• December 20th - HALF DAY - noon dismissal - Frosty Festival
• December 23rd - January 3rd - SCHOOL CLOSED / WINTER BREAK

Recess:

As the weather changes, please make sure students are dressed appropriately to go outside for recess. We will take students outside in real feel temperatures above 32 degrees. Winter coats, gloves, and hats are recommended.

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.

THANK YOU to our local Patient First for their $1000 donation toward our Literacy Night in March. We are so grateful for their willingness to sponsor a school event that provides both our students and families opportunities beyond the classroom.

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

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

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

Twitter: @BuchananPta

Facebook: James Buchanan PTA

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.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Winter Festivities
  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B4CAFAA29A4F49-50744305-winter
• Buddy Activities (all year)
• https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B4CAFAA29A4F49-50983862-buddy
• NOTE: The buddy activity schedule is subject to change. We will give as much notice as possible if we need to change the time.