DHS Senior Internship Program
Dear Seniors,
We would like to offer you an exciting opportunity for the last four weeks of your senior year. The Darien High School Senior Internship Program is now in its third year of offering seniors the experience of the working world and exploring future career interests.
The purpose of the senior internship program is to enable students to apply their personal excellence through active, collaborative, and creative thinking; individual growth; and development of the skills and integrity necessary to become productive members of society outside the boundaries of their formal educational program. The internship will provide seniors with workplace experience, opportunity for career exploration and a smooth transition from high school to their future endeavors.
Interns will work twenty-five to thirty hours per week in an unpaid position at an approved work site. Since internship hours will generally occur during the school day, you can still participate in sports and other extracurricular activities.
**New this year**All DHS seniors have the opportunity to be approved to go on an internship AND have the opportunity to find their own work sites beyond what is available to choose from in the work site bank we already have created.
If you are selected, before starting the program you must:
- Meet all graduation requirement, academic and otherwise
- Obtain sign-off from all of your teachers
- Have administrative approval to participate in the program
- Have parental permission
- Comply to all requirements set forth by the internship committee
Please see the Program Overview for more details.
This has been a valuable experience for past interns, securing future college internships and employment offers at their work sites and we urge you to apply for this unique opportunity. If you have any questions, please continue to explore this website or contact:
Miss. Di Stefano (Math Teacher) or Mrs. Messineo (School Counselor) the DHS Senior Internship Co-Chairs at seniorinternship@darienps.org or (203) 309-2592.
The purpose of this program is to expose students to the workplace outside of their formal educational experience as well as provide businesses with motivated and eager workers and a potential pool of future employees.
We are currently looking for internship sites for DHS seniors and hope that you will consider hosting a student intern.
Contact the DHS Senior Internship Program Co-Chairs:
Lauren Di Stefano or Lisa Messineo, at seniorinternship@darienps.org or (203) 309-2592.
2012 Darien High School Senior Internship Program Overview
- To enable students to apply their personal excellence through active, collaborative, and creative thinking; individual growth; and development of the skills and integrity necessary to become productive members of society outside the boundaries of their formal educational program. The internship will provide seniors with workplace experience, opportunity for career exploration, and transition from high school.
Time Frame:
- May 21–June 12 with internship fair June 13 - All dates tentative due to potential inclement weather
Internship Program Format:
- Four week, unpaid internship
- Interns on site work hours should total between 25 – 30 hours per week
- Internship grade appears on transcript as “Pass with Distinction”, “Pass”, or “Fail”. No credit is awarded
Student Eligibility Requirements:
- Must meet all graduation requirements, academic and otherwise
- Must obtain sign-off from all teachers before beginning internship
- Must have administrative approval to participate in program
- Must have parental permission
Student Responsibilities:
- Must complete all academic requirements as described by teacher before beginning internship
- Must keep weekly journal and communicate with faculty mentor on a weekly basis at minimum
- Must attend all required informational and orientation meetings
- Must turn in a portfolio based on their internship experience at the end of the program
- Must make culminating visual presentation, based on the portfolio at the required internship fair to be held at the end of the program
Faculty Mentor Responsibilities:
- Meet with student before internship begins
- Attend orientation session before the internship begins
- Communicate with student weekly at minimum
- Receive weekly time sheets signed by work site supervisor and student
- Make at least one random visit to internship site
- Review student portfolio at the end of internship and attend internship fair
- Notify internship committee of any intern falling behind on any responsibility
Internship Site Supervisor Responsibilities:
- Meet with the student for a preliminary interview and discuss student’s goals, your expectations, as well as company policies
- Guide the student through internship tasks and sign weekly time sheets
- Complete an intern evaluation form at the end of the internship
- Be in contact with the student’s faculty mentor if any issues arise with intern
Internship Program Guidelines:
- All internship sites must be approved by the internship committee
- Student acceptance decisions will be made by the internship committee in consultation with administration and guidance
- If a student does not successfully complete the internship, he/she will not be able to “walk” at graduation and “Fail” will appear on their permanent transcript which is sent to colleges