Let's Get Ready to Read!

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! We are getting ready to start our annual March is Reading Month! Although things look a little different this year, due to Covid, we are doing our best to keep things fun and exciting for our students. Our fabulous PTA has organized a "Read-a-Thon" for students to earn prizes and also to raise money for our school. They have also planned fun Spirit Wear days throughout the month. Many of the staff members are recording videos as they read with their pets for the students to view and we will have a virtual author visit at the end of March. While we always promote reading at Buchanan, March is a time to celebrate the love of literacy and have some fun while we do it! 

Acclaimed children's author Dennis Mathew will be facilitating Virtual Author Visits for our students the evening of March 24! 

UPCOMING EVENTS AT BUCHANAN

• Monday, March 1: Read-a-Thon kick off
• Friday, March 5: Wear Something You Can READ Spirit Day & Livonia Virtual Material Pick up in the gym 3:00-4:00 PM

• Friday, March 12: Dress Like a Book Character Spirit Day, Students dismissed at 12:40 PM (no lunch served). Teacher Records Day in the afternoon.

• Thursday, March 18: Report Cards viewable in Parent Connect, READ in you Pajamas Spirt Day
• Friday, March 19: No School for Students (Teacher Professional Development Day)

• Tuesday, March 23: PTA Meeting at 7:00 PM
• Wednesday, March 24: Virtual Author Assemblies (K-2 6:00 PM, 3rd&4th 7:00 PM)

PTA POINTS

• Buchanan Read-A-Thon: The Buchanan PTA presents the Buchanan Read-A-Thon from March 1 through March 19! This is a fundraiser that promotes good reading habits and will help us replenish our funds so we can maintain a healthy budget. The most important thing you can do is visit https://www.getmovinfundhub.com/ to register or re-login to your parent dashboard and complete your child’s student webpage. This is where you can donate or share your child's donation page with friends and family, and where you will log your child's reading minutes. There are prizes for reading and for raising money. Please see the flyer attached to Mr. Wennstrom's email for details. 

• PTA Board Nominations: Nominations are open for the 2021-2022 PTA Executive Board. If you are interested in nominating yourself or someone else (with their permission), please fill out a Nomination Form (attached to Mr. Wennstrom's email). Nomination forms are due Thursday, March 18. Elections will take place at the PTA meeting on April 20, 2021.

• Yearbooks: If you would like a yearbook for this school year, please place your order at https://ybpay.lifetouch.com (Yearbook ID: 1643321) by Friday, April 9. 

• Photos for Yearbook: If you have photographs from this school year that you would like to be considered for inclusion in the yearbook, please email them to pta.buchanan1@gmail.com. It is going to be a challenge to fill the yearbook this year, so we would love any school-related photos (e.g., first day of school, at-home learning set up, bus stop, walking to school, posing with assignments/projects, students dressed up for special theme days, etc.).

• PTA Membership: Please consider becoming a PTA member! Membership does not require anything from you other than the $7.00 membership fee, but it gives you a voice in decisions affecting our school, staff, and students and shows your support for our school, staff, and students. Purchase your membership here: https://buchanan.new.memberhub.store/store

• Spirit Wear: To purchase Buchanan-branded items, please visit our spirit wear store here: https://buchananspiritwear.com The next free-shipping period will be March 5 through March 22.

• Follow the PTA on Facebook: @BuchananElementarySchoolPTA

• Contact the PTA via Email: pta.buchanan1@gmail.com

• Next PTA Meeting: Tuesday, March 23

Buchanan is proud to present our Students of the Month for the theme of EMPATHY!!

KINDERGARTEN                                        FIRST GRADE

Mrs. McGuigan - Isabella N.                         Mrs. Hochkins - Emily G.

Ms. Haapala - Jude H.                                    Mrs. Jones - Destiny M.

Mrs. Pillai - Lucas P.                                      Mrs. Sparrow - Zuri S.

Mrs. Stromberg - Adam A.                             Mrs. Hurula - Amelia B.

                                                                        Mrs. Kamin - Landon L. 

SECOND GRADE                                         THIRD GRADE

Mrs. Drolet - Mila M.                                     Ms. Yost - Lucy C.

Ms. Adams - Houghton B.                              Mrs. Edwards - Dylan H. 

Mrs. Gruenewald - Emma J.                           Mrs. Duff - Ailish O. 

Mrs. Tanner - Brooklynn V.                            Mrs. Allmayer - Emma K.

Mrs. Benson - Emily P.                                   Mrs. Trantham - Ronin L. 

FOURTH GRADE

Ms. Kaufman - Michaela W.

Mrs. Ringler - Jacob B.

Ms. Medellin - Elyse D. 

Mrs. Banter - Lola G.

Miss Brown - Lilah B.

A little bit of normal

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! This week we had a wonderful event with our Winter Field Day. One of the best compliments I heard was that it brought back "a little bit of normal" for our students. It was such a fun time and I need to thank Mrs. Berg-Grant for organizing and facilitating the event, our PTA team for providing hot chocolate and leading the stations, our Livonia Virtual team for coordinating the before school activities for our virtual students, our custodian Mr. Miller for making sure we had access to the stations by removing the snow and salting the walks, and finally to our amazing staff who ALL pitched in to make this event successful. My hope is that our students will remember this event fondly and they learned we can do anything we put our minds to! 

UPCOMING EVENTS 

• Kindergarten Registration for the fall is ongoing.
• Friday, March 5: Materials Pick Up for Livonia Virtual 3:00-4:00 PM 
• Friday, March 12: 1/2 Day of School for Records Day. Students dismissed at 12:40 (no lunch served) End of Marking Period
• Thursday, March 18: Report Cards available in Parent Connect 

PTA POINTS

Box Tops: We are no longer collecting physical Box Tops, but you can still support our school by downloading the Box Tops for Education app and selecting Buchanan Elementary School as your school. Then shop as you normally would and scan your store receipt within 14 days of purchase. The app will identify Box Tops products on your receipt and automatically credit our account!

Other ways you can support the Buchanan PTA:

• Amazon Smile: Visit http://smile.amazon.com and select James Buchanan Elementary PTA as your charity. 
  

• Kroger Rewards: Visit https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards and link your Kroger Rewards card to Buchanan Elementary PTA.

• Busch's: Visit https://www.buschs.com/community and log in to (or create) your *MYWAY account. Then select Cash for Education from the dropdown menu under your name. Select Buchanan Elementary PTA as one of the four organizations you would like to support. 

Yearbooks: If you would like a yearbook for this school year, please place your order at https://ybpay.lifetouch.com (Yearbook ID: 1643321) by Friday, April 9. 

PTA Membership: Please consider becoming a PTA member! Membership does not require anything from you other than the $7.00 membership fee, but it gives you a voice in decisions affecting our school, staff, and students and shows your support for our school, staff, and students. Purchase your membership here: https://buchanan.new.memberhub.store/store

Spirit Wear: To purchase Buchanan-branded items, please visit our spirit wear store here: https://buchananspiritwear.com 

Follow the PTA on Facebook: @BuchananElementarySchoolPTA

Contact the PTA via Email: pta.buchanan1@gmail.com

Next PTA Meeting: Tuesday, March 23

If you need assistance obtaining winter gear, please reach out to us in the office and we will be happy to assist. We want ALL of our students to enjoy the winter wonderland!

Midwinter Break

 Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! It was another great week at Buchanan. February is a short, but busy month with Black History Month, Valentine's Day, Winter Field Day and President's Day. Having our midwinter break makes it go even more quickly! Whether you are staying at home or getting away, we hope all our Buchanan families have a safe and relaxing break. We look forward to seeing the students when classes resume on Wednesday! 

Remember no school Monday and Tuesday! 

Winter Field Day is scheduled for Thursday, February 18 (Weather Pending). I will send out a confirmation notice the day before. Please make sure students have winter gear and are ready for some fun in the snow! Classroom teachers will send out the specific time for each class. 

PTA POINTS

Box Tops: We are no longer collecting physical Box Tops, but you can still support our school by downloading the Box Tops for Education app and selecting Buchanan Elementary School as your school. Then shop as you normally would and scan your store receipt within 14 days of purchase. The app will identify Box Tops products on your receipt and automatically credit our account!

Other ways you can support the Buchanan PTA:

• Amazon Smile: Visit http://smile.amazon.com and select James Buchanan Elementary PTA as your charity. 
  

• Kroger Rewards: Visit https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards and link your Kroger Rewards card to Buchanan Elementary PTA.

• Busch's: Visit https://www.buschs.com/community and log in to (or create) your *MYWAY account. Then select Cash for Education from the dropdown menu under your name. Select Buchanan Elementary PTA as one of the four organizations you would like to support. 

Yearbooks: If you would like a yearbook for this school year, please place your order at https://ybpay.lifetouch.com (Yearbook ID: 1643321) by Friday, April 9. 

PTA Membership: Please consider becoming a PTA member! Membership does not require anything from you other than the $7.00 membership fee, but it gives you a voice in decisions affecting our school, staff, and students and shows your support for our school, staff, and students. Purchase your membership here: https://buchanan.new.memberhub.store/store

Spirit Wear: To purchase Buchanan-branded items, please visit our spirit wear store here: https://buchananspiritwear.com 

Follow the PTA on Facebook: @BuchananElementarySchoolPTA

Contact the PTA via Email: pta.buchanan1@gmail.com

Next PTA Meeting: Tuesday, March 23

We would like to wish all of our Buchanan Bears a very Happy Valentine's Day on Sunday! 

Student Recognition

 Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! One of our goals at Buchanan is to celebrate all the wonderful things our students do at school. From academic achievement to demonstrating our character traits, we do our best to make sure they know we are watching and recognize their efforts. This week ALL of our Students of the Month (Past and Present) received certificates to bring home. We also created and presented all of our top GROWTH students for iReady Reading and iReady Math a certificate to take home. I know that not everyone who works hard gets a certificate, but we do our best to recognize student effort and encourage them to always do their best.  It's not about the award, but about doing our best and working hard, but it's still nice to be noticed and celebrated! 

UPCOMING EVENTS AT BUCHANAN

Friday, February 12: Picture Retakes in the gym 9:00-11:00 AM (for LV students too!)

                                  PTA providing individual treats for students for Valentine's Celebration

Monday, February 15 & Tuesday, February 16: No School for Mid Winter Break

Tentative Dates for Winter Field Day

Tuesday, February 9

Thursday, February 11

Thursday, February 18

A notice will be sent to all staff & families the day before to confirm our Winter Field Day based on the forecast. If the temperature is predicted to be 15 degrees or colder, we will postpone the event to the next scheduled date above. Please make sure your students have winter gear on the days of the event. LV families will drop off students in the gym at 8:15 the day of the event and pick up at 9:20 from the gym.  Students will ONLY be with their class.

PTA POINTS

• Yearbooks: If you would like a yearbook for this school year, please place your order at https://ybpay.lifetouch.com (Yearbook ID: 1643321) by Friday, April 9. 

• Photos for Yearbook: If you have photographs from this school year that you would like to be considered for inclusion in the yearbook, please email them to pta.buchanan1@gmail.com. It is going to be a challenge to fill the yearbook this year, so we would love any school-related photos (e.g., first day of school, at-home learning set up, bus stop, walking to school, posing with assignments/projects, students dressed up for special theme days, etc.).

• PTA Membership: Please consider becoming a PTA member! Membership does not require anything from you other than the $7.00 membership fee, but it gives you a voice in decisions affecting our school, staff, and students and shows your support for our school, staff, and students. Purchase your membership here: https://buchanan.new.memberhub.store/store

• Spirit Wear: To purchase Buchanan-branded items, please visit our spirit wear store here: https://buchananspiritwear.com 

• Follow the PTA on Facebook: @BuchananElementarySchoolPTA

• Contact the PTA via Email: pta.buchanan1@gmail.com

• Next PTA Meeting: Tuesday, March 23
• 
  

Buchanan is celebrating Black History Month! Here's a fun photo from PBS. How many faces can you put a name to in this picture?

Winter Wonderland

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! As much as I complain about the cold temperatures, I do love seeing the snow and experiencing the beautiful Michigan winters. Please remember that if the temperature is above 15 degrees, we do go outside for a short recess every day. Students need to have snow gear that includes boots, winter coats, snow pants, hats and gloves. If you need assistance obtaining winter gear, please reach out to us in the office and we will be happy to assist. We want ALL of our students to enjoy the winter wonderland!

UPCOMING EVENTS AT BUCHANAN

Friday, February 5: Livonia Virtual Material Pick Up in the Gym 3:00-4:00 PM

Tuesday, February 9: Winter Field Day Activities (Weather Permitting)

Friday, February 12: Picture Retakes 9:00-11:00 AM (Both F2F students & LV students)

Monday, February 15 & Tuesday, February 16: No School for Mid Winter Break

Buchanan is planning a Winter Field Day for our students in February! Our PE teacher, Mrs. Berg-Grant is organizing stations for students to participate in fun activities. Students will only be with their classmates and each station will be 12 minutes long. This should be a fun and safe activity for our students to enjoy. More details will be coming soon!

PTA POINTS

• Yearbooks: If you would like a yearbook for this school year, please place your order at https://ybpay.lifetouch.com (Yearbook ID: 1643321) by Friday, April 9. 

• Photos for Yearbook: If you have photographs from this school year that you would like to be considered for inclusion in the yearbook, please email them to pta.buchanan1@gmail.com. It is going to be a challenge to fill the yearbook this year, so we would love any school-related photos (e.g., first day of school, at-home learning set up, bus stop, walking to school, posing with assignments/projects, students dressed up for special theme days, etc.).

• PTA Membership: Please consider becoming a PTA member! Membership does not require anything from you other than the $7.00 membership fee, but it gives you a voice in decisions affecting our school, staff, and students and shows your support for our school, staff, and students. Purchase your membership here: https://buchanan.new.memberhub.store/store

• Spirit Wear: To purchase Buchanan-branded items, please visit our spirit wear store here: https://buchananspiritwear.com 

• Follow the PTA on Facebook: @BuchananElementarySchoolPTA

• Contact the PTA via Email: pta.buchanan1@gmail.com

• Next PTA Meeting: Tuesday, March 23

Families can still register for weekly food pick up through Blessings in a Backpack! If you are interested in signing up, please use this link to register: Blessings in a Backpack Link

In keeping with our no sharing of items protocols, we will not be exchanging valentine's this year. However, classrooms will still have activities and just as we did for Halloween, the PTA will be providing individual treats and drinks for all students on Friday, February 12. More information will come from classroom teachers as the date approaches. 

CONGRATULATIONS to our Students of the Month for the theme of GRIT!!

KINDERGARTEN                                                FIRST GRADE

Mrs. Stromberg - Joanna L.                                    Mrs. Jones - Jack C.

Ms. Haapala - Theo C.                                            Mrs. Hurula - Molly T.

Mrs. Pillai - Charlotte T.                                         Mrs. Hochkins - Eden G.

Mrs. McGuigan - Violet H.                                    Mrs. Kamin - Mitchell F.

                                                                                Mrs. Sparrow - Mason S.

SECOND GRADE                                                THIRD GRADE

Mrs. Gruenewald - Nadia C.                                 Mrs. Allmayer - Declan O.

Mrs. Benson -  Riley R.                                        Mrs. Duff - Patrick K.

Ms. Adams - Dahlia W.                                         Ms. Yost - Jack H.

Mrs. Tanner - Ashley L.B.                                     Mrs. Trantham - Ben C.

Mrs. Drolet - Payson H.                                         Mrs. Edwards - Brady S. 

FOURTH GRADE

Mrs. Ringler - Sefora R. 

Mrs. Banter - Landon T.

Ms. Kaufman - Brad K

Miss Brown - Audrijana K

Ms. Medellin - Quinn R. 

80's

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! This week we celebrated the 80th day of school and as always, our 2nd grade team had a totally RAD time by dressing up in retro style! Sadly, I have discovered that all I need to do for 80's day now is to reach into my own closet! :) We are so happy to have our students back for in person instruction and I'm very proud of our Livonia Virtual team for keeping the high quality and consistent instruction that our online learners need.  Great things are happening at Buchanan! 

Picture Retake/Makeup Day is scheduled for Friday, February 12, 2021 from 9:15 AM - 11:00  AM for students who missed picture day or would like to have their picture retaken. 

To place an order for pictures, please visit mylifetouch.com and enter this Picture Day ID: EVTPQSXG4

PTA POINTS

• PTA Meeting: Please join us on Tuesday, January 26 at 7:00pm for our January PTA meeting. Zoom info below:

            https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88297821195

            Meeting ID: 882 9782 1195

            Passcode: 0JgcSW 

• Yearbooks: If you would like a yearbook for this school year, please place your order at https://ybpay.lifetouch.com (Yearbook ID: 1643321) by Friday, April 9. 

• Photos for Yearbook: If you have photographs from this school year that you would like to be considered for inclusion in the yearbook, please email them to pta.buchanan1@gmail.com. It is going to be a challenge to fill the yearbook this year, so we would love any school-related photos (e.g., first day of school, at-home learning set up, bus stop, walking to school, posing with assignments/projects, students dressed up for special theme days, etc.).

• PTA Membership: Please consider becoming a PTA member! Membership does not require anything from you other than the $7.00 membership fee, but it gives you a voice in decisions affecting our school, staff, and students and shows your support for our school, staff, and students. Purchase your membership here: https://buchanan.new.memberhub.store/store

• Spirit Wear: To purchase Buchanan-branded items, please visit our spirit wear store here: https://buchananspiritwear.com 

• Follow the PTA on Facebook: @BuchananElementarySchoolPTA

• Contact the PTA via Email: pta.buchanan1@gmail.com

• Next PTA Meeting: Tuesday, January 26

We are proud to announce that Buchanan 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Drolet was the recipient of the MEEMIC classroom PPE kit!!

Serving Others

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! As we prepare for Martin Luther King Jr. Day next week, I wanted to share one of my favorite quotes from him "Everybody can be great...because anyone can serve." What a great reminder that our true purpose is to help and serve one another. That's what I love most about teachers, they dedicate their lives to serving our students and helping to make their dreams come true. I hope you enjoy the long weekend as we observe the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday and I look forward to seeing the students when classes resume on Tuesday!

UPCOMING EVENTS AT BUCHANAN

• Monday, January 18: No School for MLK Day
• Tuesday, January 26: PTA (virtual) 7:00 PM
• Friday, February 12: Picture Retakes in the morning 9:00-11:00 AM (for LV too)
• Monday, February 15 & Tuesday, February 16: No School for Mid Winter Break

Our second window for iReady Diagnostic will begin this week. Please be sure that students who have checked out Chromebooks bring them to school each day fully charged!!  We need every device available for testing.  Teachers will be sending out specific testing days for their students.

If your child is buying hot lunch, be sure to pay using our online payment center or you may send in check or cash with your child. Thank you! 

PTA POINTS

• Reflections Winners: Congratulations to two of our Buchanan Bears for moving on to the state level in the PTSA Reflections Art Contest. Drake Buday (4th grade) won an Award of Merit in the Photography category, and Nina McCormick (kindergarten) won an Award of Excellence in the Visual Arts category. Great job, Drake and Nina!

• Youth Making a Difference: Youth Making a Difference is a Livonia PTSA Council program that encourages and recognizes volunteer efforts by LPS students. In the past students have visited senior citizens, helped collect money for local organizations, shoveled snow for a neighbor, etc. Though this year's activities may look a little different, we are still encouraging Buchanan students to get involved safely. Please see the list of COVID-safe projects provided by Livonia PTSA Council for ideas (attached to Mr. Wennstrom's email). Students who participate will be recognized in a ceremony in April. If your student would like to participate, please complete the Commitment Form (attached to Mr. Wennstrom's email) and email it to pta.buchanan1@gmail.com by January 22.

• Yearbooks: If you would like a yearbook for this school year, please place your order at https://ybpay.lifetouch.com (Yearbook ID: 1643321) by Friday, April 9. 

• Photos for Yearbook: If you have photographs from this school year that you would like to be considered for inclusion in the yearbook, please email them to pta.buchanan1@gmail.com. It is going to be a challenge to fill the yearbook this year, so we would love any school-related photos (e.g., first day of school, at-home learning set up, bus stop, walking to school, posing with assignments/projects, students dressed up for special theme days, etc.).

• PTA Membership: Please consider becoming a PTA member! Membership does not require anything from you other than the $7.00 membership fee, but it gives you a voice in decisions affecting our school, staff, and students and shows your support for our school, staff, and students. Purchase your membership here: https://buchanan.new.memberhub.store/store

• Spirit Wear: To purchase Buchanan-branded items, please visit our spirit wear store here: https://buchananspiritwear.com 

• Follow the PTA on Facebook: @BuchananElementarySchoolPTA

• Contact the PTA via Email: pta.buchanan1@gmail.com

• Next PTA Meeting: Tuesday, January 26

SCHOOL ARRIVAL

Please remember that the school doors do not open until 8:55 AM. Students should remain in the car with parents until that time. When the doors open, students will be guided to their classrooms. We are trying to prevent student congregating outside and eliminating line ups of students. Thank you for your assistance in keeping our students safe!