Fine Arts Diploma Seal

The Fine Arts Diploma Seal will be awarded to DeKalb County graduating high school seniors who:

Complete a fine arts pathway earning three credits plus at least one additional fine arts credit OR credit in a course that provides a creative industry skill focus
Participate in two or more arts related extracurricular activities and experiences that foster fine arts mastery
Submit documentation of the completion of 20 hours of arts-related community service this school year
Complete a capstone project including a written reflection of their experience

To apply for a seal:

Complete the FADS Student Worksheet, documenting items 1-3 above.
Write a reflection about a capstone project you've completed or will have completed by graduation.
Present project/reflection

Senior Showcase Performance

Artist website featuring original work of student or others

Student written and produced film

Student designed galley exhibition

An original script, music score, one-act play, or dance choreographed and performed by the student and/or others

Directing a musical or dance/music that includes music written or created by students

Working with a community garden to create public art

Design and execution of an illustrated children's book

Lead a theatre, music, or dance group/ensemble at a middle or elementary school or local organization

Creating an arts related video to support a cause

At least one page, double spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, grammatically correct document addressing:

Process: Rationale of how and why this topic was selected
New Skills/Knowledge: The influence the new/skills learned had on their own artistic approach/process is explicitly
expressed
Challenges: How the final product is different from the proposal, obstacles faced and overcome, and personal growth
from challenges encountered
Impact: A real-life, real-world application/influence

Sample guiding presentation/reflection questions

How has this project changed or grown from your proposal? Discuss the reasons for the change or growth.
How was this project a learning stretch for you? What did you learn about yourself as a learner, worker, and/or
citizen during the project?
How has accomplishing your capstone prepared you for life after high school?
When did you doubt yourself the most during this process? What did you learn from that? How did you work
through your doubt?
What process did you go through to produce the product? Did everything work the way you had planned?
What lessons did you learn? Describe your successes and frustrations.
What new skills did you learn while doing this work?
Did you have any interesting or unique experiences while completing your project?
What part of your project are you most proud of, and why?
What was the hardest part of doing this project? What were your challenges?
What mistakes did you make, and what did you do to limit the impact or shift your course?
What kinds of support could you have used during the process?
If you could do anything about the project over again, what, if anything, would you change?
What advice would you give to other students who are preparing to embark on the capstone process?
What activities or interests were you actively engaged in that have made an impact to your being and way of thinking?

Reflection Papers:

Presentations:

DCSD Fine Arts Diploma Seal Process 2024 (1).docx