Principal's Update

The Governor signed an Executive Order yesterday that gave us some much needed answers and raised more questions. The news we received was anticipated, but not what we wanted as the outcome. Unfortunately, in order to continue to flatten the curve and keep Michiganders safe and healthy, all in-person instruction has been suspended. What this means is that school will resume, just not in our beloved school buildings. All schools in Michigan will have to finish this school year from our homes.

Yesterday, the Superintendent sent a letter to all families explaining our situation. If you did not receive that information it is currently posted on our district website at www.buchananschools.com. Every school in Michigan, as well as multiple other states are going through this exact same situation, we are not alone. All districts must develop a "Continuity of Instruction" plan which outlines how we will deliver instruction to our students that will have to be submitted to our RESA for approval. This plan is currently being developed with the help of all administrators in the district. Once this plan has been approved, we can begin providing instruction to students to finish out our school year. Yes, this means that students will have to do school work at home. Hopefully students have been working on missing assignments and tests up to this point and taking advantage of the supplemental learning opportunities that teachers have provided. Please continue to do these things until our plan has been approved and we can move forward.

Please know that your teachers and administrators miss you tremendously. We did not enter the education profession so that we could teach from a distance and not see your faces on a daily basis. Truly - seeing you is the best part of being a teacher! That being said, your teachers are undergoing a huge task right now. They are being asked to do something they've never done before, without any training, without any planning, and without much guidance. They are going to educate you to the best of their abilities. Please give us all grace as we learn new things and forgive us for not being really good at this stuff...yet! We too have a growth mindset and we too are determined to get better everyday and learn something new everyday. Please continue to reach out to your teachers and continue the relationships that you had before we left our building a few weeks ago. And if you have suggestions as to how to make things better, be kind and give helpful feedback.

You may be receiving emails, phone calls, video chats, or even hand-written letters from teachers and administrators who want to hear from you. Please do your best to stay in touch and reach out if you ever need help. Our Guidance office is always willing to help or would be willing just to listen if that's all you need. Also, please do everything you can to stay in touch with your friends. Humans need social interactions, and self-isolation can lead to some pretty dark places sometimes. Please reach out to friends, family, teachers, administrators, and counselors if you ever feel like you are overwhelmed or quarantine is just too much to handle sometimes. We are here for you.

Seniors, we know you are very disappointed with how your year is turning out. We understand and we too are just as disappointed that we aren't able to provide you with the traditional experiences that our Buchanan seniors normally have. There are many things that are not taking place this year for you as part of this closure, but we are committed to do everything we can to create similar activities and celebrations when the opportunity arises. We must do what we can to keep our community safe and healthy, and that means that your experiences are going to look different. We promise to do our best to give you opportunities to celebrate and shine.

A post written by Joe Thomas somewhere on the Internet sums up these times pretty well by using one of my favorite topics, Harry Potter. Here is his post:

I was a bit upset, initially, with J.K. Rowling because of the way that the Harry Potter book series robbed Harry, Hermione and Ron of their final terms as Hogwarts students. I felt like we had traveled this far together with them through the wizarding school, and it only seemed fair that we get to watch them work through their last level. Life had different plans for them though, and Rowling wrote the path that was true for her characters as much as it is now for students everywhere — especially high school seniors. What you are doing right now is helping the world stand up against a deadly enemy in order to protect countless lives. You are Harry Potter. You are Hermione Granger. You are Ron Weasley. You miss Hogwarts, and Hogwarts misses you. But your role here is crucial, and it will bless the paths of many lifetimes to come. Though many will still fall in this battle, you are doing your part to stave off an even greater global disaster. You are being true to your school in the most unexpected of ways, and you will graduate with the honor of having played a key part in this fight. Your work so far and chance for further accomplishments haven’t been dashed. A world of opportunity will await you when we get past this. Take heart and have hope. And remember the words of Albus Dumbledore: “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

Next week is Spring Break and although I am sure your plans have changed, we are committed to give you your well-deserved and needed vacation. There will be no assignments given until after Spring Break. These are not easy times but you are a BUCK, you are strong and you are resilient. Because of this you will be even stronger when we get through it. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay positive, and stay BUCKSTRONG!

Sincerely,

Mrs. DeMaio

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