The 2019-2020 school year has been an exciting one for many Sizer School seniors who have been pushing themselves to create senior products that matter to their communities.

"Seniors this year have really committed themselves to designing Senior Projects that reflect our mission to Think, Care and Act,” said Senior Advisor, 12th grade English Teacher and Learning Specialist Pete Nelson of Ashburnham. “Many of their topics and products are service-oriented. Seniors are raising awareness and funds for medical research, addressing mental health challenges through the arts and trauma sensitive practices, directing resources to those who are homeless and food insecure, telling their own stories of hardship and perseverance ...the list goes on and on.”

At Sizer School, Senior Project is a graduation requirement. It is an opportunity for a student to independently explore a topic of their choosing. Senior Projects demonstrate a personalized learning experience and are designed to be a “springboard” into life beyond Sizer.

“We want every student to succeed and they are an active participant in their own learning. We challenge every student academically and watch them rise to the occasion,” says Recruitment and Communication Coordinator Lindsay Sauvageau.

Over the past several months, seniors like Hubbardston-native Emma McEvoy and Grace Vartanian organized and hosted two different fundraising events as part of their individual senior projects. Others, like Ashby native Sebastian Rodriguez and Townsend native Benjamin Mulrenan, are using their life experiences to inspire others. Rodriguez has made a YouTube video documenting how sports gave him hope after his family became homeless, and how basketball kept him on a path of positivity. Mulrenen is currently finishing a children’s fantasy book featuring an Autistic superhero, sharing his story as a way to empower other students diagnosed with autism or aspergers.

As Emma McEvoy said while talking about her experiences with planning Hoops for Hope, a fundraiser for the SRNA (Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association) as her senior project, “In the end, it’s all going to be worth it. …Even if it’s out of your comfort zone.”

Discover more about the small classroom sizes and project-based learning opportunities that families get from Sizer School, visit www.sizerschool.org today. Sizer School is now accepting applications for the 2020-2021 school year. Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2020. Visit sizer.schoolmint.net to apply. A public lottery will take place Wednesday, March 4 at 5:30 p.m. at Sizer School, 500 Rindge Rd. Fitchburg, MA 01420 with a snow date of Thursday, March 5 at 5:30 p.m.