Welcome to the PJA Capstone Blog.

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We’re pleased you are here and hope you enjoy learning more about Portland Jewish Academy’s Capstone Project.

What is Capstone?

Eighth Grade Capstone Project

The Capstone Project, Portland Jewish Academy’s culminating learning experience,  provides an opportunity for all eighth grade students at PJA to participate in  a multifaceted, interdisciplinary project which addresses the values of Tikkun Olam, integrates the curriculum of the Jewish Studies program with the Humanities department, and addresses the fundamental skills of the research process and academic writing.

Students begin the Capstone Project process by identifying areas of personal interest and relevant needs in the community.  Each student submits a written proposal in which the service project is described. Once approved by the Capstone Team, the student creates a detailed Action Plan and timeline which explains how and when the project will be implemented and facilitated.

Once students have become fully immersed in their projects or have completed them, they will choose a related topic, conduct research, and undertake the writing of a formal research paper.  The Capstone Project concludes with the completion of a Drash in which students make connections between Jewish history, text, their personal Jewish identity or the PJA middot.

Throughout their Capstone experience, students will engage in regular reflection, making numerous blog entries to record their progress and their thoughts as they complete their project, their paper, and their Drash.  In the spring, students will have the opportunity to share all three elements of their work with the PJA community.

 

Part I: Service Project

Students will

  • Identify an area of interest for their project
  • Write a proposal to submit to the Capstone Team (must be approved by the Team)
  • Write an Action Plan, including a project timeline
  • Document all service hours
  • Conduct a project
  • Record progress and reflect on their experiences through regular Blog entries

 

Part II:  Research Paper

Students will

  • Select a topic related to their service project
  • Narrow their topic to a thesis statement
  • Fully research their topic in order to support their thesis statement
  • Use multiple credible sources of information, including books, periodicals, online databases, and internet websites
  • Draft an outline (or a reverse outline)
  • Complete multiple drafts of a formal research paper
  • Include parenthetical citations
  • Create a Works Cited
  • Find one adult to edit their paper
  • Engage in the Peer Review process
  • Learn proper MLA formatting
  • Record progress and reflect on their experiences through regular Blog entries

 

Part III: Drash

Students will

  • Write a Drash (interpretation or commentary) exploring the connections between the other elements of their Capstone Project and one or more of these elements from the Jewish Studies curriculum:
    • A specific text or character from the Tanakh
    • A passage of Talmud or Pirkei Avot
    • A specific prophet or Judge
    • A specific middah that has been discussed in class
    • One of PJA’s middot
    • An important figure in Jewish history
    • A mitzvah that the student values
  • Present their Drash to the Middle School community