Week of December 14th

 

We've made it folks! We are at the last week before winter break! We would like to thank all of you for your endless dedication, patience, and creativity this semester — your hard work has made a real difference for our students every single day. Wishing you a restful, joyful, and well-deserved winter break filled with peace and time to recharge. 

                                                                

PBiS Focus of the Month - Activities/Generosity. Generosity: The need to have a sense of purpose by giving back to others. This final and preeminent value of the Circle proves a young person's worth by their ability to help and make a positive impact on another's life.

Activities to Teach Generosity

Activities Matrix Lessons

Upcoming PBiS Events:

Spirit Days:

Monday: PJ Day

Tuesday: Plaid/Flannel Day

Wednesday: Winter Wonderland, White and Blue Day

Thursday: Grinch (Green) vs. Santa (Red) Day

Friday: Festive Holiday Apparel Day

Gingerbread Contest: Week of December 15th. We will have the gingerbread house contest this week. The top groups from the previous week with the highest behavior percentages will get an extra prop, please let the students know about this. 

LP Email Protocol Reminder: 

To streamline the email process, and to be mindful of everyone's time, please use the Lincoln Park Email protocol in the subject line of emails: 

RR-Response Required

NRN-No Response Necessary

***RR Emails are to be responded to within 48 "school hours"

Week at a Glance: 

Monday, December 15th: 

• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30
• Taylor HS Tour @ 8:30 (Alderman)
• IEP @ 9:15 (Wusthoff)
• Castle @ D7 for Observation @ 1:00

Tuesday, December 16th: 

• Castle and Doctor to BOE @ 9:00-11:30
• WAM @ 10:30 (Bruckner)
• WAM @ 12:00 (Deeter)
• Partial Day Transition @ 12:45 (Hiser)

Wednesday, December 17th: 

• Castle to Project SEARCH
• Intake Review Mtg @ 11:00
• IEP @ 1:00 (Bruckner)

Thursday, December 18th:

• Castle, Doctor, Pete, Doherty, Reece, and Angel to RESA @ 8:00-12:30ish
• SSW Mtg @ 9:15
• IEP @ 9:30 (Bruckner)

Friday, December 19th: 

• Castle to Mixter in AM

Week of December 7th

                                                      

PBiS Focus of the Month - Activities/Generosity. Generosity: The need to have a sense of purpose by giving back to others. This final and preeminent value of the Circle proves a young person's worth by their ability to help and make a positive impact on another's life.

Activities to Teach Generosity

Activities Matrix Lessons

Upcoming PBiS Events:

Holiday Store: Week of December 8th. Please remind students about the store and earning beacon bucks. We will have the higher steps shop first.

Gingerbread Contest: Week of December 15th. We will have the gingerbread house contest this week. The top groups from the previous week with the highest behavior percentages will get an extra prop, please let the students know about this. 

 

Early Release Potluck: December 9th (this Tuesday) is our next Early Release potluck...the theme is HolidayFavorite Bar. Please sign up here: Potluck Sign-Up

Example of what to document in LRE Box on IEP (These should be individualized to each student's needs, and not copy and pasted): 

Student E is a 7th-grade student with an Emotional Impairment who is currently placed in a separate EI facility/therapeutic day program due to severe and persistent behavioral and emotional needs that could not be safely supported in the district. He receives daily behavioral support, individual social work counseling twice per week, and small-group socio-emotional instruction in addition to his core academics. Academically, Student E demonstrates average cognitive ability and is capable of grade-level work when regulated, but he participates inconsistently due to emotional dysregulation, completing approximately 40–50% of assigned tasks. He exhibits frequent flight behaviors, verbal aggression toward peers and adults, property destruction, and episodes of physical aggression during escalation. He has a history of trauma, difficulty trusting adults, and rapid escalation in response to perceived criticism or unpredictability. Socially, he avoids peer connections, often isolating himself during group activities, and struggles significantly with conflict resolution and coping skills. Functionally, Student E requires a highly structured setting with minimal transitions, predictable routines, sensory-based regulation tools, and immediate access to therapeutic support. Staff must consider what progress monitoring data, safety indicators, skill acquisition benchmarks, and environmental supports would be required before Student E could begin transitioning to a less restrictive environment, including partial-day reintegration or supported participation in general education settings.

Week at a Glance:

Monday, December 8th:

• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30
• Mtg with Southgate @ 9:00 (Masserant)
• PIRM @ 9:15 (Wusthoff)
• PIRM @ 10:15 (Petersen)
• Parent Mg @ 12:00 (Ziesmer)

Tuesday, December 9th:

• PIRM @ 9:15 (Zakerski)
• PIRM @ 1:15 (Middle School Teachers)
• Early Release/Staff Mtg

Wednesday, December 10th:

• WAM @ 9:00 (Bruckner)
• Behavior Review @ 9:30 (Hill)
• WAM @ 10:30 (Bruckner)
• Intake Review Mtg @ 11:00
• Castle to Project SEARCH
• PIRM @ 12:30 (Deeter)

Thursday, December 11th:

• PBiS Coaches Mtg @ 9:15 (Deeter)
• Castle @ BOE 12:00-3:00

Friday, December 12th:

• District PBiS Mtg @ 8:30 (Deeter)

Week of November 30th

                                                             

PBiS Focus of the Month - Activities/Generosity. Generosity: The need to have a sense of purpose by giving back to others. This final and preeminent value of the Circle proves a young person's worth by their ability to help and make a positive impact on another's life.

Activities to Teach Generosity

Activities Matrix Lessons

 

Early Release Potluck: December 9th is our next Early Release potluck...the theme is HolidayFavorite Bar. Please sign up here: Potluck Sign-Up

State Assessment Updates (From RESA): 

• The WIN Work Readiness Assessment is being implemented in Michigan as part of the Michigan Merit Exam (MME) starting in spring 2026.
•  Allowable accommodations
• Capturing WIN Accommodations (MiStar)
• Standard tools

Week at a Glance: 

Monday, December 1st: 

• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30
• IEP @ 9:00 (Petersen)

Tuesday, December 2nd: 

• Castle and Doctor to RAILS (8:45-11:30)
• PIRM @ 9:00 (Morris)
• Staff Meeting @ 3:00 in Cafeteria

Wednesday, December 3rd: 

• Masserant and Boardman to T. Wall  - All Day
• Intake Review Mtg @ 11:00
• WAM @ 1:00 (Zakerski)
• LPHS Discussion Mtg @ 1:30 (Wusthoff)
• WAM @ 2:00 (Bruckner)

Thursday, December 4th: 

• SSW Mtg @ 9:15
• LEA Mtg @ 10:00 (Alderman)
• WAM @ 1:30 (Wusthoff)
• Castle to BOE (1:10-3:30)

Friday, December 5th: 

• Middle School Tacos with the Principal @ 11:15
• High School Tacos with the Principal @ 11:55
• PIRM @ 2:00 (Hill)

Week of November 16th

 

PBiS Focus of the Week - Activities/Generosity. Generosity: The need to have a sense of purpose by giving back to others. This final and preeminent value of the Circle proves a young person's worth by their ability to help and make a positive impact on another's life.

Activities to Teach Generosity

Activities Matrix Lessons

Reducing Elopements: In an effort to reduce elopements, behavior staff will be coming into the classrooms to intermittently reward students with a Beacon Buck if they have not eloped from the classroom. This will be done discretely, as to not upset students who have not earned the reward. Yellow calls currently make up 80% of our total behavior calls, and a majority of these yellow calls are for elopements. We would like to see more green calls too! Those only make up 7.3% of our behavior calls. 

Early Release Potluck: November 18th is our next Early Release potluck...the theme is Thanksgiving sides. Please sign up here: Potluck Sign-Up

Parent-Teacher Conferences: Please be sure to fill out this Conference Schedule. Conferences will run from 12:30-3:00, and 5:00-8:00, with lunch being from 12:00-12:30. 

Thanksgiving Feast: The Thanksgiving Feast is tentatively planned for November 24th. Here is the list for the sign-up sheet for staff: Thanksgiving Feast Sign-up Sheet

Vito’s: 

Week at a Glance:

Monday, November 17th:

• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30
• Parent Mtg @ 8:30 (Castle, Lebron)
• WAM @ 9:30 (Courtney)
• PIRM @ 11:00 (Lucidi)

Tuesday, November 18th:

• Castle and Doctor to BOE @ 9-11:30
• Belleville HS Tour @ 9:45 (Alderman)
• WAM @ 12:00 (Deeter)
• IEP @ 12:30 (Hill)
• PIRM @ 1:15 (Petersen)
• Early Release and Vector Training

Wednesday, November 19th: 

• WAM @ 9:15
• Intake Review Mtg @ 11:00
• EIP @ 12:00 (Robinson)

Thursday, November 20th:

• Doctor to RESA @ 9:00
• SSW Mtg @ 9:15
• IEP @ 1:30 (Hiser)

Friday, November 21st: 

• Castle to Project SEARCH (9:00-3:00)
• EIP @ 9:00 (Deeter)

Week of November 9th

PBiS Focus of the Week - Activities/Generosity. Generosity: The need to have a sense of purpose by giving back to others. This final and preeminent value of the Circle proves a young person's worth by their ability to help and make a positive impact on another's life.

Activities to Teach Generosity

Activities Matrix Lessons

Reducing Elopements: In an effort to reduce elopements, behavior staff will be coming into the classrooms to intermittently reward students with a Beacon Buck if they have not eloped from the classroom. This will be done discretely, as to not upset students who have not earned the reward. Yellow calls currently make up 80% of our total behavior calls, and a majority of these yellow calls are for elopements. We would like to see more green calls too! Those only make up 7.3% of our behavior calls. 

Early Release Potluck: November 18th is our next Early Release potluck...the theme is Thanksgiving sides. Please sign up here: Potluck Sign-Up

Thanksgiving Feast: The Thanksgiving Feast is tentatively planned for November 24th. Here is the list for the sign-up sheet for staff: Thanksgiving Feast Sign-up Sheet

Vito’s: 

Week at a Glance

Monday, November 10th:

• Castle to LPHS and BOE in AM
• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30
• PIRM @ 1:45 (Burks)

Tuesday, November 11th:

• Leah, Cagle and Castle to LPHS visit with DMV @ 8:40
• MET/IEP @ 9:30 (Zakerski)
• Early Release, and then time to complete Vector Trainings

Wednesday, November 12th:

• Parent Meeting (Lebron and Castle)
• Intake Review Meeting @ 11:00
• Castle to BOE for PM
• Lebron Pre-Transition Staffing @ 9:15
• Kendall Pre-Transition Staffing @ 10:00
• Symons Pre-Transition Staffing @ 10:45
• Cole Pre-Transition Staffing @ 1:00

Thursday, November 13th:

• PBiS Coaches Meeting @ 9:30 (Deeter)
• Boardman Pre-Transition Staffing @ 8:30
• Castle to Project SEARCH 
• IEP @ 9:30 (Masserant)
• Uhse Pre-Transition Staffing @ 10:15
• Carrillo Pre-Transition Staffing @ 11:00
• Tepman Pre-Transition Staffing @ 1:00

Friday, November 14th:

• WAM @ 9:00 (Morris)

Week of November 2nd

 

PBiS Focus of the Week - Activities/Generosity. Generosity: The need to have a sense of purpose by giving back to others. This final and preeminent value of the Circle proves a young person's worth by their ability to help and make a positive impact on another's life.

Activities to Teach Generosity

Activities Matrix Lessons

Reducing Elopements: In an effort to reduce elopements, behavior staff will be coming into the classrooms to intermittently reward students with a Beacon Buck if they have not eloped from the classroom. This will be done discretely, as to not upset students who have not earned the reward. Yellow calls currently make up 80% of our total behavior calls, and a majority of these yellow calls are for elopements. We would like to see more green calls too! Those only make up 7.3% of our behavior calls. 

***IMPORTANT***

Since SNAP benefits are on hold for right now, many of our families may need help with food. We need donations for our food pantry at Beacon, and would really appreciate any help you can provide with this. 

Below is a list of local resources for food: 

Downriver region food pantries and banks: 

• The Downriver Community Food Pantry: Located at 140 Superior Blvd, Wyandotte, MI 48192.
• Gleaners Community Food Bank: Has a South Campus Distribution Center in Taylor.
• Fish & Loaves: A food pantry serving the community.
• Catholic Social Services food pantry: Provides food assistance.
• Salvation Army: Offers food pantries and other resources.
• Local churches: Many churches, such as St John African Methodist Episcopal Church, have food banks or pantries. 

Other resources

• Feeding America: Provides a tool to find local food banks and programs.
• FoodFinder: An online tool to locate nearby food pantries.
• Food Bank of Michigan: Connects people with local food banks. 

Thanksgiving Feast: The Thanksgiving Feast is tentatively planned for November 24th. Here is the list for the sign-up sheet for staff: Thanksgiving Feast Sign-up Sheet

Pancakes with the Principal: This Friday, November 7th, I will hold Pancakes with the Principal for all students in Middle School and High School who are passing all of their classes. This will be held during each groups Activity time, in Room 207. 

Week at a Glance: 

Monday, November 3rd: 

• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30
• Behavior Review @ 9:30 (Hill)

Tuesday, November 4th:

• Districtwide PD - Full Day (Everyone will use Red Rover to log in and out of PD)
• All Beacon Ancillary Staff, Principals, and Teachers 
• FBA and Tier 1 Training in the Cafeteria (8:00-10:00)
• Team Time (If Time permits, 10:00-11:00)
• Internet Safety Training @ Board of Ed PD Center, Rooms A, B, and C (12:00-3:00)
• Petersen, Deeter, and Criger - Guided Reading and Okapi Training @ Beacon (12:00-3:00)
• All Para (Full Day)
• Paraprofessional Bootcamp - Bring Chromebooks (LPMS Cafeteria, 308,309)

Wednesday, November 5th:

• Intake Mtg @ 11:00
• Alderman IEP @ 1:00

Thursday, November 6th:

• Social Work Mtg @ 9:15
• Lockdown Drill Today

Friday, November 7th: 

• IEP @ 8:30 (Zakerski)
• Middle School Pancakes with the Principal (11:15) - Please send para's to help
• High School Pancakes with the Principal (11:55) - Please send para's to help

Week of October 26th

 

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.

This weeks focus is on belonging, and how it relates to technology. 

Belonging Activities

Important Medicaid updates!!

Personal Care Aides/Paraprofessionals

https://secure.smore.com/n/jcm0e

Direct Service Staff

https://secure.smore.com/n/2su7qx

Case Managers

https://secure.smore.com/n/k4rvbd

Nurse's Edition

https://secure.smore.com/n/v2fhs

RESA Educational Resources Podcast - This Podcast will delve into all of the resources RESA can provide. 

Resources from MDE and RESA: 

• School Mental Health Programs
• School-Based Behavioral Health Newsletter here.
• The 988 lifeline is available 24/7/365
• Please access Growth Works: Family Services for At Risk Youth here
• Free training to prevent school violence
• National Threat Evaluation and Reporting Program Office
• More information is available here
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Free social work tools and resources

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Thanksgiving Feast: The Thanksgiving Feast is tentatively planned for November 24th. Here is the list for the sign-up sheet for staff: Thanksgiving Feast Sign-up Sheet

***IMPORTANT***

Since SNAP benefits are on hold for right now, many of our families may need help with food. We need donations for our food pantry at Beacon, and would really appreciate any help you can provide with this. 

Grade book and Planbook: Please be sure your Planbook and grade book are up to date. Additionally, if students are missing assignments or failing, caseload teachers should continue to send Friday emails. 

Attendance: Please be sure to complete your attendance every hour

Pancakes with the Principal: Next Friday, November 7th, I will hold Pancakes with the Principal for all students in Middle School and High School who are passing all of their classes. This will be held during each groups Activity time, in Room 207. 

Monday, October 27th:

• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30
• IEP @ 9:00 (Alderman)
• PIRM @ 9:15 (Bruckner)
• PIRM @ 10:15 (Burks)

Tuesday, October 28th:

• WAM @ 9:00 (Williams)
• Parent Meeting @ 10:30 (Petersen)
• Stacey and Robyn to BOE @ 10:15

Wednesday, October 29th:

• WAM @ 9:00 (Deeter)
• Intake Review Mtg @ 11:00
• IEP @ 11:30 (Wusthoff)

Thursday, October 30th:

• Behavior Team Huddle @ 8:30
• Castle to Mtg at Mixter @ 9:00-11:00
• WAM @ 9:30 (Bruckner)
• IEP @ 11:15 (Hiser)

Friday, October 31st:

• Virtual MET @ 9:00 (Hiser)