National School Counseling Week (February 3-7) is such a great time to recognize the amazing work school counselors do. They’re often the unsung heroes who support students emotionally, academically, and even socially. They play such an important role in shaping the school environment and making sure students feel heard, supported, and understood.

Buchanan Music Boosters are having a Giveback Night on Feb 25! Come out for Taco Tuesday and help raise money for the BHS spring musical, The Addams Family. Make sure to show your server the coupon below when dining at the Portage Road location.

Speech Sounds Development Chart

Articulation is the production and clarity of how speech sounds are produced. These typically occur in a sequential process as outlined below.

Note: Each stage of development assumes that the preceding stages have been successfully achieved.

How to use this chart:

Review the skills demonstrated by the child up to their current age. If you notice skills that have not been met below their current age contact one of Buchanan’s speech and language pathologists:

Maggie Patnoudes Ottawa School 695-8409

Anizbeth Contreras Moccasin School 695-8408

Shelley Lietz Middle School 695-8406 and High School 695-8403

Visit the Smithsonian Institute's website for access to online events, resources and podcasts. The 2025 theme is "African Americans and Labor" with a focus on the various and profound ways that work of all kinds intersects with the collective experiences of Black people. https://www.si.edu/events/black-history-month

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and the Library of Michigan worked with educators to showcase Black authors and their literary works, creating calendars in celebration of Black History Month. In addition, the 2025 resources are recommended by the members of the MDE’s Student Advisory Council who showcase Black authors and their literature with Book Talks. The Book Talks feature books nominated and recommended by students.

https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/academic-standards/literacy/michigan-celebrates-black-history-month

So far, we have had an active winter season and we still have some wintery weeks ahead of us. In Michigan, state law says schools can only cancel six days for reasons out of their control and still count them toward the required 180 days for their academic year. Three additional days may also be forgiven after the fact with approval from the state superintendent. Buchanan Community Schools has used five days with one day remaining. If we must utilize the last remaining day, we will request additional forgiven time from the state superintendent’s office.

Linked here are the inclement weather guidelines for Buchanan Community Schools.

Students encouraged they if they... “See Something, Say Something.” We want everyone in our community to be better informed and aware of the behaviors that a child often demonstrate when they need help:

• Lack of interest or poor performance in school

• Absence of age-appropriate anger control skills

• Seeing self as always the victim

• Persistent disregard for or refusal to follow rules

• Cruelty to pets or other animals

• Artwork or writing that is bleak or violent or that depicts isolation or anger

• Talking constantly about weapons or violence

• Obsession with violent games and/or TV shows

• Lack of enthusiasm, energy or motivation

• Carrying a weapon to school

• Overreacting to criticism

• Restlessness and agitation

• Bullying

• Misplaced or unwarranted jealousy

• Involvement with or interest in gangs

• Withdrawal from friends and activities

The more signs you see the greater the chance the child needs help. If you need assistance, you may call your child’s guidance counselor or building principal. You can always make reports to the Herd Hotline (269-409-1153) or Ok2Say.

Adapted from Mental Health America (MHA), Talking To Kids About School Safety and National Association of School Psychologists (2006). Tips for school administrators for reinforcing school safety. Bethesda, MD: NASP

Please attend this important update regarding the downtown infrastructure project.

The meet is scheduled for Monday March 3rd at 6pm at Buchanan City Hall.

Stay informed of project updates by visiting this website.

Ottawa Elementary
Moccasin Elementary

Buchanan Middle School

Buchanan High School

We pledge our best efforts to make Buchanan Community Schools a premier school district, and we strive to create safe, welcoming, engaging, and innovative schools that develop all students’ academic, athletic, artistic, and social growth. We take pride in our community and we appreciate the support of our stakeholders! Thank you!

But we do realize that sometimes something might not go right, or you might have a question about what we do or how we do it. We welcome that communication, and we will work to solve your issue for you as efficiently as we can.

In order to do that, we ask that you follow our Chain of Command process shown in the diagram. On the left side of the process chart, you will see the common areas of district programming, and then following to the right would be the next step(s) in the Chain of Command for that district program area. Please start by contacting the staff member listed in the second box of each program area. The contact information for our leadership staff members with responsibility for addressing concerns is listed at the top of the diagram. Other contact information for building staff is available on our website in the “Staff Directory” section of each building’s web page. It is expected that most issues should be able to be resolved at these initial steps in the Chain of Command.

Buchanan Community Schools is a school district located in Buchanan, Michigan. In 2020, Buchanan was named the Nicest City in America and is known for its community concerts and parades. Buchanan Community Schools has over 1500 students and over 200 employees. The school district has four schools based on grade bands, Ottawa- PreK-1, Moccasin-2-4, Buchanan Middle School 5-7, and Buchanan High School 8-12.

Email: probinson@buchananschools.com
Website: https://www.buchananschools.com/
Location: 401 West Chicago Street, Buchanan, MI, USA
Phone: 269-695-8401
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065665262514

To develop responsible, resilient, creative citizens capable of succeeding in a global society.