Community Focus is a group project that you will research and implement in order to address a certain community problem in our area. It is not an awareness campaign. You will actually be doing something in the community.

Why is this important for us to do?
Our school has a long-standing commitment to community service, as well as to community awareness. This project helps you, the student, to become more involved with the larger community here in our area. It helps you to see life from another angle and broadens your perspectives on life. This is your chance to make a difference in not only the community, but OUR community. It is also a project that, if done well, will be a source of pride to you.

How does it work?
You and two to three other classmates of your choice will choose a social community problem. Your group will research the topic, finding out as much information as you can about how this problem exists here in our community. Then, your group will come up with three realistic solutions for dealing with this problem. Out of these three solutions, you will decide on one that can actually be implemented by your group. Your group will then go out into the community and work with the problem. A list of suggested topics can be found here.

What would be an example of this?
Let's say that your group was to chose malnutrition as a topic. First, your group would investigate how and where the community is affected by malnutrition, who suffer from it, why it exists, and what is currently being done to combat malnutrition in this area. Then your group would come up with three ideas on ways to combat malnutrition. They would then choose the idea that they thought was the best. The group would present this research and solution to an audience of 25 or so of their peers, where they would be graded and receive feedback on what they had done so far. After this, the group would go out and work in the field, implementing their solution for two to three weeks. They would then present their project to the entire eighth grade, the teachers and interested parents. In the end, the group would post a report on the web, describing their focus how they implemented their ideas, and how effective their project was.

How do I choose a group?
You will need to pick people to work with that will produce a positive result FOR YOU. These people should not necessarily be your best friends. Many good friendships have been put to a serious test because the friends did not work on things in the same way or because they had different ideas of what made a good project. Pick people who have a similar work ethic to your own, who do things in a way that you can respect. Look here to see what is EXPECTED of you and your group.

How do I choose a topic?
Here is a list of possible topics. Your group should choose three favorites that you know you can be interested in. Consider the following: you will need a mentor (someone who can help your group, by connecting you with people that are associated with your focus). You should choose a topic that you know you could find a mentor for. If, for example, you wanted to address the problem of animal cruelty or stray animals, you would need a mentor who could put you in touch with animal shelters. Advisors will have a list of possible places needing service.

What is a mentor?
A mentor is a person that you know (it can be a member of your family) who can spend time with your group, is committed to helping your group on a regular basis, and who will offer you guidance when you devise solutions for your problem. Your mentor will be asked to sign a form, committing him or her to helping your group. Your mentor will also be in charge of you when you go out to do your fieldwork. Note: Teachers cannot be chosen since they are unavailable to leave campus during school.

How do I keep track of my resources?
You write the source that you used and a short summary of what you found out from the source on the resource summary sheet.

How do I show what I have done each day?
You will be using the Community Focus Daily Work Log during each Block to document what you do. During the first 5-10 minutes of Block, you will meet with your advisor and complete section 1, Ideas to Investigate/Plan for the Day. Once this is completed, you will be excused to either the tech lab, library, or off campus with your mentor. As you work, fill out the rest of the Daily Work Log. During the last five minutes of Block, return to your advisor and hand them your individual copy of your work log. Your advisor will keep these on file as a part of your grade.

How do I keep track of what I have done during the implementation process?
Continue using your Daily Work Log as you had during the research stage of this project. Your mentor can sign in the Work Accomplished section. Take pictures or movies of your implementation process, these will come handy when is time to write your report.

How will we be graded?
Follow this link to see a rubric that describes what an ideal Community Focus project would be like. Read that carefully. You will have two presentations and a web site that will make up your final Community Focus grade. The first presentation will be completed by the end of the third quarter and will be worth 30% of your entire CoFo grade. The second presentation and the web site will be completed during the fourth quarter and will be worth 70% of your entire CoFo grade. Together these three grades will make up ten percent of your second semester grade in your core subjects.

Here some links you will want to check out.
Looking for a TOPIC?
Trying to get started? Ask these QUESTIONS.
Rubric for First presentation "RESEARCH" (sample of an "A+" Community Focus grading rubric)
Rubric for Second presentation "IMPLEMENTATION" (sample of an "A+" Community Focus grading rubric)
To get see the GUIDELINES for the report WEB PAGE.
What makes a GREAT VISUAL?
Reviewing resources? Keep trach of them on this SUMMARY SHEET.
Tips for INTERVIEWING
Are you ready? Before you present, take a look at this checklist