Seniors at Tahoma High School are preparing for the Senior Presentation, one of the last major events of their high school careers, as the school year comes to an end. This event, which is set for Friday, May 24, is the end of the Senior Transition Education Program (STEP). It gives students a chance to show their future goals and show that they are prepared for the next stage of their lives.

Seniors need to present their 13th-year plans and convince their audience, which includes teachers, peers, and possibly outside evaluators, that they have the understanding and skills needed to be successful in their chosen field after high school. This is done through their Senior Presentation. Students are expected to confidently lay out their post-high school plan, which may include finding a job, going to college, or taking other courses.

On May 24, at 12:30 p.m., senior presentations will start. It is expected that all seniors will make it to Tahoma High School at noon. Though students are expected to stay until all of the presentations in their designated panel are finished, the event usually ends around 2:30 p.m.. On May 21 or 22, panels made up of six to eight students will be posted along with room assignments.

Students must first finish and receive a passing grade on multiple STEP assignments, such as the 13th Year Plan, 13th Year Financing, Future Career, Resume, and 13th Year Evidence, in order to be eligible for the Senior Presentation. These assignments are intended to give students the knowledge and resources they need to create an in-depth presentation that outlines their goals and level of readiness for life after high school.

Each student’s presentation is graded using a rubric to meet the graduation requirement, a minimum score of 70% is needed. This assessment makes sure that students are able to clearly communicate their goals and show that they have mastered the communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that are necessary to be Future Ready.