BHS Bucks Principal's Update

We hope you had a relaxing holiday break with family and friends to bring you joy. Our second semester has started off wonderfully and students seem to be ready to learn and grow! With a shortened week due to the weather, it was an easy and doable transition back to full time. It's also a great reminder for us to check our messages before getting ready for school to see if school is in session for the day.

This semester we are continuing with our Ketchup Solutions for students who need a little extra time in their day to complete assignments. Mrs. Southwell has been busy getting students to complete semester 1 requirements for those who received Incompletes. She is also continuing to stay after school with students who need a quiet place to work and catch up on assignments or receive some extra help.

As always, COVID has made us re-think and re-evaluate the way we do things. Some changes have been made as a precautionary measure, others are made due to changing rules and laws. One thing is for certain, everyone is trying to do their best to ensure that our students are learning, growing, and staying safe. There is no malicious intent or ill will when it comes to the guidelines that are in place. With that, we will continue to be masked until at least January 21. It is absolutely necessary for students to stay home if they are feeling sick. Please do not allow students to attend extra-curricular events if they are sick.

Winterfest will look a little different this year. We will not be hosting a Winterfest dance, instead we will host one for Springfest. Our intention is to have a formal dance later in the year and celebrate our spring athletes just like we do our winter athletes currently. We are searching for venues and music now and will advertise and sell tickets for that once all details have been finalized. Please be patient with us as we continue to plan a special event for our students.

As always, it's a great time to be a Buck!

Mrs. DeMaio

All 8th grade Math and ELA students will be taking their mid-year NWEA tests this week. This will help us determine if our instruction and interventions are working to help kids grow in their learning.

Next month students will complete a survey to initiate the scheduling process. BHS involves students in what is included in our schedules by asking them what classes they would be interested in taking. The courses that are most highly chosen are the ones we offer and determine where in the schedule they get placed. Although there are many benefits to a small school, there are limitations as well. Unfortuntely, we are not able to offer all classes at all times of the day. Our teachers teach multiple classes throughout the day and therefore we are not able to offer the same electives multiple times during the day. This is unfortunate and sad when a student must choose between electives. To avoid this as much as possible, Mr. Flowers has been meeting with students to create a 4-year graduation plan in which students choose the courses they wish to take and understand their requirements for graduation.

BHS welcomes Jennifer Fiero to our Student Services office. She has been an amazing asset to the Middle School for a long time and has decided to grow her strengths by joining us at the high school. She will be assisting Mr. Flowers and is eager to help our BHS students, families and community members in whatever capacity she is able.

2021-2022 Yearbook Information

Senior pictures for the yearbook need to be submitted to rphilip@buchananschools.com by February 14th, 2022.

Senior Shirt Information

Senior shirts have arrived! Mrs. Hess will pass out shirts before school, after school, or during passing periods. As always, please direct your attention to the senior website which contains all the information needed for senior year. You can find it a www.seniors.buchananschools.com.

Our student body came out to support and watch our Lady Bucks defeat Benton Harbor on December 3rd while celebrating a fantastic and most loved night of Christmas on the Court! If you missed it, there are plenty more opportunities to get involved and show your support! Come out to one of these events and show your Buck Pride! As always, for up-to-date information, please check out The Herd social media pages.

• Friday, 1/14 Boys Varsity vs. Brandywine: Zoo Night
  
• Tuesday, 1/18 Girls Varsity vs. Niles: Pajama Night
  
• Friday, 1/21 Boys Varsity vs. Bridgman: Boujee Night
  
• Friday, 1/28 Boys & Girls Varsity vs. Berrien Springs: Wild West Night
  
• Friday, 2/4 Boys Varsity vs. South Haven: Winterfest
• Saturday, 2/12 Boys Varsity vs. Niles (3p.m.): Jersey Afternoon
  
• Thursday, 2/17 Girls Varsity vs. Brandywine - Senior Night: “Senior” Night
  
• Tuesday, 2/22 Boys Varsity vs. Mattawan: Senior “Senior” Night
  

Our Culinary CTE classes learned decorating techniques as well as some basic principles of engineering from Chef Carrigan while constructing their gingerbread houses. They filled our halls with such a desireable aroma, it was hard to not get hungry! Not only do they look amazing - I'm sure they are also quite delicious!

The Buchanan High School Band and Choir performed a festive concert last month. Our choir and band performed 4 festive pieces each. The concert included various small group performances and solos. We look forward to growing these programs and watching their performances in the future.

Students in Mr. Ehlert's Psychology class learned about sensation and perception, specifically about optical illusions. Students created dragons to illustrate the Hallow Face Illusion. Check out the video (link provided here) to see it for yourself!

• January 3 - Second Semester Begins
• January 17 - NO SCHOOL
• February 2 - Half Day (Hours 1-6) Dismissal at 11:00am
• February 18 - NO SCHOOL
• February 21 - NO SCHOOL (President's Day)
• March 16 - NHS Induction & Academic Letter Awards
• March 17 - Half Day (Hours 1-6) Dismissal at 11:00am , Parent/Teacher Conferences
• March 18 - NO SCHOOL
• March 21 - 25 - Spring Break
• April 6 - Half Day (Hours 1-6) Dismissal at 11:00am
• April 15 - Half Day (Hours 1-6) Dismissal at 11:00am
• May 4 - Half Day (Hours 1-6) Dismissal at 11:00am
• May 27 - Commencement
• May 30 - NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
• June 7 - Half Day Exams 1-3, Dismissal at 11:00am
• June 8 - Half Day Exams 4-6 Dismissal at 11:00am

High School: 695-8403

(option #2) Stacey DeMaio, Principal

Abby Cantu, Administrative Assistant

(option #1) Brian Pruett, Assistant Principal

Anna Smith, Administrative Assistant

Miranda Capron, Attendance & At-Risk Interventionist

Donna Southwell, Academic Interventionist

(option #4) Student Services

Brandon Flowers, Counselor

Jennifer Fiero, Administrative Assistant

(option #3) Mark Frey, CTE Director

(option #5) Karin Falkenstein, Special Education Director

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