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Senior or Junior Individualized Independent Program (SIIP/JIIP)
Individualized Independent Programs
Discover Your Passion with Leonia High School's Individualized Independent Programs (SIIP/JIIP)
Discover Your Passions
At Leonia High School, the Senior Individualized Independent Program (S.I.I.P.) and Junior Individualized Independent Program (J.I.I.P.) offer juniors and seniors a unique opportunity to pursue a learning plan worthy of high school credit that cannot be achieved through traditional formal coursework. This program is designed to empower students to become independent, lifelong learners by exploring interests outside the "traditional LHS course of study".
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Why Participate in a S.I.I.P. or J.I.I.P.?
These programs are an ideal pathway for students to:
• Demonstrate an interest that extends beyond standard curriculum.
• Cultivate independence and lifelong learning skills.
• Benefit from an environment that fosters mentoring and creative use of available resources.
• Connect learning with work and life experiences, often involving community involvement.
• Develop a learning plan that is educationally substantive and beneficial, with realistic and attainable goals.
Program Eligibility & Structure
To participate, students must be Seniors or Juniors who are in good academic standing, have no monetary fines, and are in good standing based on their discipline. The program requires maturity, as it involves independent work where students are not "watched over as in a traditional class with daily lessons and progress checks".
The S.I.I.P. and J.I.I.P. come in two types:
• Vertical: Exclusively for Seniors, this course meets all day on Friday, allowing for experiences like an externship at a local hospital instead of coming to school.
• Horizontal: This type meets every day during a specific period or outside of the student's regular schedule, such as serving as a teaching assistant during a specific class period or working on projects as an LHS Videographer listed as an extra period.
How to Engage and What to Expect:
Students are encouraged to direct their own learning experience and take responsibility for it.
The process involves:
1. Selecting a topic you are passionate about that can sustain your interest for long periods. Consider what you are interested in doing as a career or learning during your life.
2. Choosing a mentor who has expertise in your chosen area and can assist you. Mentors play a crucial role in assisting with proposals, acting as resources, coaching with enthusiasm, and meeting weekly to review progress.