Teaching Like Pirates!

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! You may have seen on our Buchanan Facebook page, our staff wearing some fun pirate eye patches. Here's the background: We all read the book "Teach Like a Pirate" this summer and started our year together with discussing ideas from the book. Now teaching like a pirate doesn't involve attacking ships, looking for treasure or walking the plank. It's all about being courageous in our teaching, taking risks on new and exciting lessons, and finding our passion for education. Most importantly it's about making learning FUN for both our teachers and students! I'm so excited to set sail into the new school year with the best crew in Education!

UPCOMING EVENTS AT BUCHANAN

Tuesday, September 4: First Day for Students! Students dismissed at 12:10 PM (no lunch)

Thursday, September 20: PTA Meeting 7:00 PM (All families welcome)

Friday, September 21: Lifetouch Picture Day

Monday, September 24 - Friday, September 28: Scholastic Book Fair

Thursday, September 27: Curriculum Night / Open House 6:00-7:30 PM

For those students being driven in, we provide curbside drop off. Please pull up in front of the gym and an adult will help your child out of the car and to the designated spot. We will do the same for all students as they exit the school bus. Please see the picture below to find the designated line up spot for each grade level. Kindergarten students will always line up in front of the main doors. 

Students riding the bus will be helped by adults and safeties into the appropriate bus line. Kindergarten students being picked up will be delivered to parents outside the classroom exterior doors (in the back of the building). Students in grades 1-4 will be picked up in the gym. The gym will be divided into four quadrants, one for each grade.  Parents may enter the gym through the exterior gym doors when they are opened at 3:55 PM. (Unfortunately, parents will not be able to wait in the front entryway as the new design provides a much smaller area.  Thank you for your cooperation!

Free & Reduced Lunch Applications and Online payments & account access

ICHAT Link: This link is for volunteers and chaperones to use for background checks

Interested in becoming a lunch/recess supervisor? Apply here: EduStaff

Follow us on Facebook at Buchanan Elementary

PTA POINTS

The PTA Newsletter is attached to this email and will go home with all the students in their opening day packets! 

Did you know that our school has its own hashtag on Twitter? It's #BuchananBears.  Whenever our staff members tweet out, we will use our hashtag. If you are on Twitter you can see the cool things happening at our school by searching the hashtag #BuchananBears. Great things are happening at Buchanan! 

New and Improved

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! I would like to welcome all of our new and returning Buchanan families as we prepare for the 2018-2019 school year! My final post for last year was about our newly updated playground and equipment. My first post for this year is about our newly renovated building. You may have already noticed or heard about our beautiful new arch and additional parking spaces. We also have a brand new entryway that includes a secure vestibule to help keep our students safe, a remodeled kitchen area, new paint in the hallways, and my favorite; new technology in the classrooms! Each classroom now has a new digital phone system, short throw projectors and smart boards, and surround sound microphone systems for the teachers to use. We also have improved WiFi capability and a second computer lab. It's so exciting to see the bond dollars put to work to improve learning for all our students! As thrilled as I am about our new and improved facilities, my real pride comes from the amazing staff we have at Buchanan. We have an incredible team of educators that do whatever it takes to make sure each child is successful. Great things are happening at Buchanan! 

UPCOMING EVENTS AT BUCHANAN

• Tuesday, September 4: First day for students! 12:10 dismissal (no lunch)
• Wednesday, September 5: Full day for students (lunch will be served)
• Thursday, September 20: PTA Meeting (all families welcome)
• Friday, September 21: Picture Day! 
• Monday, September 24 - Friday, September 28: Scholastic Book Fair
• Thursday, September 27: Open House / Curriculum Night (Schedule to come)

All families will receive an opening day packet with school information, but here are a few useful links to help with the start of the school year!

• Parent Connect Information Letter : This letter shows how to access Parent Connect to find out teacher assignments & transportation information. They will be updated on August 29. 

• Free & Reduced Lunch Applications and Online Lunch Payments and Account Access

• ICHAT Link: This link is for volunteers and chaperones to use for background checks. 

• Interested in becoming a lunch/recess monitor? Apply here: EduStaff

• Follow us on Facebook at Buchanan Elementary! 

PTA Points

Please see the attachment for the PTA NEWSLETTER  A hard copy of the newsletter will go home with all students in their first day packets as well! 

First Bell 8:49 AM     Classes Begin 8:54 AM

First Lunch 12:10 PM     Second Lunch 12:35 PM

All School Recess 2:35 PM     Classes Dismissed 3:59 PM

Students will receive class specific schedules with opening day packets! 

Did you know that Buchanan had extensive renovations thanks to the bond funds? The brand new technology equipment, sound system and facilities will make learning even more exciting at Buchanan. However, the renovations delayed our entry into the building this year. Due to the amount of unpacking and ongoing updates of our new equipment, we have decided to push back our Curriculum Night / Open House until later in the month. The extra couple of weeks will give us time to make sure that everything is organized and working smoothly prior to our big event! Thank you for your patience and we can't wait to show off our new and improved school. Great things are happening at Buchanan! 

Having fun at the LPS "Bounce Back to School" event!