At Beech Street Elementary School, there is a concentrated effort to foster a positive environment for students, families, and staff through behavioral support, family engagement, and community building. Abby from the Granite YMCA has been instrumental in behavior management, dedicating two to three days a week to working with students on developing a growth mindset and creating a toolbox of skills they can rely on throughout the school year. Her presence is set to expand to full-time next year, signaling a commitment to long-term behavioral improvement and student growth.
In conjunction with Abby’s work, Loren, the Community SchoolsFacilitator, has been actively shadowing school lunches to align the language used by classrooms and teachers. This integration is vital for reinforcing the consistency of positive behavior strategies and fostering a growth mindset school-wide.
Loren is also involved in several essential projects that directly impact both students and their families. One such initiative is the creation of a food pantry for Beech Street School. By working on the logistics, ordering, and setup, Loren ensures that families in need have access to vital resources. She has also tackled other key areas of concern, such as safety. After identifying a need for better parking lot signage, she contacted the Highway Department to enhance safety for students and parents during pick-up and drop-off times.
Building strong connections with the school community is another priority for Loren. Greeting parents in the mornings and afternoons, she helps foster a welcoming atmosphere while working with teachers to build relationships with families. These efforts are reflected in her goal of making sure she’s out every day, connecting with parents and building the support system that is essential for students’ success. As she shared, “Connecting with the students is easy; making sure I’m going out every day to connect with parents is my goal.”
Loren is also working with the NH Statewide Family Engagement Center to establish the Family Village program, a much-needed support group for parents. With Beech Street lacking a formal PTA or PTG, this program will fill an essential gap in family support and engagement. She’s working on launching family nights to address topics such as mental health and behavioral help, ensuring that families are well-equipped to support their children’s development both emotionally and academically. In addition to these educational sessions, Loren is organizing other positive family engagement activities like paint nights and literacy nights, further strengthening the bond between the school and its families.
Beech Street School is also benefiting from the efforts of the SEE Science Center, which recently held a hands-on demonstration with race cars and Legos. Students engaged in hypothesis-based learning, where they experimented with and adapted their lego designs. Additionally, Amoskeag Health is working on vision screening for students, helping to identify those who need glasses and connecting them with resources to get free glasses through their program.
As Loren puts it, “I’m glad I’m here, I love it. I’m excited to keep helping the progress of Community Schools.” Through her leadership, Beech Street School continues to grow as a community hub, offering support, resources, and connection points that benefit both students and their families. Her work, combined with the efforts of other dedicated staff is shaping a school environment that emphasizes growth, safety, and positive engagement for all.
