BPD3 Newsletter - April 2026

Dear Beach Park Families,

We are nearing the end of the 2025-2026 school year but there is still so much learning and growing to do! It is a busy time of year and we very thankful for your ongoing participation in your child's education.

This month we have some important news below:

• LAST CHANCE: Tell us what you think about our Communications!
• Next Community Coffee, April 28 at 4:30 PM at the Starbucks on State Route 173
• Joint Area Board Meeting on School Funding and Financial Uncertainty, April 29 at 6:00 PM at Zion Elementary
• Recap on BPD3's Successful Multicultural Fair
• What to Expect on Our Blue Ribbon Journey

Your Partner in Education,

Dr. D

(Dr. Denise Wilcox)

Superintendent

Your voice matters! We want to hear from you as we work to refine and improve our communication home to families.

Please take a few minutes to complete the FINAL communication survey of the school year.

Last Saturday, Beach Park Middle School came alive with culture, connection, and celebration during the district’s Multicultural Event.

Families gathered to enjoy food tastings, student performances, and vibrant art displays that reflected the rich diversity of our community.

It was a joyful day centered on togetherness—celebrating both what makes us unique and what unites us: a shared love for our children and a commitment to helping them Learn, Lead, and Succeed.

Event Highlights:

• Student art displays featuring 3D sculptures, printmaking, and perspective drawings from Howe, Newport, Kenneth Murphy, BPMS, and Oak Crest
• Live performances from all schools and from community members
• Cultural food tastings, including Spanish omelets, quesada, and Belizean dishes
• Craft stations hosted by the National Junior Honor Society
• Community resource tables from local organizations supporting Beach Park families
• Food trucks, raffles, and hands-on activities for all ages

Thank you to the staff, students, families, and community partners who made this vibrant celebration possible!

🎥: LIVE RECORDING LINK

Spring time registration is a critical part of our district's planning process to ensure we have the appropriate staff for the new school year.

Snapcodes were sent via email on Monday, March 16, 2026, to register current students for the upcoming school year. If families have questions or need assistance with registration, please contact our registrar at 847-596-5888.

Incoming Kindergarten families are encouraged to consider enrolling in the Dual Language Program at BPD3!

Parent Information Sessions are a great way to find out!

• May 12, Howe School at 10:00 AM

Like many of our neighboring districts, Beach Park is navigating a period of real financial uncertainty. At the shared board meeting, participating districts will come together to discuss sustainable funding solutions.

Topics may include:

• The future of federal grant funding (Title I–IV), which remains uncertain and could significantly impact district budgets in the coming year
• Regional funding options that could reduce reliance on any single revenue source
• Long-term fiscal planning that ensures districts like ours can continue to operate responsibly for years to come
  
  

We are already working with limited resources, and there are factors well outside of our control that could tighten that further. Our community and our taxpayers are stretched. BPD3 aims to be responsible stewards of every dollar we have and to make sure that whatever decisions we make, they are ones this community can sustain for years to come.

Joint Area School Board Meeting
April 29 at 6:00 PM

Shiloh Middle School

For those who don’t watch, here are some of the highlights from Chapter 6:

• Why girls have been hit harder. Haidt explains that the rise in anxiety, depression, and self-harm has been especially pronounced among girls, largely due to the way social media reshapes their social world—making it more visual, public, and comparison-driven.

  
  

• The shift to constant social comparison. Platforms centered on images, likes, and comments create an environment where girls are continuously evaluating themselves against others, often leading to feelings of inadequacy, exclusion, or not measuring up.

• Public metrics of popularity. Likes, followers, and comments turn social status into something visible and measurable, increasing pressure and making social interactions feel higher-stakes and more performative.

• Relational aggression goes digital. The kinds of social stress that have always existed—gossip, exclusion, and conflict—are now amplified online. These dynamics can follow students everywhere, making it harder to escape or recover.

• A more fragile sense of self. With identity increasingly shaped in online spaces, where feedback is constant and often harsh, young people may struggle more to develop confidence and resilience offline.

• Less opportunity to disconnect. Because so much of social life now happens on phones, stepping away can feel like missing out. This creates a cycle where students stay engaged even when it’s negatively impacting their well-being.

You can LISTEN, WATCH, and SUBSCRIBE to Beach Park Beyond the Bell on all your favorite platforms:

• YouTube | Spotify | Amazon Music | Apple Podcast
• Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | X

A HUGE Shoutout to our Director of Human Resources, Mr. Gabe Cappozzo for providing this unique opportunity for our entire learning community to learn about our amazing staff! He is creating CORE Learning Memories one staff member at a time.

• Beach Park Middle School – Jesssica Heard, 6th Grade Science
• "Jessica Heard is an incredible teacher and a champion of a colleague. She supports her peers and students in doing what is best for students every day. She has grown personally and professionally and is present to support every part of our school community. Without her, BPMS wouldn't be the same. She is another community member who came home to support the incredible work we are doing. Thank you Jessica for all that you do!"
• Howe Elementary – Ro Torres, Instructional Coach
• "Ro Torres is a key support for both new and experienced teachers, offering guidance grounded in her extensive knowledge of our curricula and strong commitment to our Dual Language program. Ro plays an essential role in co-planning and facilitating professional development, consistently modeling the instructional practices we want to see in classrooms. As a member of the Building Leadership Team, she is a trusted collaborator whose positive attitude and persistence contribute daily to the continued growth and improvement of our school. Thank you for all of your hard work!"
• Kenneth Murphy Elementary – Margie Wingender, Speech and Language Pathologist
• "Margie brings patience, encouragement, and emotional support to the students she serves, and the families that trust her services. Through her care and positivity, students build confidence because they know their efforts are recognized and celebrated. In addition to her work with students, staff, and parents, she has demonstrated a great deal of flexibility by providing services at two of the schools in our district. Her willingness to support our school community reflects her deep commitment to students and the success of our district as a whole."
• Newport Elementary – Diane Rose, Volunteer (Retired Library Teaching Assistant)
• "Diane Rose, our former Newport Library TA who retired in 2016, continues to be a valued member of the Newport Elementary School community. Since 2022, Diane has generously volunteered her time on Monday mornings. She provides essential support to staff by assisting with laminating, copying, and organizing materials. She is a Beach Park resident and is also an active member of the school's TIER 1 Committee, serving as the PBIS Community member. She further volunteers her time for PBIS after-school events. Even in retirement, the Newport staff greatly appreciates her consistent support, valuable words of wisdom, and the bright light she brings to the school community.
• Oak Crest Elementary – Laura Cappozzo, Speech and Language Teacher
• “Mrs. Cappozzo is a truly invaluable asset to our school. Her expertise extends far beyond speech and language; she offers insightful support across all areas of learning. Her deep knowledge of the MTSS and PST processes has been instrumental in our student success strategies. It is wonderful to see her students making such tangible progress and, most importantly, carrying those skills over into their classrooms and social lives."

This is an informal opportunity to sit down with superintendent Dr. Wilcox to engage in conversations about our schools and educating our young learners.

Join us at 4:30 p.m. on April 28, 2026 at the Starbucks on State Route 173.

April 28 - Superintendent Coffee Chat, 4:30 PM, Starbucks State Route 173

April 29 - Joint Area School Board Meeting, 6:00 PM, Zion Elementary School

May 4-8 - Staff Appreciation Week!

May 5 - School Improvement Day, 2-Hour Early Release

May 11 - Board of Education Meeting, 6:30 PM, BPMS

May 12 - Kindergarten Bilingual Program Parent Information Session, 10:00 AM, Howe School

May 25 - Memorial Day, No School

May 26 - 8th Grade Graduation, 6:00-7:30 PM, Genesee Theatre

May 29 - Last Day of School, School Improvement Day, 2-Hour Early Release

Full Calendar Online

2026-2027 Full Calendar