NEW PARENT ORIENTATION
Beacon 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)
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ADMINISTRATION
Michael Skeldon, Ed.D. – Principal
Overall 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 Engagement
Oversee 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 Students
College planning, scheduling, report cards, transcript
analysis and generation, data reporting, student
discipline. Tenth year at Beacon.
Carrie Appel – Academic Dean
Faculty 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 Director
Oversees 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-TeacherStudent 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.
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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
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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.ORG
Please, 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.
COURSEWORK
34 courses needed to graduate …
8 Art
4 Math
4 English
4 Science
3 History/Humanities
2 Foreign Language
2 Capstone
2 Health/Physical Education
2 Computers/Business
3 Additional Courses from:
-English, History, Math, Health,
Foreign Language, Art, or
Science
This program of study meets or exceeds state guidelines and has the proper
courses in the proper sequence to allow any student to attend any postsecondary 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.
CAPSTONE
Our 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