LIFE AND LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Athletics

Each student will be required to participate in multiple sports at their independent school. The following athletic programs are those offered during a typical Beacon year. We will make every effort to include these diverse athletic opportunities if and when possible while following COVID-19 guidelines, but please note that some may be subject to cancellation.

Activity Description

Rowing

During the spring, students learn proper rowing technique and the basics of crew from a team of volunteers led by 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist Kathy Keeler. Students practice indoors on ergs and then move to the Charles River using the Community Rowing boats. Beacon students have joined crew teams throughout New England independent high schools.

Running Running is an essential part of Beacon’s curriculum. We believe that running is a powerful tool for learning patience, perseverance, and willpower—the same character traits required for academic success. Throughout their school year, Beacon students run two or three times per week (rain or shine) and they learn about nutrition and healthy eating habits. They also participate in several 5K races. What Beacon students learn from running is that they must embrace even the most difficult situations and use them as opportunities to become stronger and smarter.

Swimming

Beacon students learn to be comfortable in the water. We will work with a neighborhood pool or commercial swimming school to provide lessons for our students. Many students are learning to swim for the first time, and others are perfecting their swimming technique. All students leave Beacon able to swim—and some of our alumni have become lifeguards and competitive swimmers.

Team Sports

During the year, Beacon students learn team sports such as soccer, volleyball, field hockey, and basketball at a local gym. Teamwork is an essential element of a Beacon student’s development and is an important community-building activity.

While the COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique challenge to extracurricular activity, we will continue to seek safe experiences for students to familiarize themselves with new environments and build strong relationships with alumni and volunteers. We are continuously working with our partners to find safe ways to provide these opportunities for our students and community. As such, the above co-curricular programming is subject to change or cancellation. Whenever possible, events will be adapted to ensure proper health and safety, including transitioning to a remote environment. All changes, cancellations, and confirmations to our co-curricular programs for students and families will be communicated in advance via email, phone, or print handouts.