hours.

Students applying for internships will indicate their first, second, and third choices in areas of interest for their internship. The Senior Internship Committee will work to match students, work sites and faculty mentors with similar interests for the internship.

If there are more eligible students than the 30 available slots, then interns will be chosen by lottery.
To be eligible to participate in the program, students must:
- Meet all graduation requirements, academic and otherwise
- Obtain sign-off from all teachers before beginning the internship
- Have administrative approval to participate in the program
- Have parental permission

The internship will be graded on a pass/fail basis with “Pass with Distinction” also available. The grade will appear on the school transcript. Students who do not successfully complete the internship, in addition to receiving a grade of fail on the transcript, will not be able to “walk” at graduation. They will still be eligible to receive a diploma.

Students who are selected for the Senior Internship Program will make individual arrangements with teachers to complete required work before beginning the internship.
Student interns must submit a signed Intern Contract.
Interns will keep a daily journal (online or written) and communicate with their faculty mentor on a weekly basis, at minimum.
Interns must attend all required informational and orientation meetings.
Student interns will turn in a portfolio based on their internship experience and will make a culminating “science-fair” type presentation based on their portfolio at the end of the program.

To apply complete the Senior Internship Application. Completed, signed applications must be submitted by November 25, 2009, for consideration.

Questions? Please contact Mrs. Gretchen Webster at GWebster@darienps.org