Principal's Update

I hope this communication finds you healthy and enjoying some days of intermittent sunshine. The high school staff meets weekly to discuss the positives, and concerns they are experiencing throughout this unprecedented time. One issue was noted that we are still hearing of some students and parents who are misunderstanding our current remote learning policies. Students must complete assignments, participate fully, and learn from their homes. Each teacher has a tremendous responsibility to ensure that students are learning during this time. Simply completing assignments with wrong or incomplete answers is not enough to earn credit in courses. Teachers must determine whether or not enough information has been learned, and students have reached a sufficient proficiency level to earn credit. Although the end results will be the same (earning a credit or an Incomplete) each teacher has the freedom to use their grade book at their discretion for recording and documentation purposes.

If you are having difficulty with an assignment, forgot to submit an assignment, or need extra help, your teachers are waiting to hear from you! Teachers are reaching out to students and parents and trying to communicate as much as possible to encourage participation and engagement. They are also available during posted office hours for immediate contact as well as through email. Although no one believes this is the ideal format for teaching and learning, it is the hand we were dealt and we have to make the best of it. Please continue to work with teachers, complete assignments, stay engaged, and stay positive. We will make it through this difficult time together. We will regroup for those students who do not earn credits and provide courses for those students either through summer school or in next year's schedule.

As always, stay safe, stay healthy, stay positive, and stay BUCKSTRONG!

Sincerely,

Mrs. DeMaio

Every day for the month of May, we will celebrate our BHS teachers in a different way then we normally do by posting on our website and social media a different teacher a day. I enlisted the help of students to make this Teacher Appreciation Month as special as can be. Thank you students who were able to participate. We love our teachers and we are so happy and fortunate that they have chosen to make Buchanan a special place by building a caring community one young adult at a time. Thank you teachers for your hard work, your positivity, your endless effort, your perseverance, and your love of teenagers!

If you are a student who requested paper copies of your work you need to pick those labeled materials up from the bottom drawer of the file cabinet located in front of the high school under the overhang on the east side of the competition gym. This work is essential for students to complete the school year and earn credits. It can then be turned in when finished in the top slot of the same file cabinet.

Monday - All Math Courses

Tuesday - All ELA Courses

Wednesday - All Science Courses

Thursday - All Social Studies Courses

Friday - All Elective Courses (Art, Band, Spanish, PE & Health, Seminar, Tech, Transitions)

Ms. Southwell and Mr. Pearson will be available Monday - Friday in a virtual ASA Google Hangout from 1 p.m. until 2p.m. They will be there in real time to help with class work, a friendly chat or with any issues you may be having. Each student can access ASA by going to their personal BHS calendar and clicking on the link for that day or by contacting Ms. Southwell or Mr. Pearson directly for the link.

Our IT Helpdesk is a simple email (helpdesk@buchananschools.com) or phone call (269-695-8428) away! If you need access to the Internet to complete any of your coursework, our Tech Team has installed access points in the parking lot of our building. Students should park in the high school student parking lot and your district provided device will automatically connect to the High School hotspot. If you are using your own device, you may connect to the BCS_GUEST network at any of our four campuses. The free guest network is available to everyone and does not require a username or password. The Internet provided through this service is filtered the same as it would be if the student using were using a computer inside the building. If anyone should experience problems connecting, they may contact the Help Desk through email at helpdesk@buchananschools.com or phone at 269-695-8428.

If you need to contact the school by phone, please be sure you use Option 1 or Option 2 only. Emails are best as they can be checked more regularly from home offices.

We are in the process of updating our social media accounts.

Email: sdemaio@buchananschools.com
Website: www.buchananschools.com
Location: 401 West Chicago Street, Buchanan, MI, USA
Phone: (269) 695-8403
Twitter: @BHS_Bucks