KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION & SCREENING for the 2010-2011 school year will be held on:

Tuesday & Wednesday, April 20^th & 21^st, 2010  from 8:40 am. – 2:40 p.m. at BEACON HIGH SCHOOL.

Starting March 1^st, parents can pick up a registration packet at Central Administration Office, 10 Education Drive, Beacon and schedule a screening appointment .(You may also schedule an appointment by calling:  Mrs. Dawn Butler at 838-6900 x2025 ) 

Please note:  To register a child in the district the entire registration packet and ALL necessary paperwork must be complete.

Students who are presently enrolled in the district’s Pre-K program need not be screened or re-registered.

However, parents of our current Pre-K students MUST update their demographic information at their school if they will be attending Kindergarten in our district in the 2010-2011 school year. Demographic update/confirmation forms will be sent home with your child(ren) before April 20th. If an update includes a change of address, parents must present 2 proofs of residency to the District Registrar, Gail Morgan, as soon as possible.

If you have any questions re: Kindergarten Registration, please feel free to call Marianne Policella : 838-6900 x 2010 or Gail Morgan : 838-6900 x 2002

1. Winter newsletter should be arriving soon through US mail

2. IBM Engineers Week ( February 14-20). Events will be scheduled in all buildings to encourage  engineering, science and math  activities with our students

3. Tuesday, February 16 there will be a Finance Committee Meeting at 7:00 pm in the District Office –Technology presentation

4. Monday, March 1st there will be a Finance Committee Meeting at 7:00 pm in the District Office – Special Ed & Transportation

5. Reminder: please make sure you update contact information for your child through the individual schools they attend. That will ensure correct notification of building events, snow closings & delays and other pertinent notifications.

6. SAVE The DATE – Parent University Thursday, March 4th, 6-9p.m.BHS For Parents/guardians of all children who currently attend any Beacon School . 

Workshops for parents:

o High School : College Prep: what parents need to know regarding financial resources, scholarships, and the application process

o Middle School : Positive Behavior equals Student Success

o Upper Elementary: Grades 3 – 5 ELA/Math Expectations and State Assessments

o PreK – Grade 2 : Learn through Play

o BTA Book Swap:  Bring a Book / Get a Book / Bring canned goods. They will be donated to the local food bank.

• Links to all District Plans and the updated District Safety Plans are now online. Find links in the left column on the District’s Home Page. Within the next few weeks additional plans will be available.

• Ms. Cara Conrad has been appointed as the Interim Principal at South Avenue effective February 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010.

• There will be NO Summer School this year for grades 7-12. Please contact the middle school /high school guidance office or principal’s office for more information.

• Save the Date – Upcoming Parent University Program will take place on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at Beacon High School.

Workshops for parents:

o High School : College Prep: what parents need to know regarding financial resources, scholarships, and the application process

o Middle School : Positive Behavior equals Student Success

o Upper Elementary: Grades 3 – 5 ELA/Math Expectations and State Assessments

o PreK – Grade 2 : Learn through Play

o BTA Book Swap:  Bring a Book / Get a Book / Bring canned goods. They will be donated to the local food bank.

 • The District’s Winter Newsletter will be mailed out the first week of   February. It will also be posted on the District webpage.

Tony DiMarco has been appointed the interim principal of Beacon High School from January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010.

Pete Seeger was honored by the Beacon City School District Monday night, December 14th, during the 7pm public session of its Board of Education meeting at the Beacon High School, for his work with the children of the District throughout the years.

The District had asked the legendary folk artist, activist, and environmentalist to come and open the meeting with a few songs with the same Beacon Elementary and Middle School students who sang with him at the Grand Opening celebration of the ‘Walkway Over The Hudson’ back on October 3rd. After a rousing rendition of ‘This Land Is Your Land’ accompanied by about 25 students from all four of Beacon’s elementary schools, Superintendent Dr. Fern Aefsky surprised Seeger with a picture book of images from the Walkway event, signed by all of the students who participated.

Dr. Aefsky also announced that Seeger and his wife Toshi have made a donation in the amount of $20,000 to secure the continuation of the District’s third-grade Calico Ball program, which provides students with a connection to world music and dance through a collaboration with Vanaver Caravan. This year’s program was a 20-year milestone, becoming the longest running collaboration between a school and an arts institution in the Hudson Valley. The program was in danger of being cut due to tight budget constraints next year.

The donation is a portion of ‘The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize’, one of the largest awards in the arts, presented to Pete Seeger in September by the late silent screen stars’ foundation, ‘…as one of the most influential musical and social voices of the 20th century, utilizing his talents not only to entertain but also to unite people and support causes.’

Seeger hopes this donation will help fund the Calico Ball program in 2010 and beyond, and challenges others to help keep this important program alive. “I feel more optimistic now about the human race than ever before”, said Seeger to the audience. Seeger also said he expects his grandson to make a film about this Spring’s Calico Ball that he hopes “will be shown in other countries around the world, and people will say ‘if this little town of Beacon can come together in music and dance, then why can’t we?’”

“What a gift it is to have a man of such enormous talent, caring heart, and selfless nature sharing our community, and working with our children” said Dr. Aefsky. “Pete Seeger truly cares about his community, and most especially the young people, and we sincerely thank him, and his extended family of musicians, for all they do for our District.”

Joining Seeger were fellow musicians Dan Einbender, Roland Mousaa, and Bill and Livia Vanaver, and all in attendance enjoyed a cake reception following the presentation.

Dear School Community,

As stated in the first letter that was sent home in September, there is focused attention by all of us on both the seasonal flu and the HINI (Swine) flu. This letter is an update of the district’s actions and requested parent/guardian support of maintaining a healthy school environment for all students and adults.

As a reminder, the guide below lists some of the things you as parents/guardians along with the district need to do to help:

Actions the district is taking:

• Separating sick children from others in school until they can be picked up

 • Contacting parent/guardian to pick up sick child

• Having “hand washing” time outs throughout day

 • *Reminding students and staff to wash hands often and correctly

 • *Requesting updated phone contacts from all parents/guardians

 • Keeping soap and paper towel dispensers full

 • Cleaning classrooms and buildings as per health department guidelines

 • Offering hand sanitizers in all classrooms and shared spaces

 • Posting signs that are reminders for frequent and correct hand washing

 • Working collaboratively with Dutchess County Health department

Responsibilities of students and their families:

• Keep your child home when sick

• Students need to be “fever free” (less than 100 degrees) for at least 24 hours prior to returning to school without any fever reducing medication (i.e., Tylenol or Ibuprofen)

 • Consult with you own physician regarding need to have your child seen by a doctor

• Children should wash hands frequently and correctly with soap and water

 • Teach your child to cough or sneeze into the bend of their elbow

 • Make sure the school has correct phone numbers, including home, work and or cell numbers for parents/guardians, and an emergency contact number.

It is very important that if a child is sick and needs to be picked up from school, arrangements are made as quickly as possible for a responsible adult (parent/guardian/other adult) to bring the child home. Please make sure that your child(ren)’s school nurse has updated contact information (new phone numbers).

We recognize the fact that there may be many cases that are not confirmed, as not all doctors run the test. However, all doctors treat the children and adults with flu symptoms as if a test confirmed the diagnosis. The health department asked us to remind those considered “at risk” (pregnant women, children with autoimmune diseases”, children aged 6 months –young adults up to age 24) to check with personal health care providers regarding immunizations and other needed safety precautions.

The following links will give you additional information:

• Dutchess County – www.dutchessny.gov

 • Center for Disease Control and Prevention – http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu

 • New York State Department of Health – http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/influenza/seasonal/swine_flu/index.htm

There are more cases in New York and Dutchess County being identified. Vaccines have become available recently, and you are encouraged to discuss any concerns you have with your own physicians.

We will keep you informed as we are notified of additional information. Thank you for your continued cooperation.

Sincerely,

Dr. Fern Aefsky, Superintendent of School

Dear School Community,

There is no time more exciting than the beginning of the school year, as staff, students, and parents get ready each September. During the summer, a lot of work was completed in preparation for our students, including facility renovation, summer school, curriculum development and enhancements, and professional development workshops for our teachers and administrators.

Our commitment continues to focus on increasing all stakeholders’ involvement in school and district activities, enhancing community partnerships that provide resources to our staff, students and families, and improving student achievement and graduation rates so that our students reach goals and have successful school experiences.

I look forward to a successful school year for all!

Dr. Fern Aefsky

Superintendent of Schools