Does anyone else feel like October just flew by? I feel like I just realized it was fall, and before I knew it, the beautiful leaves around our campus were starting to come down! I hope you’ve all had a chance to see our new safety fence along Schoolhouse Road and across from the railroad track. It’s been a wonderful addition to enhance safety for everyone.

A big thank-you to all who have contributed to our canned food drive and our "Blankets and Bears" collection. Your generosity is making a meaningful difference to support our local food bank and our friends affected by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Together, we’re helping those in need, and I couldn’t be prouder of our community!

Inside our classrooms, amazing things are happening! Students are making strides in reading every day, diving into exciting science experiments, exploring the arts, and working hard to master those multiplication facts!

We’re also thrilled to announce a new addition to our Buchanan team. Many of you may already know Ms. Jessica Martin, who retired as principal from Cloverdale Elementary. We’re excited to welcome her as our part-time Dean of Students. She brings a wealth of experience, and we’re lucky to have her here with us.

Thank you for all you do to support our school community. Here’s to a fantastic November ahead!

We will continue collecting new blankets and stuffed animals for our "Blankets and Bears" drive, through November 15! Buchanan Elementary is partnering with Pinnacle Elementary School in Rutherford County, North Carolina, to bring warmth and comfort to families in need. The principal at Pinnacle Elementary has shared heartfelt gratitude, expressing how much these donations mean to her school community.

Adding a special touch, our Buchanan bus drivers will personally deliver the donations to Pinnacle Elementary, as a way of “paying it forward” in memory of the kindness shown to our community during the Flood of 1985.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far! Every donation counts in spreading warmth and joy this season.

Years at Buchanan Elementary: 6 years

Years of Teaching: 16 years

Did Mrs. Fridley Always Know She Wanted to Be a Teacher? Yes

Is Kindergarten the Only Grade She Has Ever Taught? No, she taught preschool!

Something about Mrs. Fridley You May Not Have Known: Mrs. Fridley is a graduate of Lord Botetourt High School.

We’re excited to welcome our new art teacher to Buchanan Elementary! Recently relocating from Richmond to Eagle Rock, she now lives here with her husband, Corey, and their three-month-old son, Lawrence Patrick, whom they call LP. Their family is also joined by a delightful assortment of animals, including two cats, two dogs, a barn owl, two Harris hawks, a peregrine falcon, a snowflake moray eel, a black spiny sea urchin, and several saltwater fish. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Fine Art and minors in Art History and Psychology, and her creative hobbies include sewing, crocheting, and making pottery and jewelry. Her favorite colors—sage green, burnt orange, and Payne’s grey—may inspire some beautiful art projects this year! She’s looking forward to the shift in pace from inner-city Richmond to the close-knit community at Buchanan and is eager to share her love for art with our students.

If you are a Kroger customer, please consider signing up for the Kroger Community Rewards Program to help support Buchanan Elementary School. You can even encourage your extended family to participate, regardless of where they live. It's a simple process: just log into your Kroger account, go to your profile, click on Community Rewards, and use our organization number JF994.

Thank you in advance for your support! It truly makes a difference for our students.

PTA Scheduled Events for the 2024-2025 School Yea

11/5 - Chipolte Spirit Night

12/6 - Jingle Bell Jam 5 PM-7 PM

12/9 - Three Little Pigs Spirit Night

*2/11 - “The Marriage of Q and U” @ 6:30 PM

2/25 - Chick Fil A Spirit Night

*3/11 - Maker’s Market @ 6:30 PM

*4/8 - Fine Arts Celebration @ 6:30 PM

* indicates PTA meeting