Beacon Academy Launches Innovative E-Learning Program

Evanston, IL, April 21, 2020 --- While COVID-19 has impacted schools worldwide, students at Beacon Academy, Evanston’s independent Montessori and IB high school, have stepped up to the challenge of online learning, “zooming” seamlessly into an e-learning experience that includes classes, clubs, engaging explorations for seniors, and all-school community meetings. Online classes, taught via synchronous and asynchronous methods, challenge students to do as they always have: think for themselves, collaborate and work in teams, and interact with the outside world by working on authentic problems -- including issues related to the current pandemic.

Want to tackle a real-world science challenge? IB Biology provides the perfect opportunity for students to learn how a vaccine is made. Want to learn more about exponential growth in math? Study the COVID map. In Practical Life, an elective aimed at developing and strengthening independence, students have tackled food preparation for their families, a real-world skill that is even more relevant today with families quarantined at home for meals.

“Beacon is all about building community, whether virtual or actual, and that is our teachers’ highest priority during this difficult and uncertain time,” said Jeff Bell, Head of School. “Their commitment to students is unwavering, and I continue to be amazed by their passion for creating a meaningful and engaging educational experience.”

In addition to the school’s online classes, Beacon has rolled out virtual clubs and rebooted its popular Interim program, a semi-annual offering that allows students time for reflection, rejuvenation, and intellectual and personal exploration. The Interim+ topics being offered this spring range from cooking classes and music experiences to a discussion of Bioethics in the Age of COVID-19. Clubs, an important part of the student life experience, are taking place now via Zoom, providing another way for students to connect. For members of the service-focused Interact & Serve club, students have focused some of their efforts on making fabric face masks for senior citizens and creating inspirational signs to lift the spirits of those in the community and on the frontline.

As a Montessori-based high school, Beacon’s daily schedule (both real world and online) is rooted in adolescent brain research that places a high value on creating an optimal learning environment for students. Block schedules consisting of four classes a day, a leisurely lunch period, late starts, and a daily advisory or community check-in were already the norm at Beacon before social distancing and remote learning became state-mandated. Likewise, placing equal emphasis on academic achievement and social-emotional learning has been a hallmark of Beacon’s program since its inception. In the age of COVID that includes daily meditation exercises via email, student vs. faculty exercise challenges, and virtual lunch gatherings for students craving connection.

“Our mission remains the same, even as our platform has changed: engage students in meaningful ways and follow their passion, talents, and interests,” said Dean of Students Siobhan Allen. “The level of student engagement remains high, reflecting their commitment and desire to remain connected during this time.”

At Beacon, shared spaced and a relational approach to learning foster strong connections between students and faculty. Today, those relationships are cultivated with regular email communication from the Head of School, daily advisory check-ins, and outreach from the school’s Directors of Equity & Inclusion who work to provide students with the tools necessary to access Beacon’s online offerings. For those with connectivity issues or other needs, the school is quick to respond, ensuring all students continue to get the most out of a Beacon education that will prepare them to “meaningfully contribute to a complex and diverse world with compassion and confidence,” a mission that is relevant now more than ever.

Beacon Academy is a Montessori high school that brings together independent school best practices and challenging IB (International Baccalaureate) curriculum with independence, freedom, and a student-centered approach. Our students experience a learning community that inspires self-motivation and personal challenge and celebrates intellectual, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity. Based in Evanston, but using the entirety of Chicago as a classroom, Beacon Academy is home to 213 students in grades 9-12. For more information about Beacon Academy, please visit beaconacademyil.org.