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Passion Projects

Passion projects at Helios empower students to delve into topics they're passionate about through a structured multi-month research project. Emphasizing that learning is most effective when driven by personal interest, these projects help students build executive functioning skills and become the architects of their own education.

These are more than just academic exercises; they integrate critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and personal reflection. Throughout the project stages, students manage their research, make strategic decisions, and ultimately teach their findings, turning personal insights into educational experiences.

Passion projects not only prepare students for academic success but also equip them to tackle real-world challenges, fostering independence and facilitating deep research and practical applications. Our graduates often cite the skills they learned doing their passion projects when they talk about what they most value about their Helios education. 

Grades 3 and 4

Starting in the lower grades, students learn basic research skills such as navigating library resources and managing information, setting the foundation for more advanced projects.

3rd and 4th grade students do one semester-long passion project each year.

Grades 5 and 6

The complexity increases as students submit detailed proposals and learn to refine their research under the guidance of advisors. Each student may choose between working on two semester-long projects or one full-year project.

The choice of topics presented at a recent end of year symposium illustrates the breadth of their interests and the level of complexity they’re capable of engaging with.

Students may choose between two semester-long passion projects or one full-year project.

Grades 7 and 8

In the upper grades, students engage in significant independent projects that may include external experts and practical applications, aiming to impact both the Helios community and beyond. One student recently worked with an expert in Europe to research whether the saliva that wax worms produce could be used to decompose plastics. 

Experiences like these make research real—something they do rather than learn about as theory.

7th and 8th graders do one full-year passion project.