March 29, 2024

Beckwith Chronicle

December 2020

Posted

Dates to Remember

  • 12/24-1/1    No School- Holiday recess
  • Jan. 4   Mid-point of Term 2
  • Jan. 4-8 - All students remote learning
  • Jan. 11   Cohort A returns to BMS Hybrid
  • Jan. 12  School Committee 6:30pm
  • Jan. 14  Cohort B returns to BMS Hybrid
  • Jan. 18  No School- M.L. King Jr. Day
  • Jan. 19   Related Arts Cluster 4 Starts
  • Jan. 19   Picture Make-up Day – Cohort A
  • Jan. 20  Picture Make-up Day - Remote
  • Jan. 21   Picture Make-up Day – Cohort B
  • Jan. 26  School Committee 6:30pm
  • Feb. 15-19  No School - Winter Recess

Nurse’s Notes
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is now requiring that every student have evidence of a recent FLU VACCINE on file with the School Nurse, whether they are attending school in person or remotely. The shot must be given on or after July 1, 2020 to be effective in the upcoming flu season.  All paperwork must be submitted by Dec. 31, 2020.  Paperwork can be emailed to Mrs. Mondor at cmondor@drregional.org

BMS Welcomes Mrs. Abrams
Beckwith Middle School would like to welcome our new assistant principal, Amy Abrams.  Mrs. Abrams comes to us from the Sharon Public Schools where she spent the last three years as the Special Education Coordinator at Sharon Middle School. Prior to that Mrs. Abrams worked as a team chair in Marlboro and Blackstone/Millville.    Mrs. Abrams joins us during a unique year and we look forward to her support and input as we navigate the 20-21 school year.

Grab & Go Meals
The Grab and Go meal service is still available for all students. Pick up is at DRRHS from 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday.  During our holiday recess, Grab & Go Meals for Dighton-Rehoboth students can be picked up at DRHS from  10 a.m. - 12 p.m. as follows:  Wednesday 12/23- meals will be distributed to cover 12/23. 12/24, 12/25, 12/26 & 12/27; Monday 12/28- meals to cover 12/28 & 12/29; Wednesday 12/30- meals to cover 12/30, 12/31, 1/1, 1/2 & 1/3.  All meals will include breakfast and lunch. 

Stay in Touch
If you need to contact Beckwith while the building is closed, please email svincelette@drregional.org, krebelo@drregional.org, rshea@drregional.org or aabrams@drregional.org and we will do our best to assist you as quickly as we are able.  Teachers, our nurse Mrs. Cathy Mondor, and all staff can also be emailed at any time and will reply as soon as they are able.

Principal’s Message
Dear Beckwith Families, 

Today is December 21st, the winter solstice.  For me, it is always a special reminder to adjust our perspective. Up until today the days have been getting darker for longer periods of time, however, that all changes today.   Today is a day of hope, optimism and looking forward.  Every day from now until the summer solstice the days will be getting longer and brighter.

In my opinion not enough is made of the winter solstice and the hopeful feelings it delivers.

Just as with the winter solstice, we have reasons to be optimistic.  The team throughout the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District is made up of educators who believe in being reflective practitioners.  Simply put, at the end of the day we think about the good and the not-so- good as a way to learn. Sometimes lessons don’t go well, experiments do not work as planned, and my personal ”favorite” is that at the end of the lesson, you get the dreaded blank stare looking back at you (the type of stare that Charlie Brown gives his teachers).  Reflective practitioners will ask themselves, “How can I improve, how can I make education more accessible for the students?”  This is the reflective approach we took from March 13th and still continue today.  

Based upon our experiences and reflections from the spring, we put together a completely different educational offering than that of almost a year ago:  an education that meets the needs of our students while still being safe.  There isn't one of us who has not grown in order to help support our students.  Parents, teachers, admin, and staff have all been forced to grow.  We have learned terms like asynchronous vs. synchronous, cohort A/ cohort B, remote learning, and even, the difference between a chromebook and a laptop (apparently there is a difference).  In a time of uncertainty, it is hope and optimism that keep us moving forward together.  This hope and optimism come from the proven fact that we have grown through the course of this extremely difficult time.  It was challenging, it was uncomfortable, it was hard but we were all able to learn and grow.  

Usually every December we start to see “Best of …” lists to finish off the year.  This year I have noticed a different trend.  The common and justifiable theme for this year is wishing 2020 goodbye. Please, do not get me wrong; this year has been a lot and 2020 will always represent a difficult time in our history. However, I would like to end with celebrating the parts of 2020 that did shine for our community.  At Beckwith, we have had the opportunity to see so many of our students each week in the spring reach out and share photos from home that we had to create a separate email account just for them! We had a rolling graduation in order to celebrate our 8th grade students which allowed a proper goodbye to our students. All BMS students have gone one to one with computer devices, and we have welcomed many new staff members to help continue to support our students.  As a principal in this community, I walked around the BMS building this autumn with pride reflecting on how flexible the students, staff, and community are and continue to be.  

So yes, “BYE 2020”!  Despite everything you threw at us, we made it through.  And as the next few tough months press on, please remember the days are literally getting brighter.

Thank you, Happy Holidays, and
Best Wishes in the New Year!
Ryan Shea

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