Parent-Teacher Conferences Sign Up List

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! This is a special edition of the Wennstrom's Weekly. Please use the links below to sign up for your designated time to meet with your child's teachers.  The classroom teachers will also be sending out a sign up link this week as well.  We look forward seeing you here for conferences!

KINDERGARTEN

Mrs. Stromberg

Ms. Haapala

Mrs. Pillai
Mrs. Mcguigan

FIRST GRADE

Mrs. Duff

Mrs. Hurula

Mrs. Jones

Mrs. Hochkins

SECOND GRADE

Ms. Adams

Mrs. Tanner

Mrs. Benson

Mrs. Gruenewald

THIRD GRADE

Mrs. Trantham

Ms. Kaufman

Mrs. Allmayer
Mrs. Edwards

FOURTH GRADE

Mrs. Ringler

Mrs. Pisko

Mrs. Banter
Ms. Medellin

Out of Office

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! For those who tried to contact me late last week, you may have gotten an "out of office" message.  I was attending a conference for regional leaders of the Michigan Elementary & Middle School Principals Association. The conference was about shared leadership and growing the leadership capacity of others. In a way, just being at the conference helps that process, because the building team leads while I am gone. It's a great feeling to know that each person steps up, helps out, and pitches in to lead. I'm fortunate to be among so many leaders at Buchanan!

MEMSPA Regional Leaders

UPCOMING EVENTS AT BUCHANAN

Friday, October 4: PTA FUN RUN!!!

Tuesday, October 8: Skate Night at Riverside Arena 6:00-8:00 PM

Thursday, October 10: PTA Meeting 7:00 PM 

Wednesday, October 16: Parent-Teacher Conferences 5:00-8:00 PM

Thursday, October 17: Students dismissed at 12:10 PM, Parent-Teacher Conferences 1:00-4:00 PM and 5:00-8:00 PM

Friday, October 18: Students dismissed at 12:10 PM, Parent-Teacher Conferences 1:00-4:00 PM

PTA POINTS

• The SUPERHERO FUN RUN is this Friday, October 4. Kindergarteners and first graders will begin at 11:00am; second, third, and fourth graders will begin at 1:15pm. Please send your child to school dressed as a superhero (an existing character or one of their own creation). Parents are welcome to attend the event and cheer students on!

• Speaking of our SUPERHERO FUN RUN, we are still VERY SHORT of our school-wide pledge goal of $20,000. The money raised will help us continue to fund field trips, assemblies, student magazine, staff appreciation, family fun events, technology subscriptions (e.g., Raz-Kids), and various classroom needs for our 500+ students. If you haven't already, please register your student at www.getmovinfundhub.com (for School Identifier use 5d49989d85ce5) to help them reach their individual goal of $40. Cash and check donations are also accepted - please send in an envelope labeled with your student's name and teacher.

• Calling all artists! Is your child a visual artist, photographer, writer, dancer, musician, or filmmaker? Then you should check out the annual Reflections contest. The theme this year is "Look Within." Please see the flyer attached to Mr. Wennstrom's email for more information. If you would like more information or an entry form, please email valerieRjackson@gmail.com.

• Buchanan Spirit Wear is available all school year at our online store. Get your orders in by September 30 to take advantage of free shipping! Visit the following link to view our options and place an order: https://www.buchananspiritwear.com

• It's not too late to join the Buchanan PTA! Joining the PTA does not mandate attending meetings or volunteering (although, you are, of course, welcome to attend and/or volunteer!). Joining DOES continue to provide support to our students and staff throughout the school year. Your membership counts! So become a member today:  https://buchanan.memberhub.store/

#BuchananBears

Did you know that Buchanan is once again offering the "Mileage Club" for our students who wish to walk the path during recess? We are calling it Bears on the Run! Students can participate using a punch card that can be turned in for a token. Students who participate all year can join in the annual "Martian Marathon" in the spring with the club organizer, Mrs. Trantham. Great things are happening at Buchanan! 

Celebrate Monday!

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! For the past several years, I have started each week at school with a "Celebrate Monday" assembly. We begin with a schoolwide assembly to pump up the students, get them excited about learning, and discuss our character trait of the month.  Several years ago, an educational author wrote that if people really wanted to be innovative, they would start celebrating Mondays instead of Fridays. That's exactly what we try to do each week.  The assemblies have gotten more elaborate through the years and our latest edition is a weekly "soundtrack" for the students to enter and leave to.  We even give an award to the classes that have the best dance moves as they enter the gym. What ways do you start your week off on a positive note?

UPCOMING EVENTS AT BUCHANAN

Monday, September 23 - Friday, September 24: Book Fair! 

Tuesday, September 24: Family Literacy Night 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Friday, October 4: PTA Fun Run! (During the school day)

Tuesday, October 8: PTA Skate Night at Riverside Arena 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Thursday, October 10: PTA Meeting 7:00 PM

Wednesday, October 16: Parent-Teacher Conferences 5:00-8:00 PM

Thursday, October 17: Students dismissed at 12:10 PM

                                     Parent-Teacher Conferences 1:00-4:00 PM & 5:00-8:00 PM

Friday, October 18: Students dismissed at 12:10 PM

                                 Parent-Teacher Conferences 1:00-4:00 PM 

PTA POINTS

• This week we kicked off fundraising for our SUPERHERO FUN RUN at the Monday morning assembly. Hopefully your student told you about the exciting prizes they have an opportunity to win! The Fun Run will take place on Friday, October 4. You should have received a blue flyer with more information last week. If you haven't already, please register your student at www.getmovinfundhub.com to help them reach their individual goal of $40. For School Identifier use 5d49989d85ce5

• Our Scholastic Book Fair is here! Your student should have brought home information about our book fair, including their class shopping time, last week. We need volunteers to help run the book fair! Please visit the following link to sign up for a time slot: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054aa8af23a7f94-book3

• The book Fair will also be open for shopping during our Literacy Night event on Tuesday, September 24 from 6:00 to 8:00pm. Don't forget to RSVP.

• New this year: No cash on hand the day of your Scholastic Book Fair? No worries – our school offers Book Fair eWallet as a digital payment option. Simply set up a free account and have funds immediately available for your student to shop the Book Fair. Safe and secure – it’s easy shopping with Book Fair eWallet.

• Click the following link to set up your child's account: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/buchananelementaryschool10

• Buchanan Spirit Wear is available all school year at our online store. Get your orders in by September 30 to take advantage of free shipping! Visit the following link to view our options and place an order: https://www.buchananspiritwear.com

• Stay connected with the PTA:   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuchananElementarySchoolPTA/    Remind App: text @dfbg388 to 81010

#BuchananBears

Did you know that our Buchanan students have great dance moves? Check out the video below from one of our students at the Celebrate Monday assembly! Great things are happening at Buchanan! 

We're All In This Together!

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! No, I'm not about to break into a Disney Song, but when I'm around our PTA and our awesome volunteers, I am reminded that education is really about partnerships. Our teachers and staff work hard, but we get a lot of support from our PTA, volunteers, and families. It's that collaboration that helps make sure that EVERY child is successful at Buchanan Elementary. Whether you volunteer in a classroom, participate in our PTA, or simply support the school and encourage your child, YOU are part of this community.  We really are all in this together!

Our first PTA meeting of the year! 

UPCOMING EVENTS AT BUCHANAN

Friday, September 20: Lifetouch Picture Day! (We start with Kindergarten students)

Monday, September 23 - Friday, Sepetember 27: Scholastic Book Fair

Tuesday, September 24: Family Literacy Night 6:00 PM LINK TO RSVP 

Monday, September 30: Student of the Month Assembly (Kindness)

Friday, October 4: PTA Superhero Fun Run! 

PTA POINTS

• Thank you to everyone who came to our first meeting! We look forward to a fantastic year working together. Save the date for our next PTA meeting: Thursday, October 10 at 7:00pm in the LMC. 

• Our Scholastic Book Fair is just around the corner. It will run from September 23 through September 27. Each classroom will get to preview the Book Fair on Monday, September 23 and then will have an assigned shopping time later in the week. We need volunteers to help run the book fair! Please visit the following link to sign up for a time slot: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054aa8af23a7f94-book3

• The Book Fair will also be open for shopping during our Literacy Night event on Tuesday, September 24 from 6:00 to 8:00pm. More information will be coming home soon! 

• This week your student will be bringing home information about our SUPERHERO FUN RUN, which will take place on October 4. The Fun Run is our biggest fundraiser of the year. Please register your student at www.getmovinfundhub.com to help them reach their individual goal of $40. For School Identifier use 5d49989d85ce5

• Buchanan Spirit Wear is available all school year at our online store. There will be free shipping on online orders placed between September 13 and September 30. Visit the following link to view our options and place an order: https://www.buchananspiritwear.com

#BuchananBears

Did you know that our teachers check with students how they like to be greeted each morning? Many of our classrooms have signs outside of their rooms showing the different ways they can be greeted. Some prefer high fives, some hugs, and some a fist bump.  We know that how students start their day can have a big impact on how they perform throughout the day. Great things are happening at Buchanan! 

Keeping it Positive

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! Here at Buchanan, we are always trying to make learning a positive experience for our students. One of the ways we are doing that this year is by doing a "Positive Phone Call" each day.  I check with teachers every day to find out the good things that students are doing. If someone is doing an exceptionally good job, they get to come down to the office and we call the family and share out the great things happening. It only takes a few minutes, but it can brighten a child's whole day (and the family too)!  We are proud of our Buchanan Bears! 

UPCOMING EVENTS AT BUCHANAN

Thursday, September 12: PTA Meeting in the library 7:00 PM (all families welcome)

Friday, September 20: Picture Day!! (Wear those smiles:)

Monday, September 23 - Friday, September 27: Book Fair (schedules will be sent home)

Tuesday, September 24: Family Literacy Night 6:00 PM (more information to come)

Want to stay connected with the school and see the great things happening at Buchanan? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook! 

Twitter: @buchanan_lps   Facebook: Buchanan Elementary

Just a reminder that we never use last names on social media and we typically use group shots of activities at school! 

PTA POINTS

• Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Welcome Back Breakfast. It was great to see returning families and to meet new ones!

• Please join us for our first PTA Meeting of the year next Thursday, September 12 at 7:00pm in the LMC. Childcare will be provided.

• Buchanan Spirit Wear is available all school year at our online store. There will be free shipping on orders placed between September 13 and September 30. Visit the following link to view our options and place an order: https://www.buchananspiritwear.com

• Become a PTA member! Thank you to our families who became PTA members at Curriculum Night! All families will receive a blue informational brochure and a white membership form in your child's backpack next week. To become a PTA member, you can either return this form with payment or visit our MemberHub website to sign up online: https://buchanan.memberhub.store/

Did you know that we have moved recess to later in the day? Like many schools in LPS, we are trying out afternoon recess from 3:20-3:45. This allows our students to have more continuity with their afternoon instruction block. If you are a kindergarten parent, please make sure you wait until 3:50 PM to walk around the building for pick up to allow time for all students to enter the building first.  Also, if you need your child for early pick up, please call in advance so we can have your child ready in the office BEFORE students go out to recess.  Thank you for your continued support and Great things are happening at Buchanan! 

Here We Go!

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! We are ready for another great year at Buchanan Elementary. The rooms are ready, the teachers are excited, our new families have been toured, and on Thursday we celebrated with our incoming kindergarten families with Popsicles on the Playground! We look forward to welcoming ALL of our students as they return on Tuesday. Please see the upcoming events and helpful tips below as we kick off our new school year!

UPCOMING EVENTS AT BUCHANAN

Tuesday, September 3: Students return to school! All staff will be outside to help students get to the appropriate line up spot.  After the students have entered the building, all parents are invited to the Garden Area (west side of the school) for Breakfast with our PTA! Students will be dismissed at 12:10 PM.

Thursday, September 5: Open House & Curriculum Night

Thursday, September 12: PTA Meeting at 7:00 PM

Friday, September 20: Lifetouch Picture Day

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

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

All School Recess 3:15 PM     Classes Dismissed 3:59 PM

Students will receive class specific schedules with opening day packets! 

The Buchanan Elementary 

PTA invites you to a . . .

Welcome Back Breakfast!

Tuesday, September 3rd at 9:00am

in the Buchanan Oasis Garden

(on the west side of the school building)

Please join us for coffee, bagels, and donuts following drop-off on the first day of school. The event is open to parents/guardians and siblings. We look forward to getting to know our new and returning Buchanan families!

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.Thank you for your cooperation!

OPEN HOUSE/CURRICULUM NIGHT SCHEDULE

6:00-6:30 PM: K-2 Curriculum Night (parents in classrooms)

6:30-7:00 PM Open House for all grades

7:00-7:30 PM: 3rd&4th Curriculum Night (parents in classrooms)

During the Curriculum Night portions of the evening, all students will be in the gym for a Magic Show!

All of our staff will be wearing "Be Kind" shirts on the first day to help make it easy for students to know who to ask for help. 

GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT BUCHANAN! 

Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes

Hi folks, Jon Wennstrom here! This week our teachers return to Buchanan to prepare for a new school year. One of the ways we are preparing to make it a great year is by a presentation from the nationally acclaimed author and speaker, Jimmy Casas. In his book, Culturize, he talks about making sure we keep our focus on "Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes". It's about staying positive, having fun, AND expecting excellence from ourselves and others. Those are things we strive toward every day at Buchanan. We look forward to seeing the students when they return on Tuesday, September 3 and we look forward to seeing all of our families on September 5 for our Open House and Curriculum Night! 

UPCOMING EVENTS AT BUCHANAN

Wednesday, August 28: Teacher Assignments & Bus Routes will be posted on Parent Connect for grades 1- 4. 

Thursday, August 29: Popsicles on the Playground for Kindergarten Families 6:00-7:00 PM

Tuesday, September 3: First day for students (Parent Breakfast in the Garden 9:00 AM - Students dismissed at 12:10 PM/No lunch served)

Thursday, September 5: Open House/Curriculum Night 

Thursday, September 12: First PTA Meeting at 7:00 PM (all families welcome)

We are once again hosting our "Popsicles on the Playground" for our incoming KINDERGARTEN families. The event will be Thursday, August 29 from 6:00-7:00 PM. 6:00-6:15 in the classrooms and 6:15-7:00 PM on the playground.  It will be an opportunity for our youngest students to meet their teachers and become familiar with our school! 

The Buchanan Elementary 

PTA invites you to a . . .

Welcome Back Breakfast!

Tuesday, September 3rd at 9:00am

in the Buchanan Oasis Garden

(on the west side of the school building)

Please join us for coffee, bagels, and donuts following drop-off on the first day of school. The event is open to parents/guardians and siblings. We look forward to getting to know our new and returning Buchanan families!

OPEN HOUSE/CURRICULUM NIGHT SCHEDULE

6:00-6:30 PM: K-2 Curriculum Night (parents in classrooms)

6:30-7:00 PM Open House for all grades

7:00-7:30 PM: 3rd&4th Curriculum Night (parents in classrooms)

During the Curriculum Night portions of the evening, all students will be in the gym for a Magic Show!

We had a wonderful time as we gave building tours to our NEW Buchanan families last week!

GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT BUCHANAN!