By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

Whoever is in charge of curriculum and instruction at John Stark Regional High School is not likely to offer classes in moose taxidermy, sauna renovation or clay animation next year, but those were just three of the subjects this year's seniors learned.

On Thursday, May 12, about 175 John Stark seniors presented exhibits at Expo 2005, "Continuing Our Traditions." Teachers, parents, younger students, former students and interested members of the public were all on hand to enjoy the exhibitions, which wound throughout the school and its parking lot.

The displays were the culmi- nation of an annual year-long project for seniors, in which they pick a subject of their choice to study under the tutelage of an experienced mentor.

Students are required to dedicate 30 hours of work toward their projects, though many spend considerably more. And some find a lifelong hobby or even a career out of the experience, said John Stark English teacher Sherry Phinney, who has been coordinating Senior Expo since it began in 1996.

"We wanted a culminating experience for these students to demonstrate that they can be independent learners," Phinney said. "It shows us, but more importantly them, what they can do."

Early this school year, students had to generate ideas which were then presented as proposals for their projects. They then created their own set of standards for conducting their work. Near the end of the process, students wrote reflective papers, evaluating their own efforts.

At the Expo, students. projects were evaluated largely by parent volunteers. A passing grade is required for graduation.

While many students were visibly nervous about presenting their work, others were noticeably confident, proud of their diligent efforts.

"It's wonderful to see these kids stand up straight and tall with their work in front of them," Phinney said. "They might be the same kids who.ve been slouching in the halls all year."

While the attitudes of the presenters differed from bashful to boastful, the hundreds of people in attendance just to see the work on display all seemed to be having a good time.

Visitors were treated to a dinner with entertainment from the jazz band sponsored by the school's world languages department.

The evening was, however, most rewarding for the students whose year-long work was the event's focus.

"It was work pretty much every morning and every night," said senior Cara Bellerose, who with her mentor and mother, Cathy Bellerose, nursed a neglected 20-year-old horse back to shape. "Horses have always been a part of my life, but I learned a whole lot."