May 5th - 9th - Teacher Appreciation Week

May 5th - Kindergarten Welcome Day; 5th Grade - NIM tour

May 6th - 5th-Steel Stacks field trip; 4th-Jacobsburg field trip

May 7th - Spring Concert (K-2) 2:15pm

May 13th - 1st grade Zoellner Arts field trip; All City Band Rehearsal

May 14th - All City Band Rehearsal; Spring Musical 6pm

May 15th - All City Band Rehearsal & Concert

May 19th - Dental Van visit

May 20th - School Closed

May 21st - 4th grade Junior Craftsman Field Trip

May 23rd - 5th grade Track Meet

May 26th - School Closed

May 30th - Field Day

June 2nd - 5th grade field trip

June 5th - 3rd grade field trip

June 9th - Kindergarten Moving up ceremony 9:30am; 5th grade moving up ceremony 11:15am

June 9th - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - NOON DISMISSAL

• The 3rd and 4th Graders planted the James Buchanan Elementary School Garden. We are super excited to help the students learn how to grow their Real Food and can’t wait to see how the garden blossoms over the summer months.
• The garden will be planted with various delicious veggies this summer, including herbs, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, kale, spinach, onions, potatoes, squash, and beans!
• We are currently looking for families to help care for the garden throughout the summer months. The garden needs to be watered and weeded to grow healthy, happy plants, and in return, any and all helpers can take home the produce that is harvested. A little bit of care in your garden goes a long way in producing delicious veggies for the students and their families.
• We are also looking for a lead at each school to oversee garden care and assist families as needed. In the past, it seems to work best for the whole summer or specific weeks throughout June, July, and August, so the garden work doesn’t fall on one person.
• If you are interested in helping with the garden, please contact Mrs. Batdorf at sbatdorf@basdschools.org
• We are very excited to have a garden program at James Buchanan Elementary and love encouraging students & staff members to Eat and Grow their Real Food. Thank you for allowing the Kellyn Foundation Garden Program to grow with you!

Attendance:

One of the district's and school's Wildly Important Goals (WIGs) for the next three years is to decrease the rate of chronic absence by at least half.

• If your child is absent from school, you will receive an automated phone call.
• The school website has a link "Attendance Excusal Submission".
• The parent/guardian must submit an email to BuchananAttendance@basdschools.org within 3 days of the student returning from his/her absence. Please make sure to include the student's name, teacher, date of absence, and explanation in the email. You can attach doctor's notes to the email.
• We are not accepting messages on DOJO.
• If we do not receive the absence note within 3 days, your child's absence is considered unlawful.
• Doors open by 8:55am. If a student arrives AFTER 9am, he/she is considered LATE and must enter through the front entrance. Students will receive a late pass. Parents MUST sign the student in.
• In compliance with the Compulsory Attendance law, we will be issuing 3, 7, and 10 day attendance letters.

Breakfast/Lunch:

Please visit the “dining services” page under “families” on the district website for more information about our payment system - schoolcafe.com. You may also see if you are eligible for free & reduced-price meals by applying. Breakfast will be provided to students for free this year.

Technology:

Please visit BASD's Empower website at https://www.basdschools.org/empower for updated program information such as Frequently Asked Questions, Chromebook Insurance, Screen Time statement, and more helpful documents.

Transportation:

If you have any questions, please call the transportation office at 610-861-0360

https://www.basdschools.org/transportation

Birthdays:

Celebrating birthdays are fun during the elementary years. Please adhere to the following guidelines: contact the classroom teacher prior to the date

• District policy prohibits unhealthy snacks (Wellness Policy).
• Any type of healthy snack should be individually packaged
• In lieu of food items, consider pencils, game, books
• Students may hand out party invitations to everyone in the class.

Member Hub: https://jamesbuchananpta.memberhub.store/

Twitter: @BuchananPta

Facebook: James Buchanan PTA

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

Field Day

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/5080B4CAFAA29A4F49-56090513-field

Field Trips:
Grade 3 - Quiet Valley Living History Farm - 6/5
Grade 4 - Jacobsburg Environmental Center - 5/6
Grade 5 - Adventure Aquarium - 6/2

Volunteer Policy:

• See the district requirements for volunteering - https://www.basdschools.org/volunteering
• Every person interested in volunteering must obtain clearances every 5 years
• All adults entering the building must provide photo ID when signing into the main office.
• To volunteer for school activities and field trips, parents/guardians must be a member of the PTA.

Title I is a 100% Federally funding supplemental education program that provides financial assistance to schools to improve educational opportunities for educationally deprived children. Title I programs are designed to help children meet the state content and performance standards in reading, language arts, and mathematics. Title I funding also provides for parent and family engagement in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities.

JBES has allotted funding toward the following:

• Bulldog Bark Newsletter
• Getting Ready for Kindergarten Literacy Nights
• Character Counts Workshop by Cohesion
• Positive Parenting Workshop by Cohesion
• School supplies for all students
• Planners for grades 3,4,5
• Literacy Night
• PSSA Booster Sessions

We welcome suggestions on family engagement activities. Title I updates are provided at the PTA meetings.