New Parent OrientationBeacon Charter High School for the Arts

2012-2013

Objectives for this orientation Meet the school’s administration and confirm the delineation of roles

Meet the parent’s organization Chairperson

Become acquainted with the school’s history as well as its current status

Learn about the school’s organizational structure

Learn about the school’s academics and testing

Have opportunities to ask questions and have concerns addressed (mainly student support issues)

AdministrationMichael Skeldon, Ed.D. – PrincipalOverall school leadership, strategic planning and vision, fiscal management, Department of Education and Board relations, employee oversight, lobbying and public voice and ultimate compliance responsibility. Has previously served as history, film, and capstone teacher as well as Academic Dean. Ninth year.

Tina Go – Admissions and Family EngagementOversee recruitment and admissions process, liaison with parents and outside agencies regarding student life (transportation, Federal lunch program, crisis management, neighborhood partnerships) and works in close conjunction with the Dean of Students and main office staff. Mrs. Go is a founder of the school.

Administration, cont.

Robin Murphy – Dean of StudentsCollege planning, scheduling, report cards, transcript analysis and generation, data reporting, student discipline. Tenth year at Beacon.

Carrie Appel – Academic DeanFaculty leadership and professional development, curriculum oversight, academic calendar development, testing administration, test data analysis, Capstone and portfolio implementation. Sixth year with the school.

Administration, cont.

Patricia Hawkridge, MFA – Artistic DirectorOversees the three artistic cohorts at Beacon, creates linkages between arts and academics for students, professional development for teachers, and workshops/classes for adults including parents; serves as curator, archivist and chief exhibitor. Fourth year on staff. Ninth year involved with Beacon.

Carolyn Taylor, M.Ed. – Director of Special Education

Special education compliance, state reporting, inclusion teacher assignments, coordinating with regular education teachers regarding accommodations and modifications, IEP renewal process, secondary transition and parent involvement through the Local Advisory Committee. Eighth year at the school.

Parent Engagement

Peter Boland – Chair of the Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA)

There are many ways parents can be involved in the school:

Join the PTSA Committee work: SIT, LAC, Board of Trustees

Attend the MegaSkills workshop series Volunteer at the school (traditional activities such as field trip and dance chaperones, spaghetti dinner type events, or running an after school club)

Attend the parent-teacher conferences, Arts Nights, plays, gallery nights, and film festival

A LITTLE SCHOOL HISTORY …Started in 2003 by the late Jack Lawhead to Bring Educational Alternatives to the Community through Occupational Nurturing.

Tenth charter school to open in Rhode Island in 2003

Closed by the state in spring 2005 Re-opened by the state Board of Regents in September 2005

Moved to 320 Main Street in 2006 Have grown from 114 students in 2005 to 225 students in 2012.

Have grown from 13 employees in 2005 to 35 employees in 2012

Became the first “district” in Northern RI to obtain a Regent’s approved PBGR diploma, 2008

US News and World Report “Best High Schools” list in 2008, 2009, and 2012

Current Status Just finished the seventh fiscal year in a row with a surplus from both an accrual and cash standpoint.

At capacity with regard to the student body and now utilize 100% of the facility.

Purchased this facility in 2011 Have a 100% highly qualified faculty Charter renewed in 2012 by the Board of Regents through 2018

Single greatest improvement in state testing results of any school at any level, 2007-2012

Received “Commended” status in 2012, the highest rating possible by the RI Department of Education

Organizational Structure

Governance – Board of Trustees with Johnson and Wales University Officials, parents, “non profit” and “for profit” company representatives and arts organization representatives

Administration, faculty and staff – very similar to a regular district or public school (certified, in state pension fund, pay prevailing wage but non-union)

School Improvement Team (SIT) – the most important “committee” of all. SIT action determines new policies, initiatives and programs and makes recommendations to the Board for adoption of those policies and programs

BEACONART.ORGPlease, become acquainted with …

www.beaconart.org&

www.facebook.com/beaconart

Primary tools for communication and distribution of resources needed to succeed at Beacon.

By the start of school the site will be updated with new information, handbooks and calendars for the 2012-2013 school year. The site contains information on curriculum, faculty and board biographies, colleges that have accepted our students, a calendar of events updated constantly, links to our Facebook, Digication, and PowerSchool resources.

Coursework34 courses needed to graduate …

8 Art 2 Capstone4 Math 2 Health/Physical Education4 English 2 Computers/Business4 Science 3 Additional Courses from:3 History/Humanities -English, History, Math,

Health, 2 Foreign Language Foreign Language, Art, or

ScienceThis program of study meets or exceeds state guidelines and has

the proper courses in the proper sequence to allow any student to attend any post-secondary institution. See beaconart.org for a complete list of postsecondary schools that have accepted Beacon graduates

All teachers have aligned their courses to the RI Grade Span Expectations and are in the process of aligning to the new Common Core Standards

All teachers provide a syllabus and use the same grading formula (percentages)

Assessments

NWEA, NECAP, and PARCC

Northwest Evaluation Associates (NWEA) – given 8 times over the course of four years to track the longitudinal growth of each student. Online test aligned with RI standards, externally scored and with instant feedback tied to a grade level. The tests are in reading comprehension, mathematics, and science.

Assessments, cont.

New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP)

Given once in the 11th grade year. Standardized test scored 1, 2, 3 or 4 with a 4 being highest. The test is in Math, Writing, Reading, and Science.

Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)

Beginning with the class of 2016, students will be taught using Common Core Standards and will be assessed with the PARCC test scheduled to be during the 2014-2015 school year.

Assessments, cont.

At Beacon there are two semesters with five courses each. Math and English are year-round courses for 9th and 10th graders, but all other courses are completed within the semester. Additionally, there is an advisory period and a Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) program in place.

Grades are issued on a quarterly basis. Grades are updated regularly on PowerSchool. Report cards are only mailed upon request to the guidance office.

Performance Based Graduation Requirements (PBGRs)Beacon uses the portfolio and capstone project to meet these requirements.

Our portfolio requirement is through a Digication website that is customized for Beacon. The link to the Beacon portal can be found at www.beaconart.org.

Even if it’s true that there is no homework that night (and it rarely is true) a student can always be working on their Digication site. Students present their portfolio at the end of each school year.

CapstoneOur senior project is done through a yearlong course in Film studies and filmmaking. Each student writes, produces, directs, shoots, edits and presents a short (10 to 15 minute) film. Some films are very literal and others are very metaphorical.

The storytelling vehicle (plot, characters, etc.) is the student’s choice, however, the process is very structured, 100% digital, relies on students’ understanding and adhering to deadlines and is high stakes and a true “learning stretch.”

We are extremely proud of this program and are continually amazed at the depth of the student’s work, the best of which is showcased at the Capstone Film Awards held each year the night before graduation.

Q and A

What needs to be clarified?

What other questions do you have?

Tina Go: Transportation, Application Issues, Lunches

Robin Murphy: Transcripts, Student Behavior, Guidance

Carolyn Taylor: Special Education Concerns

Carrie Appel: Academics

Michael Skeldon: Other Issues