Style And Substance: 2011 Beacon Graduates Master Arts And Scholastic Achievement

Gowns are hand-decorated by students into individual pieces of art. Choruses of voices shout "shwag" in unison- Rocky Horror style- during a principal's speech. The principal himself leaps from the stage to hand out a flyer to an outspoken audience member, and theatrics dominate as students cross the stage for their diplomas.  

This is not your ordinary graduation. But then, Beacon Charter High School for the Arts is not your ordinary school.

The 49 graduates who received diplomas from the charter school Thursday night, however, are more than just artists. Last year, Beacon outperformed the state in New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) tests in reading, writing, algebra, geometry and each of the four science sub-tests. The class of 2011, it seems, made serious progress towards demonstrating that a charter school arts education is in no way inferior to its public school counterpart.

"You will not believe the opportunity you gave to this school," said Principal Dr. Robert Pilkington. "It is profound and it is longlasting."

Pilkington joined keynote speaker Barnaby Evans, Woonsocket Mayor Leo Fontaine, Salutatorian Sarah Mae Tellier, and Valedictorian Gabriela Gonsalves at the Stadium Theatre in attempts to define what may be undefinable for the audience of parents and friends: the experience of Beacon and importance of arts in education.

Evans, a multimedia artist best known for the creation of Waterfire in Providence, discussed his experience in making art accessible to the masses. Evans told the story of a weekend where 100 nuns and 200 Hells Angels attended the event, in which more than 80 bonfires are lit on three rivers in downtown Providence and accompanied by music.

Nuns and bikers, Evans explained, could both appreciate the unique experience. "This is the power of the arts."

Fontaine discussed the importance of the school and his part in helping to keep the institution alive during its dark days in 2005 when an $80,000 deficit nearly shut it down. Students fought to keep the school open and Fontaine, then City Council President, was ultimately able to raise the needed money to save the charter school.

"The best things in our lives, the things that mean the most to us, are the ones we fight hardest for," Fontaine said.

Tellier, a 17 year-old Theater student at Beacon, took advantage of every facet of her education at the arts school. Tellier was the editor of the school yearbook for three years, while being highly involved in Beacon’s Theater department, as stage manager for four of the school's plays. She recently played the Narrator is Beacon’s production of The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza. Tellier also received the Secretary of State Civic Leadership Award.

Valedictorian Gonsalves is also Theatre major, the art she chose over Culinary and Visual Arts, Beacon's other two options. The seventeen-year-old has participated in nearly every production Beacon has done including “Don’t Drink the Water” freshmen year landing the role of the French Chef Hatami, and also joining the tech crew for the “Merchant of Venice.“ She sang in the musical "Schoolhouse Rock,” playing Dori. She was also the Stage Manager for “The Diary of Anne Frank,” and Linda in “The Moustache” her junior year. She played Maria in “Lend me a Tenor,” and The Therapist in “The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza.”

Pilkington used the celebration as an opportunity to spread the word about Article 12 in H-5894, a bill which would allow charter schools to receive funding for a larger percentage of their housing costs. Currently the school receives 30% while public schools receive 80%.

"You put Beacon on the map of academic excellence and closed the mouths of charter school critics from Westerly to Woonsocket," Pilkington told the graduates.

Congratulations to all of the graduates from Beacon's Class of 2011. Visit Woonsocket Patch to view a video and gallery of the commencement ceremonies later today.

Aldous    Ryan
Alfuso    Christina
Algarin    Alberto
Andrews    Benjamin
Bienkowski    Casey
Boucher    Bryana
Bouzan    Noor
Brown    Nathan
Davenport    Devin
Dearden    Amanda
Drainville    Emily
Driscoll    James
England    Robert
Fortune    Samantha
Fournier    Raymond
Garcia    Charlie
Gaudet    Amanda
Gonsalves    Gabriela
Gouin    Jessie
Heffernan    Chelsea
Hoffman    Nicholas
Hogan    Eric
Howard    Kassandra
Howe    Timothy
Jencks    Katelyn
Kessler    Dillon
Lefebvre    Aurora
Lorenzo    Michaela
Losoya    Kelly
Lynch    Kimberly
Marcil    Abigail
McGovern    Andrew
Michel    Nathan
Michel    Peter
O'Connell    Rashel
Petrone    Caroline
Provensal    Nicole
Rea    Kevin
Remy    Taylor
Rosario    Elvis
Senra    Brandon
Standifer    Jasmine
Steere    Andrew
Taber    Autumn
Taft    Brittney
Tellier    Sarah
Velez    Jesus
Washington    Jasmine
Yanski    Cyle