Week of September 28th

PBiS Focus of the Week - Belonging:  This lynchpin character need is met by being prosocially connected to significant others; having a sense of emotional connection to individuals singly or in groups (clubs, teams, interest groups, family, supportive people).  Having emotionally healthy and secure bonds with others promotes feelings of positive self-worth, preparing youngsters to form these same nurturing attachments with decent, upright people in the future.
 
As Abraham Maslow (1953) pointed out in his "Hierarchy of Needs" model, after the physiological needs (e.g., minimal levels of food, water, temperature)are met, "Love and Belonging" needs are the next most important.  Humans have a primal need to feel valued, important, and protected by significant others in their lives... to feel comfortable and welcomed within a frequent and important group such as family, friends, colleagues, etc.  Of course, the family and one's close personal community are the most important influences on the original development of this area of self.

Activities on Belonging

Reminders:

• Please remember to have conversations early with parents/guardians if a student is not passing classes or are behind in credits. They should not be surprised by this when they get their progress report, or at Parent-Teacher conferences.
• If students are working in the hallway (with permission), they must have a hall pass, and must be checked on to make sure they're completing their work. If they are not completing work, they do not earn their points, and the student should be told if they continue to refrain from completing their work, it will be called as an elopement. 
• Check-In at the end of the day (High School)...What does this look like? This is not a time for students to have free time, but should be used as a time for an end of the day activity, a time to go over goals, play a game, or a check in to share highs and lows for the day. 
• Wednesday is Count Day
• It's Spirit Week!!

Monday, September 29th:

• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30
• PIRM for KB @ 10:15 (Masserant)
• Castle Out
• Pajama Day

Tuesday, September 30th:

• LT Wraparound Mtg @ 9:30 (Bruckner)
• PIRM for LW @ 1:15 (Robinson)
• Hat Day

Wednesday, October 1st: 

• DC Wraparound Mtg @ 9:30 (Courtney)
• Intake Review Mtg @ 11:00
• PIRM for JD @ 12:30 (Robinson)
• Castle @ BOE (1:00-3:00)
• Sports Team Day

Thursday, October 2nd:

• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30
• Castle @ BOE (12:00-3:00)
• Class Colors Day

Friday, October 3rd: 

• Castle @ BOE (1:00-3:00)
• Blue and Orange Day

Week of September 21st

 

PBiS Focus of the Week - Belonging:  This lynchpin character need is met by being prosocially connected to significant others; having a sense of emotional connection to individuals singly or in groups (clubs, teams, interest groups, family, supportive people).  Having emotionally healthy and secure bonds with others promotes feelings of positive self-worth, preparing youngsters to form these same nurturing attachments with decent, upright people in the future.
 
As Abraham Maslow (1953) pointed out in his "Hierarchy of Needs" model, after the physiological needs (e.g., minimal levels of food, water, temperature)are met, "Love and Belonging" needs are the next most important.  Humans have a primal need to feel valued, important, and protected by significant others in their lives... to feel comfortable and welcomed within a frequent and important group such as family, friends, colleagues, etc.  Of course, the family and one's close personal community are the most important influences on the original development of this area of self.

Activities on Belonging

Reminders: 

• All completed documents (IEP's, RPR's, Student and Staff incident reports, etc...) should be given directly to Amy DeLorge. She will make any copies necessary, and distribute them to the correct district departments.
• Early release schedules have been updated here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1topmPqaXHa6Dl5K8ic1xJX5kK4xBDuWw/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117113236382832000289&rtpof=true&sd=true
• Dip Day during Early Release tomorrow. Don't forget to sign up and join in the fun! 

Tip of the Week: Positive Reinforcement Scripts

Monday, September 22nd:

• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30
• PIRM @ 9:15 (Williams)
• PIRM @ 10:15 (Williams)
• MDR @ 12:00 (Williams)
• Fire Drill in PM

Tuesday, September 23rd: 

• Early Release and Staff Meeting: Medication Training and Para Bootcamp Modules

Wednesday, September 24th: 

• Student Mtg @ 9:00 (Bruckner)
• Wraparound Mtg @ 11:20 (Hiser)
• Intake Review Mtg @ 11:00
• Castle to Project SEARCH in PM

Thursday, September 25th: 

• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30
• SSW Mtg @ 9:15
• Intake Mtg @ 9:30 (Zakerski)
• IEP @ 11:00 (Masserant)

Friday, September 26th: 

• Parent Mtg @ 10:00 (Zakerski)
• Mock Interviews in Hamilton's @ 1:00
• Castle out today

Week of September 14th

                                                     

PBiS Focus of the Week: Circle of Courage/Entire Matrix

We will be focusing on merging PBiS and Trauma-Informed Practices, as they go hand-in-hand. Here is a resource from STARR, giving a more in-depth look at The Circle of Courage:STARR Circle of Courage

PBiS Kickoff:

Kickoff Event: Kahoot

High School: Thursday 9/18- Cafeteria during group time

Middle School: Thursday 9/18- Cafeteria during 6th hour

Elementary: 

Reminders: 

• Paraprofessionals, please do not forger to review and sign off on the Paraprofessional Orientation Packet by September 15th. You should have received an email from Nicole Chubb regarding this. If you did not, please let me know. 
• Paraprofessionals will have time to complete Para Bootcamp Training modules during the early release times on 9/23, 10/7 and 10/21. We will also have medication training on 9/23, so para's can complete some of modules after that. Time before the students arrive and after the students leave, can also be used to complete some of these modules. 
• LPEA, please remember to sign off on the Special Education Handbook (we reviewed this on opening day) by September 15th. You should have received an email from Nicole Chubb regarding this. If you did not, please let me know.
• Please remember to check out the Shared Drive for information regarding anything Beacon: All Things Beacon
• Behavior staff should not be assigned to particular students, but can be considered a preferred person for calls. 
• Teachers, please be sure you are using Planbook and entering grades in a timely fashion.

• Remember, Beacon Hoodie orders are due September 19th. Please use this link to purchase a hoodie: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dodUMgSYNIrS0ZNw0QUwnNbmAfhFMM5J_IG2TpB1MF0/edit?gid=0#gid=0

• Tip of the week:Social Skills and Peer Interactions Scripts

Monday, September 15th

• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30
• PIRM for Angel (Wusthoff) @ 9:15
• Fire Drill in AM

Tuesday, September 16th

• Staff Meeting Cancelled

Wednesday, September 17th

• Ethan 3-Year (Lucidi) @ 8:15
• Intake Meeting @ 11:00 

Thursday, September 18th

• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30
• Castle to Coordinating Council @ RESA in AM - will join 10:00 REED virtually
• PBiS Coaches Meeting @ 9:15
• REED for Husky-Moran (Hiser) @ 10:00
• PBiS kickoff Day

Friday, September 19th

• Nothing scheduled at this time

Week of September 7th

 

PBiS Focus of the Week: Circle of Courage

We will be focusing on merging PBiS and Trauma-Informed Practices, as they go hand-in-hand. Here is a resource from STARR, giving a more in-depth look at The Circle of Courage:STARR Circle of Courage

Reminders: 

• Paraprofessionals, please do not forger to review and sign off on the Paraprofessional Orientation Packet by September 15th. You should have received an email from Nicole Chubb regarding this. If you did not, please let me know. 
• LPEA, please remember to sign off on the Special Education Handbook (we reviewed this on opening day) by September 15th. You should have received an email from Nicole Chubb regarding this. If you did not, please let me know.
• Please remember to check out the Shared Drive for information regarding anything Beacon: All Things Beacon

Monday, September 8th: 

• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30

Tuesday, September 9th: 

• Staff Meeting at 3:10 in Cafeteria - STARR Coaching Partners will meet for the first 15 minutes

Wednesday, September 10th:

• Intake Review Meeting @ 11:00 (Rea, Park, Castle)
• C. Young REED Meeting @ 12:10 (Rea. Chmara, Castle, Tepman, Zakerski)

Thursday, September 11th:

• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30
• C. Tran REED Meeting @ 8:45 (Rea, Chmara, Boardman, Astfalk, Petersen, Castle)
• Castle to Project SEARCH @ 11:00

Friday, September 12th: 

• It's Fri-Yay, Do something fun!!!

Welcome Back

 

Welcome back! We are excited for the 2025-26 school year, and all of the adventures that await! I hope each of you had a joyful, restful summer filled with moments that recharged your energy and inspired your spirit. As we begin the 25-26 school year, I ant to express my gratitude for the dedication, passion, and commitment you bring to the students each day. 

This year we will focus on the elements of the Circle of Courage, and merging this with PBiS, as they are the same philosophy.  We will focus on creating an environment where all of our students have a sense of community in our school, and creating an environment where every student feels valued, supported, and challenged to reach their full potential. Our collective effort makes a lasting impact, and I am confident that this year will be filled with meaningful learning, personal growth, and countless successes. 

A few important reminders as we start the year: 

• Professional Development/First Day
• All LP Staff Welcome Back Meeting: Lincoln Park High School, at 8:00, in Auditorium
• 8:45-11:00: Professional Development in Beacon Cafeteria. Topics include The new Beacon PBiS and Trauma-Informed Framework, LP Document Central, New Schedule, and Shared Drive, Later Gator, Pancakes with the Principal, and Bus Bucks ( 9/2/25 Beacon PD Agenda)
• 11:00-12:00: LUNCH
• 12:00-3:00: Collaboration Time/Classroom Work
• First Day for Students: Wednesday, September 3rd - 1/2 Day
• Please see the Bussing and Breakfast Schedule
• Student Schedule: New Schedule for 25-26
• Half Day Schedule: Same as last year
• First Full Day for Students: Friday, September 5th
• Lunch Schedule for Para's - Para's will need to be present for Activity, therefore, they will be assigned lunch times as follows: Para and Behavior Staff Lunch Schedule 25/26
• Please note on student schedule, there are 5 special for MS, and all teachers have prep at the same time. Students in MS will check out, and dismiss from their 6th period special class. In addition to the 3 typical specials, Vanessa will be teaching MS Spanish, and Beth will be teaching STEM. Wusthoff's students will go to Ziesmer's for checkout, and Hamilton's will go to Morris'. 
• Spirit Week Districtwide: September 29-October 3
  

Other Important Information: 

• 2025/26 Building Meeting Schedule - topics are tentative and may change
• Safety Protocols At-A-Glance
• All Things Beacon Shared Drive - Will officially be shared on 1st day, after PD in the morning
• PBiS Teaching Matrix
• Paraprofessional Packet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tkByY2yzmKfME5fHhROFw9lJAnbuKmdf/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117113236382832000289&rtpof=true&sd=true
• We will be implementing triennial evaluations for tenured teachers that have been rated Highly effective or effective for the 3 previous years.   We will spread the teachers out over a 3 year period to even out the administrator work load from year to year.   Eligible teachers will be broken into 3 groups based on the first letter of their email address.   The evaluation schedule will be as follows:

A-G evaluated in 2025/26 school year

H-M evaluated in 2026/27 school year

N-z evaluated in 2027/28 school year

Week of June 8th

  

Letter from the (Acting) Principal

Dear Beacon Staff,

As we close out another school year, I want to take a moment to extend my deepest gratitude to each of you for your unwavering dedication, compassion, and resilience.

Working in a school that supports students with emotional impairments is both a profound responsibility and a tremendous privilege. Every day, you bring patience, empathy, and creativity to your classrooms and spaces. You don’t just teach—you nurture, support, and advocate. And in doing so, you help our students discover their strengths, find their voices, and believe in their potential.

This year has brought its share of challenges, but you met each one with grace and determination. Whether celebrating a student’s breakthrough moment, managing tough days with calm and care, or collaborating as a team to find new solutions, your efforts have made a lasting difference.

As we head into summer, I hope each of you takes time to rest, recharge, and reflect on the impact you've had—not just in academic progress, but in the lives and hearts of our students.

Thank you for everything you do. I am incredibly proud to lead this remarkable team, and I look forward to continuing our important work together in the new school year.

With appreciation and admiration,

Robyn Castle

Head's Up

Starting in the fall, we should all be fully transitioned to LP curriculum. The curriculum is all on the Teacher Links of the webpage, and there are pacing guides with each grade level/content area that should be followed...there will obviously be some differentiating going on, but it should generally be the same content. Additionally, teachers will be expected to use PlanBook, as it is required for all teachers in Lincoln Park. 

End of Year Checklist

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bpNDF5W4nIHuEyKuI9gBIiyqCrdYc38ENEIemTYGkb8/edit?usp=sharing

June 9th:

• 1/2 Day

June 10th:

• 1/2 Day

June 11th:

• 1/2 Day
• Staff outing in PM at Pete's Place - if para's choose to go, I will clock you out. If you do not go, you will need to stay at the building and work until 3:30. I will stop in to see who decided to go, so I know to clock you out. 

Week of June 1st

 

LPEA: Please be sure to upload your student data summary into the student growth section of Standards for Success. I understand some Middle School and High School teachers will use NWEA, while others will use pre/post assessments, so some won't be able to be uploaded until closer to the last day of school. Once this is uploaded, please send an email to your evaluator stating it's been completed. 

Head's Up

Starting in the fall, we should all be fully transitioned to LP curriculum. The curriculum is all on the Teacher Links of the webpage, and there are pacing guides with each grade level/content area that should be followed...there will obviously be some differentiating going on, but it should generally be the same content. Additionally, teachers will be expected to use PlanBook, as it is required for all teachers in Lincoln Park. 

End of Year Checklist

On Tuesday, we will share the end of year checklist at the staff meeting.

June 2nd:

• Robinson: Exit IEP @ 9:00
• BurksL Wraparound @ 9:00
• Courtney: Eval at Board Office 1:00-4:00

June 3rd:

• Courtney: IEP @ 8:15
• Stacey, Robyn, Derek and Amy at Board Office, 8:45-12:00
• Robinson: IEP @ 12:00
• Staff Meeting @ 3:00

June 4th:

• Beacon Zoo Trip
• Casrle: Project SEARCH Graduation, 9:30-1:30

June 5th:

• Zakerski: Wraparound Meeting @ 8:45-10:15
• Social Work Meeting @ 9:00
• Hiser: ELA Meeting @ 12:30
• Ziesmer: IEP @ 1:00

June 6th:

• No Meetings scheduled