BHS Update From The Woods

Welcome back Bucks and welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!

In a few days the halls and classrooms of BHS will be filled with your children, and we can't wait. The students, families and staff of this community are what make BHS such a special place. We are also excited to work along with you on this journey your children are currently on. Thank you for choosing Buchanan! This update is filled with back to school information that you may want to know. Take a look and please let us know if you have any questions. Go Bucks!

Katie Persak --- Choir

Brian Bennett -- Science

Natalie Garland -- Spanish

Marc Hartman -- Band

Student Schedules

Powerschool is open for students to be able to view their schedules if they have already not done so. There was an issue with an update to the Powerschool App last week, but Mr. Place sent out an email to all students in regards to this. So if you are having issues with logging into the Powerschool app, please refer back to that email.

All students were also sent an email from Mr. Flowers in regards to schedule change requests. If you are interested into looking into a schedule change, please refer back to that email or scan the QR code signs that can be found in the main office or the students services office.

Please remember the first week of school is often busy in the student services office, so please be patient with requests that are made.

Course Descriptions & Academic Information

Click on this link, BHS Course Descriptions to view the current course offerings. Please note that this list of offerings may change depending on staffing availability and student interest. More information can be found on our HS website under the Student Services tab at buchananschools.com

Lockers

As we have done for the past few years BHS will not be assigning locks to students. If a student would like a locker, we have plenty of them, they just need to request one from the main office.

Student Entrance in AM and throughout the Day

The cafeteria/gym area doors off of the student parking lot open at 7:00AM for breakfast. The doors that enter the main part of the building do not unlock un 7:25AM. The doors at the front of the building do not open until 7:25AM as well. Please help make sure that your student arrives on time, they should be in their classroom by 7:40 AM. If a student arrives after 7:40 AM they need to enter through the main door at the front of the building and they will be counted as tardy. This applies throughout the entire day. Unless a staff member is manning a door to allow students to enter, all students should enter through the front door at the main entrance at any point throughout the day. After school, buses will park on Phelps Street to pick up bus riders. If you are picking up your student during the school day, please use the front entrance and call the main office! Thank you!

Powerschool And Parent Communication

BCS will continue to use Powerschool to enable students and parents to view current data: grades, attendance, contact information, the daily bulletin for student announcements, etc. Please check Powerschool often. If you need any help in regards to Powerschool please contact the main HS office or email Mrs. Cantu at acantu@buchananschools.com.

Form And Agreements Return Date

Please return all forms and agreements ASAP. Please look over the enrollment verification form and make any necessary changes if needed, then sign and turn in. Every student has to fill out a new AUP this year because of updates. This has to be signed in order to be able to use the chromebooks, so please turn this in ASAP so your student can continue to use their device. Thank you!

Picture Day is Tuesday September 5th!

Senior Information

Senior advisors are Mrs. Hess (chess@buchananschools.com) and Mrs. Neal (eneal@buchananschools.com). There was a senior meeting at Back to School Night, but you can access everything that was talked about and anything else that you may need to know on the senior website seniors.buchananschools.com Please check this site regularly for updates, announcements and important information.

Off Campus Students

MSC, LMC, EMC, ECA and Dual Enrollment:

-MSC Classes at Andrews University begin on Tuesday Aug. 29th. Transportation is provided, the bus leaves at 7:00AM from the student parking lot.

-CTE Classes begin on Wednesday Aug. 30th. Transportation is provided to most classes, please attend the transportation meeting for that information.

-A transportation meeting for all students who are attending off campus classes is mandatory on Monday Aug 28th. Students who are off campus in the AM will meet at 8:00AM in the Auditorium and a meeting for all students off campus in the PM will be at 11:00AM in the Auditorium. All leave and pickup times will be discussed along with forms that need to be signed by parents and students if you are driving yourself or riding with another student.

-When students arrive to campus from an off campus class they are required to enter through the front door at the main entrance.

Student Handbook and Code of Conduct

This will be updated on the district website soon. A printed copy is also available upon request to the Assistant Principals office.

Attendance Policy

BHS believes attendance is extremely important to student success. Please read the attendance policy in our handbook located on the district website.

To excuse an absence please call the attendance office 695-8403. The schools phone will take messages 24 hours a day. If a student is not parent excused within 24 hours they will be assigned a detention. We have a very detailed attendance policy, so please take the time to read it and go over it with your child. Thank you.

Lunch Policy

Buchanan High School has a closed lunch policy. We are no long allowing juniors and seniors to leave campus for lunch with a signed lunch pass. BHS lunches will be free this year, except Ala Carte items. Students who are leaving campus for off campus classes are not required to stay for lunch, but if a student is at BHS for the entire day, they are required to stay on campus for lunch. If you have questions or concerns please contact the Assistant Principal Mr. Frey. Thank you.

Senior Parking

We will be giving seniors the opportunity to paint their parking spot this year for a fee if they so desire. Details for this will be provided to the seniors at their seniors class meeting.

Owes List

Any student who failed to turn in a book or other school property at the end of the previous school year Will Not Receive any new course material for the current school year until their the items are taken care of. Contact the assistant principals office with questions regarding owed materials.

Cell Phone Policy

Students may use personal communication devices before and after school, during their scheduled lunch times and in between classes as long as they don't create a distraction, disruption or otherwise interfere with the education environment. Use of PCD's, except those approved by a teacher or administrator, at any other time is prohibited and must be powered off and stored out of sight.

If a students device is turned into the office for inappropriate use, it will remain there until it can be picked up by a parent/guardian of that student.

Directory Information

The policy of Buchanan Community Schools is to disclose directory information in reference to students. There are occasions that certain information, which is not considered harmful and is not an invasion of privacy, will be released. Information such as name, activities involved in, awards received, etc. may be in the best interest of the student when released. The No Child Left Behind Act, Section 9528, requires high schools to release the names and addresses of junior and senior high school students to the military when requested. If you do not wish information of any kind to be released, please notify the school in writing within ten days.

Upcoming Dates to Know

-Aug 28 - First day of school

-Aug 31 - First Home Football Game, Galien Night

-Sept 1 - No School

-Sept 4 - No School

-Sept 5 - Picture Day

Website: www.buchananschoools.com
Location: 401 W. Chicago St.
Facebook: Buchanan High School
Twitter: @BHS_Bucks