Beacon Bulletin

Throughout October, our student artists and families were still given plenty of opportunities to become connected and acquainted with our school community.

The first Java Jam of the year was a fun chance for our students to share their talents with their peers. All who tuned in were entertained and excited to support the many talents of the student artists who were brave enough to perform.

The Virtual Pumpkin Carving event was also a fun way for students and families to get to know each other, while participating in a festive activity.

Our Texas Roadhouse fundraiser was a success and helped us raise funds to support our schools. A BIG THANK YOU to all the families and staff who joined us for some good eats or enjoyed take-out at home.

While most of our students continue to learn virtually at home, our teachers and school leaders have been busy preparing to welcome more students back for in person learning. Parents, please complete the survey below by November 6th.

We're sure that November will be a challenging month as we plan to bring back more students, but we are ready to work through whatever challenges that may present themselves. This month, we will be offering more opportunities and resources to support families in navigating the social emotional needs of their students. We're proud of the work our student artists have done so far in these trying times and we're looking forward to see all that they accomplish in the coming months. Stay tuned!

In order to move into our next phase of in-person learning, we need to hear from you. We have developed a survey regarding the changes. Parents must complete a survey for each student attending our schools. If a survey is not completed for a child, that child will automatically remain in virtual learning until at least the end of the second quarter.

Founders Survey:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfFuw2Oo9NKqtWUwWsKaNFR2ga-EH1Kg4Rp-49S2AEKwmq30w/viewform?usp=sf_link

Beacon Survey:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqsWjPuXrW1glMm-IICLBTcH_lOd6j8ajzfqcDqiIdE4J2vw/viewform?usp=sf_link

If you have any questions about the survey, there will be a Q & A Session with Dr. Skeldon and each principal regarding the changes on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Q&A Session:

Founders' Q & A will start at 6pm and Beacon's will start at 6:45pm. Here is the link for the Zoom session:

https://zoom.us/j/98337459271?pwd=Q3hMcGNLREl3azcvR1JDekdMaXBjUT09

Meeting ID: 983 3745 9271

Passcode: 7nYyWN

Our Inaugural Virtual 5K Series to support our arts programs. Run, walk, or roll to support our arts programs. Complete the series of three races at your convenience between now and April 30th. Get outside, walk with your friends or family!

Let's have a competition to see which race gets the most participants!

As of 10/30, Culinary and Visual have 3 participants each, while Theatre is in the lead with 5 participants. Our goal is 75 participants per race. Remember, you can run, walk, or roll anywhere, anytime.

Each participant receives a custom finisher medal for completing each race.

Complete all three races and you will receive an EXCLUSIVE race t-shirt designed by one of our student artists.

Registration is $25 per race.

To register or learn more, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/RI/Woonsocket/BeaconCharterSchools

While we will continue to plan great events like this, sometimes people would rather just make a donation than participate in the event. If you’d like to make a donation to our schools, please click one of the buttons below.

Garrett Mancieri is a founding member, former Chairman (2015-2019) and current Executive Director of the Downtown Woonsocket Collaborative since 2015. He is self employed as a commercial and residential licensed Realtor working in RI & MA. He holds a Bachelor's Degree of Business Administration from Rhode Island College. Mancieri has been involved in 8 (million dollar plus) developments in Woonsocket and helped more than 30 businesses start up or expand in the area. In 2015, he worked with the Woonsocket Planning Department to draft and sponsor the Woonsocket Downtown Overlay District which has attracted more investment and businesses to the downtown district. In addition, he is also the Chairman of Autumnfest (Northern R.I.'s Largest Festival), and a member of several committees and organizations including the NRI Board of Realtors, Rotary Club of Woonsocket, Woonsocket Head Start, Sojourner House, Beacon Charter School, Levitt AMP Woonsocket, and several other boards.

Q: How did you become involved with Beacon Charter Schools?

I have been aware of the school for many years. I am a former member of the Woonsocket City Council and in my capacity as the ED for the Main Street Board. We focus our attention to businesses located in the downtown area. My first contact at Beacon was Tina Go who recently retired. Tina and I were always out volunteering for similar causes and created a great friendship that we still have today.

Q: What made you join the Beacon Board?

I was asked to join the board by the former chair, Rich Paolo and my friend Emily Laramee who runs the Art Den on Main Street. I always wanted to get involved to learn more about the school and to see how I can help make some improvements for a few years. I was really drawn to join due to the incredible passion students, parents, and faculty have to see the school succeed.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish as a member of the Beacon Board?

I bring a real estate background, public service and city relations experience to the board. I hope to see facility improvements, advanced programs, increased community relations, and overall perception be elevated. I want more people to see the great things the school has done and is doing while also showing how valuable it is to our community.

Q: What challenges do you see ahead?

Clearly the biggest challenge is providing a great learning experience during the COVID-19 situation. It is not easy for any school to adapt to these very different times but we are prepared and doing the best we can for our staff, parents, and kids. Hopefully we can get through this and come out stronger with new and better ways of doing things while also being better prepared for future challenges.

Q: If you could do one thing for the rest of your life, money not an object, what would you do and where would you do it?

For me, my favorite thing to do is to make other people happy. I am lucky enough to have many opportunities to do good things for other people and the joy you get from seeing others obtain their goals or dreams is so rewarding. I can't express how great it feels to know that you truly made a difference in someone's life for the better. My family raised me that it is always better to give than receive and I strive everyday to do all I can to be a good person that contributes positive things to my community.

On our first professional day since the start of the school year, Beacon Film and Capstone Teacher Carlos Cruz conducted a professional development session entitled “Creating a Safe Space: Students and their Allies.” The session defined safe spaces, offered teachers and staff guidance on creating safe spaces in their rooms and throughout our schools. It covered the positive impact these spaces can have on our students and the tools needed to make it happen now.

It's important that we keep up-to-date photos of our students in our student information system (PowerSchool). We are also gathering student portraits to begin building the yearbooks for our schools. With most students still on home instruction, we are asking families to submit a photo for each student who attends our schools.

Please take the photograph in front of a plain, preferably white, background. The picture should be taken from approximately the waist up and students should be dressed appropriately for school.

For Founders students, please email your photos to founders@beaconart.org. Beacon photos should be emailed to beacon@beaconart.org.

As we do every year, we are working with Potter Photography for professional school photos. If you are interested in purchasing professional school photos this year, please email Mrs. Murphy at rmurphy@beaconart.org.

Ms. Rudio's students are studying the History of Oceanography from the ancient Greeks to the Vikings and Polynesians. Students are making slide decks on various Ocean topics. See examples of their work below!

Providing Social & Emotional Supports to Youth in the Age of COVID

This training will provide participants with some concrete ways to identify COVID related stressors in students and techniques to assist them. The training will also provide resources available to support families and students during this pandemic. It is an opportunity for families to speak with industry professionals and one another to build supports to help them navigate their own struggles during COVID.

Presenters:

• Stump Evans, Youth Services Manager at Community Care Alliance
• Patti Ovalles De Jesus, Youth Services Clinical Supervisor

TUESDAY, NOV. 10th: 6-7pm

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/95573536138?pwd=ZnFGRGhNZ3l0dStGdHFZTmQwdTlrdz09

Meeting ID: 955 7353 6138

Passcode: ZSC12R

Founders School Social Worker Michelle Chastenay put together this helpful list to help students and families understand the best practices for distance learning.

See her list and a funny video to go with it below!

The Local Advisory Committee is a great resource for families with students with special learning needs. December's meeting will feature a presentation from Mr. Randy Fedoruk our schools' Occupational Therapist. The presentation will focus on "Engaging Students During Remote Learning."

Mark your calendars for Dec. 10th @ 6pm. This will be a useful presentation for all of our families and students. We hope you'll attend.

Stay tuned for more information. Questions? Email: cgiroux@beaconart.org

• Tuesday, Nov. 3rd: Election Day - NO SCHOOL
  
  
• Wednesday, Nov. 4th @ 6pm: Beacon Board Meeting

• Thursday, Nov. 5th @ 6pm: Virtual Fundraiser Committee Meeting

• Monday, Nov. 9th @ 6:30pm: Virtual PTO Meeting

• Tuesday, Nov. 10th, 6-7pm: Virtual Health & Wellness Parenting Series (Social Emotional Support for Youth During COVID) Information and Zoom Link provided above

• Wednesday, Nov. 11th: Veteran's Day - NO SCHOOL

• Thursday, Nov. 12th @ 6pm: Virtual School Improvement Team Meeting

• Wednesday, Nov. 18th @ 10am: Food Pantry Bag and Thanksgiving Basket Pick-Up

• Wednesday, Nov. 25th: Thanksgiving Recess - NO SCHOOL

• Thursday, Nov. 26th: Thanksgiving Recess - NO SCHOOL

• Friday, Nov. 27th: Thanksgiving Recess - NO SCHOOL

• Wednesday, Dec. 9th @ 6pm: Beacon Board Meeting

• Thursday, Dec. 10th @ 6pm: Local Advisory Committee Meeting - Presenter, Mr. Randy Fedoruk "Engaging Students During Remote Learning."

• Dec. 18th & 19th: Beacon Theatre Workshop Online presents “She Kills Monsters” Live! Ticket details and more information to come
  

Email: comm@beaconart.org
Website: beaconart.org
Location: 320 Main Street, Woonsocket, RI, USA
Phone: (401)671-6261