Friday, November 20, 2020

Once more unto the breach dear friends

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! Here we go again. For the next few weeks, our Face to Face student will be receiving instruction through remote learning. Our Livonia Virtual students will continue with their same schedule. Until we return to in person instruction, ALL students will be following the same schedule:

Kindergarten, Second, Fourth Grades

10:00 AM, 12:00 PM & 2:00 PM

First and Third Grades

9:00 AM, 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM

I know these are challenging times, but we will get through this together and whether we are in the building or learning from home, I know that great things will continue with our Buchanan Bears! 


Remember there is NO SCHOOL on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week for 
Thanksgiving Break!! 

PTA POINTS

  • PTA Meeting: Thank you to everyone who joined our November meeting on Thursday! We were happy to see so many staff members, as well as a couple new faces. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 7:00pm.
  • PTA Membership: Thank you to our families who have joined the PTA so far this year - we are up to 97 members! But that's still less than half of the 203 members we had last year. Can you help us reach our goal of hitting last year's number? PTA membership and dues support your child by funding essential education and curriculum needs, advocating on behalf of children and educators, and building an inclusive school community for all families. Please show us your support and become a member today at our MemberHub store: https://buchanan.new.memberhub.store/store
  • Membership Raffle: Congratulations to our two raffle winners, Amanda H. and Laura A.! They each won a basket of Scholastic books. Thank you for being members and supporting the PTA!
  • Spirit Wear: To purchase Buchanan-branded items, please visit our spirit wear store here: https://buchananspiritwear.com 
  • Follow the PTA on Facebook: @BuchananElementarySchoolPTA

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES SIGN UP LINKS

Kindergarten

Miss Haapala     Mrs. Stromberg     Mrs. Pillai     Mrs. Sosnowski

First Grade 

Mrs. Jones     Mrs. Hochkins     Mrs. Kamin     Mrs. Sparrow     Mrs. Hurula

Second Grade

Mrs. Benson     Ms. Adams     Mrs. Gruenewald     Mrs. Drolet     Mrs. Tanner

Third Grade

Mrs. Allmayer     Mrs. Trantham     Ms. Yost     Mrs. Edwards     Mrs. Duff

Fourth Grade

Mrs. Banter     Ms. Kaufman     Ms. Medellin     Miss Brown     Mrs. Ringler


Lifetouch Pictures were just sent to our school. Our plan is to send them home with the students when we return for Face to Face instruction.  If we are NOT back for Face to Face instruction the week of December 7, we will schedule a materials pick up for our families and picture packets will be included.

Livonia Virtual families may pick up picture packets at your regularly scheduled materials pick up on Thursday, December 3.





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Friday, November 13, 2020

Red, White & Blue

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! This week we recognized our Veterans by wearing Red, White & Blue at school on Wednesday. It was a fun and simple way to say thank you on Veterans Day. I enjoy the fact that we say the Pledge of Allegiance each morning at school and I've even heard students on the playground talking about following our "Three to Be" pledge of being Safe, Kind and Responsible. My goal is that the words we recite each morning become actions throughout our days and throughout our lives.  

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Thursday, November 19: PTA Meeting (Virtual) 7:00 PM
  • Wednesday, November 25 - Friday, November 27: Thanksgiving Break
  • Friday, December 4: No School (Records Day) 
Here is the link to the updated DISTRICT CALENDAR



PTA POINTS

  • PTA Meeting: Join us on Zoom for our November PTA Meeting on Thursday, November 20 at 7:00pm. Link below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83795917036

Meeting ID: 837 9591 7036

Passcode: 0JgcSW

  • PTA Membership: Last year we had 203 PTA members, but this year we only have 95 members so far. Can you help us reach our goal of hitting last year's number? PTA membership and dues support your child by funding essential education and curriculum needs, advocating on behalf of children and educators, and building an inclusive school community for all families. Please show us your support and become a member today at our MemberHub store: https://buchanan.new.memberhub.store/store
  • Follow the PTA on Facebook: @BuchananElementarySchoolPTA



The ACAT application window opens 11/30/2020. Webster Elementary will be holding a virtual information meeting on 12/3/2020 to share information about our program. Please see the flyer attached to this email for more information! 

Please remember that each child had an iReady instructional license provided by the district this year. This resource is an incredible tool that will help provide instruction in BOTH reading and math for all our students. To be most effective, we recommend 20 minutes for reading and 20 minutes for math five days a week. Thanks for your continued partnership and support! 

MEET THE STAFF




Kindergarten Literacy Coach

My name is Mrs. Alt and I am the Literacy Coach for Kindergarten. I have two boys and we live in Canton. We love to go to Pentwater every summer and spend time at the beach.  I’m looking forward to working with the Buchanan Kindergarten Team!




First Grade Literacy Coach

My name is Mrs. Burke and I am the Literacy Coach for First Grade. I

have three boys and 2 rabbits named Mario and Luigi. We live

in Livonia and enjoy spending time outside. My favorite book is, I Need

My Monster.  I can’t wait to work with the Buchanan First Grade Team!



Second Grade Literacy Coach

     Hi!  My name is Mrs. Serazio.  I am the Literacy Coach for Second Grade.  I have three children and a dog named Gracie.  My favorite book is Peanut Butter and Cupcake by Terry Border.  I can’t wait to work with the Buchanan Second Grade Team and learn together!



Third Grade Literacy Coach 

      Hi!  My name is Mrs. McGlinch.  I am the Literacy Coach for Third Grade.  I have two little girls, 4 and 1 years old.  We love to travel up north, swim, spend time at the beach, and ride our bikes. My favorite book is The Monster At The End Of This Book by Jon Stone and Out Of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper.  Looking forward to learning together with the Buchanan Third Grade Team!



Fourth Grade Literacy Coach

Hello!  My name is Mrs. Daraskavich, but you can call me Mrs. D!  I am the Literacy Coach for Fourth Grade.  I have three daughters and a dog named Lucy.  We are a very active family and love spending time outdoors, traveling up north, hiking, boating, skiing and biking. My favorite book is Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. I can’t wait to learn together with the Buchanan Fourth Grade Team!




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Friday, November 6, 2020

We Rise By Lifting Others

 Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! Over the summer, a team was given the assignment to “beautify” our Buchanan lounge and turn it into a space that is warm, inviting and motivational.  We received a coffee cart and a large chalk board to hang above it.  Since we returned to in-person learning, the chalk board has been waiting to be “beautified”.

Outside of Buchanan, our speech therapist, Mrs. Parnell, has the pleasure of working with the students at the Livonia Transition Program. This program teaches life and vocational skills to students with a variety of disabilities that are 18-26 years old. One student she had the pleasure of meeting was Dylan and she quickly learned that he is more than a person with autism, more than a gentle giant, more than a young man who LOVES movies and cartoons and technology. Dylan is an amazing artist. 

Knowing that our “message board” was in desperate need of “beautification”, she asked the team at Buchanan if they would give Dylan the opportunity to showcase his artistic talents and beautify our sign.  He was given only the guidance to be mindful of the picture hanger orientation and the knowledge that someone at our school loves Superman. Below is his finished product that we are proud to display at Buchanan! 


UPCOMING EVENTS
  • Thursday, November 19: PTA Meeting (Virtual) 7:00 PM
  • Wednesday, November 25 - Friday, November 27: Thanksgiving Break
  • Friday, December 4: No School for Students (Records Day)
PTA POINTS

  • Fall Treats for Students: A big THANK YOU to Cantoro Italian Market for its donation of donuts and cider and to Walmart (7 Mile) for its donation of cups so we could provide a Halloween treat to our Face-to-Face students last week! Our Livonia Virtual students should look out for a fall treat from the PTA at Materials Pickup on Friday. 
  • Last Call for Art Contest Entries! Reflections is an annual art competition held by the National PTA. Artwork is accepted in the following categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts. This year, all entries will be submitted virtually. Entries are due to ValerieRJackson@gmail.comby Friday, November 13. Please see the flyer attached to Mr. Wennstrom's email for details.
  • PTA Membership: Last year we finished the year with 203 PTA members, but we are sitting at just 94 members so far this year. Can you help us reach our goal of hitting last year's number? PTA membership and dues support your child by funding essential education and curriculum needs, advocating on behalf of children and educators, and building an inclusive school community for all families. Please show us your support and become a member today at our MemberHub store: https://buchanan.new.memberhub.store/store
  • Follow the PTA on Facebook: @BuchananElementarySchoolPTA
  • Next Meeting: Thursday, November 19, 7:00pm

MEET THE STAFF


Hi Buchanan Community! My name is Haley Yost and I'm thrilled to be at Buchanan. I went to Central Michigan University and graduated in 2018.  After graduation, I served as a building substitute in Walled Lake Public Schools. I have a dog named Buster that gets my attention when I'm not in school. A goal I have this year is to try and make this year as normal and fun as possible for my students! 


Hello Buchanan Families! I am Brittany Brown the new fourth grade teacher here at Buchanan. Being a first year teacher I am thrilled to be here in such a welcoming district and school community. In December 2019, I graduated with honors from Eastern Michigan University with my degree in Elementary Education and minors in integrated science and reading. One of my favorite things to do outside of school is skating, I have been a figure skater for 16 years and a Learn To Skate Instructor in Garden City for 6 years. I also enjoy spending time with my family; mom, dad, younger brother Alan and my grandmother. One of my main goals is to make this a memorable year for my students and not just because of COVID-19. 


Hi Everyone! My name is Bobby Miller and I'm excited to be a part of the Buchanan team. Before working for LPS, I was a manager at Granite City for 4 years and have been in food service a total of 12 years. I enjoy working with my hands and am happy to be working as a building supervisor. My wife's name is Liz Miller and my daughters name is Cora. I enjoy spending the weekends watching football with my family while cooking delicious meals (steak dinners are my favorite). My professional goal for this year is to learn the ins and outs of our John Deere tractor. My personal goal is to perfect my beef wellington recipe!

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