BHS Senior News

Dear Parents and Students of the class of 2020:

There is no easy way to begin this letter. Usually around this time I am sending you a different kind of senior letter, which would detail all the senior events that we have planned and an outline of how to finish the year strong. Although I continue to hope that our current circumstances improve and we return to life as normal, we know that is not our reality. On April 2, 2020 we learned that our buildings will be closed for the remainder of the year unless restrictions are lifted. This order by the Governor was intended to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and to keep students, staff and our community safe. Although we would love to be back in the building seeing your smiling faces (and sometimes not smiling), we know that this order is in place to keep us safe so that we may return to a healthy living environment in the fall, whether that is college, trade school, military, or the workforce.

There are many questions surrounding what life as a senior looks like now. Let me first assure everyone that if your student was on track to graduate prior to the state mandated closure of school buildings, we fully anticipate your child to be a graduate this June. Learning will continue for all students after Spring Break. We expect that once our Continuity of Learning Plan is approved at the county level, the seniors last day is May 23. We will be conducting transcript audits to ensure that all seniors have met the graduation requirements. I have enclosed information for the Guidance office and a few key senior teachers who can help to answer some of your questions. If your child was not on track to graduate and needs to complete credit requirements, seniors will have the opportunity to do so through online summer school.

Seniors will be awarded credits and grades for courses taken based on coursework through March 11, 2020. Students may use this time as an opportunity to improve their current grades. Any senior who was failing a course prior to the mandated building closure must also complete a final culminating activity for each course to earn credit. Specific course requirements are addressed below. As always, if you have questions, please reach out to your teachers. All online and college courses should be continued as normal. No modifications to these classes will be made.

In an effort to help our teachers and families plan, we are moving forward with some difficult decisions. If we are able to reconvene in school and on campus earlier than expected, we will regroup and discuss more appropriate plans if feasible.

Prom has obviously been canceled for April 24th. We will not be able to assemble as the "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order will still be in place. Mrs. Cuthbert and the Prom committee are communicating about possible alternate plans.

Decision Day will continue to be celebrated. Please look for an email survey from Mrs. Barlow to share your "decisions" as she plans for this event.

Senior Trip has also been canceled, and money will be refunded. Six Flags has also had to shut down their facilities and has not been able to identify when an opening date will occur.

Senior Dinner has been cancelled as well. Once we are all clear to be among friends and families, I would encourage seniors to gather for a last dinner, picnic, barbecue or bonfire to say farewells before headed off to future endeavors.

Senior Caps and Gowns will be coordinated with senior locker clean outs and return of materials. A drop off schedule will be announced in May. If you have questions about your cap and gown order or your announcement order, please contact your senior class adviser Mrs. Hess (chess@buchananschools.com).

Senior Speeches will still be auditioned. Please look at the Senior Website to read the updated requirements.

Senior Video will also still be created. Be sure you are submitting your photos to be included. Check out the Senior Website for more information.

The Top 10 Academic Excellence Luncheon for Niles, Brandywine, and Buchanan students has been cancelled. Students will receive certificates in the mail.

Honors Convocation will not occur in it's traditional form. All students will be recognized for their achievements and awards will be distributed.

Commencement will also not occur traditionally, but will occur as scheduled on June 5th. We are planning a spectacular culmination of the traditional graduation activities. While we had hoped to have commencement as planned, our school buildings and grounds are still closed. With that in mind, we have come up with some really great ideas to help commemorate this milestone. More information will be coming in May with details of the planned event.

I know these times are difficult and I want to express to you how disappointed we all are in the circumstances surrounding your senior year ending. We hope to provide you with unique experiences to send you off into the world, knowing full well that you are better because of it. I hope you look at this as an opportunity to recenter and re prioritize your values and beliefs, that you are able to look at this time as a unique chance to really understand what the important things in life are, and that you will cherish your fellow man, and not take things for granted. I hope you lead the future world into a place where we will not have to ever live in fear again. You have been gifted with a chance to experience life the way it is, and although I know you are disappointed and frustrated, I hope you use this opportunity to change your perspective and look for the positive.

As always, I hope you stay safe, stay healthy, stay positive and stay BUCKSTRONG!

Mrs. DeMaio

Hi Buck Family,

While I am deeply saddened that we will not be meeting in the classroom this school year, I am excited to see the paths all of you take and the journeys you embark on. Before embarking on your next journey, though, we need to wrap up your coursework for Senior English. Below you will find the mandated continued learning plan. Please know that I am always here for you. Please reach out if you need anything and stay in touch. Miss you, Bucks.

Senior English End of Year Policies:
In order to successfully complete and receive credit for Senior English, students must finish and submit their argumentative research paper. Research papers were started at the beginning of second semester and worked on extensively in class. The original due date for this paper was March 18th but has been extended to Monday, April 20th. Students are to submit their final research papers to Google Classroom. A rubric and revision checklist can be found on Google Classroom. Paper copies can be provided and other turn in arrangements made if needed. Remember your paper needs to be in problem-solution format and must include a counterargument. A works cited page and in text citations must be included. The paper must be 5 full pages in length, not including the works cited page. For Honors students, the paper must be 7 full pages in length, not including the works cited page. Research papers will be entered into PowerSchool and will be factored into final grades for this semester. Feedback will be given to every student and papers will be returned on Google Classroom. Students may rewrite and submit an improved essay based on teacher feedback. Re-submissions must be posted to Google Classroom by May 18th for regrading. Senior English will end on May 22nd as originally planned. All missing work must be submitted by that time. No other assignments will be given. I will finish grading rewrites and all grades will be finalized in PowerSchool by June 1st. I am always here for you and am available through email to answer questions and to provide feedback. -Mrs. Neal

Please respond to the following commitment survey ASAP:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeo1PFlx8FKMWHz7YFKhYO0jjyo5rf-Jd9YJMbvae3Wv07MRg/viewform

Hey seniors, Mr. Brinks here. I hope you all are doing well in these unique circumstances, I know things are crazy right now, and I hope that you are all safe and healthy. With regards to your senior classes, things are a bit different then they are for other grade levels, since you will be graduating here in a few months, the policy I am planning on using is as follows:

If seniors had a passing grade (60% or above) as of March 11, 2020, they will receive a passing grade for the class.

- The grade received will be the grade they earned in class prior to the mandatory closing of the school building.

- Students will be able to re-submit work, or complete any work that was missing in order to boost their grade, should they choose to do so.

- Any tests that have been missed due to absences will need to be made up as well, those will be e-mailed to those that are missing it to take as a take-home test.

- If the failure was due to excused absences prior to March 11, 2020, and missing work stemming from those absences, students will be able to complete that work to bring their grade up.

If a senior earned a failing grade (below 60%) as of March 11, 2020, students will be required to complete an "exit project" in order to show proficiency to pass their class.

- This project will be posted on my website, tbrinks.buchananschools.com and will be e-mailed to the students' BHS email address, by April 22nd, 2020, to be due by May 15th, 2020.

- A paper copy can be sent/mailed upon request.

Students can continue scholarship applications. An Instant Alert was sent out last week to have students pick up applications, if you still are in need of an application, please call the school to request a paper copy be sent to you. Students can scan/email applications to your counselor, or drop them off at the high school. We have a secure drop off filing cabinet near the student parking lot entrance. Please put your applications in an envelope and label it "scholarship application".

Application deadlines vary so please pay close attention to those dates.

Scholarship Page: http://guidance.buchananschools.com/bhs-currently-available-scholarships.html

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.

Yearbook sales close at the end of April and it will be a historic book this year! You will want to share this edition with your kids and grand kids!

Students were asked to participate in the all school survey that emailed. These are due on April 17th. Don't forget to email Mr. Philip (rphilip@buchananschools.com) pictures of what you are doing to stay busy during the closure. We have already had a great response so far.

Seniors were emailed for senior superlatives. That survey is also due on April 17th.