May - Buckley Community Schools

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May 2014 | No. 5
“Home of the Bears”
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Com
Bear
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u
it y S c h o
Facts
305 S. First Street
EVERY student is our FIRST priority Buckley,
Mich. 49620
Graduation Time!
he Class of 2014 will walk
She plans to attend Northern
across the stage as graduates
Michigan University in the fall and
on Sunday, June 1, at 2 p.m.
pursue a degree in natural resources.
Congratulations to all of the students,
Traylor has attended Buckley since
their families, their teachers, and the
third grade but feels like she’s been here
Buckley community for helping these
since kindergarten.
students reach this major milestone in
“I am happy to have made many
their lives!
friends here,” she said. “Almost every
Each Senior Class features a
social experience with my friends brings
Valedictorian and Salutatorian who are
a smile to my face. We could reminisce
honored at Buckley. These students
for days about the great memories.”
work especially hard to be at the top of
Traylor credits her family, respecting
their class.
her teachers, and getting her work done
Bliss is graduating with a 3.9 grade
as reasons for her academic success in
point average (GPA). He plans to
high school.
attend either Calvin College or Central
“I have a very supporting family.
Michigan University where he plans to
Both my mom (Tracy Cinco) and dad
become a chemical engineer.
(Joe Traylor) have shown me love, hard
His family includes his parents Ted
work, and encouraged me in all I do. I
and Chris Allen and Chuck Bliss and
have one older brother (Zach Traylor)
brothers Demian and Gavin and sister
who also went to Buckley and will be
Jonelle. Bliss attended kindergarten in
a graduate from Grand Valley State
Traverse City but has been at Buckley
University. He has given me everything
ever since.
to look up to while growing up,” Traylor
Bliss said the secret to success in
said.
The
Senior
Class
poses
together
at
Prom
2014,
which
was
held
at
Crystal
high school is working hard, studying,
Congratulations to both Bliss and
Mountain in Thompsonville. According to the students, a great time was
and turning assignments in on time.
Traylor for their hard work.
had by all!
He said his most challenging class was
at Northwestern Michigan College when
B uck l ey Co mmun ity Scho o l s.
he took calculus.
“I often spend up to three hours before
exams studying in the math center,” he
said. He added that he wishes he could
have found a way to take all of the math
and science classes offered at Buckley.
He has fond memories of high school.
Co ng r a tulati on s, sen iors.
“One thing that always brings a smile
to my face is pop tarts on Fridays, spilling
PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid
Cadillac MI Permit #147
Ms. Papineau’s coffee — twice — and the
Buckley Community Schools
305 S. 1 St. l PO Box 38
memories of my classmates that I have
Buckley, Mich. 49620
grown up with who I call family.”
Kayla Traylor, Salutatorian for the
Box Holder
Class of 2014, has a grade point average
BUCKLEY MI 49620
of 3.80.
Bear Facts
st
2
Buckley Community Schools / The Bear Facts
Looking
Forward
Enjoy break
We would like to remind everyone that
the last day of school is Tuesday, June 10,
2014. Students will be dismissed at 11:45
a.m.
Procedures
The Board of Education has developed a
series of procedures to follow and will vote
to make it official at an upcoming board
meeting. An ad hoc committee made of
Mrs. Sara Snider, Mrs. Jessica Harrand,
and Mrs. Michele Beeman met several
times to develop the procedure. A similar
set of procedures was shared with us
during our workshop with the Michigan
Association of School Boards in November.
Social media
We continue to update and improve our
website every day, which you can check out
at http://www.buckleyschools.com. Did
you know you can also follow us on Twitter
at @BuckleySchools or on Facebook? We
have many ways that we try to keep you
updated on things.
Bear
Pride
Class of 2014 ready to graduate
Ceremony slated for June 1
Song is Green Day’s “Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)”
With the end of the school year quickly approaching
seniors only have a few weeks left until that big day,
June 1, 2014, at 2 p.m. at
and that big event is GRADUATION.
the Big Gym the Class of
However, before all the seniors take that walk across
the stage there a few things happening, for example the
2014 will graduate.
official last day for the seniors is May 22.
A couple other things happening between now and
then include the senior trip to Chicago Memorial Day week–end and graduation rehearsal
which takes place on May 29 in the Big Gym.
Finally, following all of this is graduation which will take place on June 1 at 2 p.m. at the Big
Gym. For some students, their senior year flies by and for others it couldn’t take longer, but
no matter who you are, your senior year should and hopefully will be a time you will always
remember as being the time of your life.
Next year begins September 2
The last day of school for the 2013–14 school year will be Tuesday, June 10. It will be a half–
day of school. Children will be released at 11:45 a.m. The day will feature our annual send off
and include a picnic lunch for all students.
Please make sure that you have all balances paid for so you can ensure prompt delivery of
your child’s report card. It’s important that if you have a bill for a damaged textbook, missing
library book, or overdue lunch account that these are taken care
of as soon as possible.
On another note, if you’re missing anything, please consider
checking our lost and found. As the year winds down, we will
display our items for parents to pick up. We always end up with
many nice clothes — which we donate to different organizations.
It is likely that the next school year will begin on Tuesday,
September 2, and it will be a half–day of school. In Michigan, we
are not allowed to begin school prior to Labor Day and usually
begin on the first Tuesday in September. Please watch the Bear
Facts in August for official information regarding the beginning
of the school year, Open House, and other pertinent information
regarding the 2014–15 school year.
The first day
of school w ill
be Tuesday,
September 2.
Buckley
Community Schools
Published by BCS
Mr. Matt Simon
305 South First Street
Buckley, Michigan 49620
Superintendent: Rick
Heitmeyer
Mrs. Hollianne McHugh
T (231) 269–3325
F (231) 269–3833
Mrs. Sara Snider
Rick Heitmeyer, Superintendent
rheitmeyer@buckleyschools.com
In T h is Edition
Valedictorian and salutatorian
1
Looking Forward
2
Class of 2014 information
2
Next year
2
March is Reading Month
3
Moody’s Challenge
3
PTO playground fund–raiser
3
Thank you community and businesses
3
The Class of 2014
4–5
Prom6
Awards Night scheduled
7
Information about the Buckley Plan
8
President
Vice President
Secretary
Mr. Matt Breithaupt
Treasurer
Mr. Brian Warren
Trustee
Mrs. Michele Beeman
Trustee
Mrs. Jessica Harrand
Trustee
Todd Kulawiak, Principal
tkulawiak@buckleyschools.com
Kile Charnes, Dean of Students
kcharnes@buckleyschools.com
Chris Nuckels, Technology Director
cnuckels@buckleyschools.com
Phil Fairchild, Food Service Director
pfairchild@buckleyschools.com
The Bear Facts is published
six times during the school
year from August–May. If
you have any suggestions,
or questions, please
contact the office at (231)
269–3325 between the
hours of 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
All content
Copyright © MMIXIV
by BUCKLEY COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS
The Bear Facts / Buckley Community Schools
March is National
Reading Month
Playground improvement
campaign led by PTO
Students participated in reading, fund raising
Lots of PTO activities coming up soon!
March was National Reading Month. Students participated
in a change drive to buy novels for English teachers’
classrooms. The total amount raised was $278.
The freshman class won an ice cream sundae party as a
result of collecting the most change as a group, a whopping
$178.
Other activities included dress up Fridays. Students wore
sportswear, hats, pajamas and shirts with words in order
to earn a raffle ticket towards a drawing for a $25 BAM gift
card.
Nick Kuhn was the winner. There were also four ½–hour
“drop everything and read sessions” during the month.
Thank you to everyone for their participation. It was a great
way to promote reading and celebrate the month.
Moody’s Mega Math
Challenge Competition
For the second
year, a group
of students
participated in
the Moody’s
Mega Math
Challenge
scholarship
competition.
The M3
Challenge
spotlights
applied
mathematics as a powerful problem–solving tool, as a
viable and exciting profession, and as a vital contributor to
advances in an increasingly technical society.
Scholarship prizes total $125,000. The Challenge is
entirely Internet–based and there are no registration or
participation fees. Each high school may enter up to two
teams of three to five junior and/or senior students.
During the challenge day, students have 14 hours (7 a.m.–
9 p.m. local time) to solve an open–ended, applied math–
modeling problem focused on a real–world issue. Teams can
work from any location they choose and can use any free and
publicly available resources, but they may not discuss any
aspect of the problem with, or seek help from, their coach or
anyone other than their teammates via any medium (https://
m3challenge.siam.org/about/).
This year’s team was Lauren Steed, Drew McHugh, Ryan
Dunn, Lincoln Spitzer, and Kirsten O’Rourke. Although they
didn’t place, it was a good experience for all involved.
A survey of teachers and
student at the beginning of
the school year indicated a
clear need for more options
on our playground. There is a
limited number of structures
available for students to
interact with, and many of
these structures don’t meet
regulations for our younger
students.
The PTO is looking for ways
to make our playground more
“user” friendly. This means
more structures for young kids, more activities for older students and more
accessibility for special needs students.
The PTO has planned several fund–raising activities to help support this
project. We have raised around $2,100 so far and have had several items
arrive at the school already. Anyone interested in donating funds to purchase
an item please visit our website at www.buckleyschools.com under the PTO
tab for more information.
A Plaque will be included in appreciation of your gift. If you are interested
in working on the vision committee please contact Jessica Harrand at (231)
631–5006.
We are Thankful for our
Community
A Great Big Thanks goes to the following
businesses and organizations for
supporting our carnival!
Stevens Propane
Little Bear, CDC
Buckley Family Pharmacy
Honor Bank
Southside Hideout
The Wireless Zone
Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids
Main Street Café
Pahl’s Country Store
Traverse City KOA
Cherryland Floral
Buckley School Board
Buckley Athletic Boosters
Tabernacle Daycare
Tabernacle
Grant United Methodist Church
Community Food Pantry
Buckley Fire Department
3
4
Buckley Community Schools / The Bear Facts
B uckley C o m m uni t y S c h o o l s
BRAXTON S. BLISS
MARLEE M. HARRIS
BRYAN C. BOYETT
JEANNIE A. JACKSON
WILLIAM BRIMMER
KATELYN BUNGE
CALEB JAMES KELLOGG
MICHAEL P. ROSEK
JACOB BURGESS
LEA MONTANA KELP
TILDA KINERE
SHELBY NICOLE SIMMONDS
LUKE A. SOMSEL
Class Song: “Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)” —Green Day
Class Motto: “Our lives are before us, our pasts are behind us, and our memories
are forever with us.” — Unknown
Class Flower: White Calla Lily
The Bear Facts / Buckley Community Schools
The Se n i o r C l a s s o f 2 0 1 4
MAKENNA CLOUS–GRIFFIN
ANNA ANDREYEVNA
DRIAGILEVA
ZACHARY RYAN CROTON
KRYSTLE Y. LEWIS
KATLYN M. MICHELS
LAUREN D. STEED
KAYLA ROSE TRAYLOR
ROBERT L. MIDDAUGH
TYLER JAMES WELCH
Superintendent
Dean of Students
Mr. Rick Heitmeyer
Mr. Kile Charnes
Administration
Principal
Technology
Mr. Todd Kulawiak
Mr. Chris Nuckels
JORDAN P. ENSOR
CHRISTIAN S. HARRIS
KYLE S. MOLLOSEAU
ALEX CAIN PANTALL
5
6
Buckley Community Schools / The Bear Facts
BCS students enjoy
“Great Gatsby” era at
Prom 2014
n By Billy Brimmer, Senior
BCS’s annual Prom was a huge success April 26 in the Mountain View room at
Crystal Mountain resort.
The theme was “The Roaring Twenties.” Dinner was chicken tenders and
French fries — and pizza was served later in the evening as requested by the
Senior Class.
Senior Katlyn Michels said, “My favorite part was how the music fit the theme
and was mixed with the music we wanted to dance to.”
Sophomore Demian Allen said, “The music was good, the food was great, and
the people were awesome.”
Sophomore Corrie Burgess said, “It was a great night! The music and deejay
were good and it was a great atmosphere.” Students danced the evening away
and had lots of fun.
The Junior Prince and Princess were Dustin Tandy and Isabel Vermilya and
the 2014 Prom Queen was Kayla Traylor and King, Billy Brimmer.
The evening was a huge success and students had fun wearing the props,
dancing to twenties music, and taking lots of pictures.
The Bear Facts / Buckley Community Schools
Awards Night scheduled
for Wednesday, May 14
What would you tell you?
Math teacher Mr. Jim
are recognized by their
Hornyak has said in the
classmates, teachers,
past, “Whoever said you
friends, and families.
don’t get paid to go to
Although college is
school was wrong.”
further away for some than
Students are encouraged
others, several students
to remember that hard
benefit from scholarship
work pays off — and several
awards. Northwestern
scholarships and college
Michigan College (NMC)
awards later,
eighth graders
that becomes
to be granted
“Whoever
clear.
the NMC
said you don’t
Wednesday
Commitment
get paid to go
May 14 is the
Scholarship.
to school is
annual awards
Along with the
wrong.”
ceremony
Commitment
for students
Scholarship,
in grades seven through
NMC also gave away their
twelve. The afternoon starts Presidential Scholarship.
off with the senior class
Several scholarships and
picture complete with cap
awards will be given out.
and gown.
Not only were the
Many members of
students awarded, but
the community always
one special teacher was
come out to support the
recognized by the student
student body. As multiple
body. The Teacher of
awards and scholarships
the Year award will be
are given, hard–working
presented Wednesday
and deserving students
evening.
Ending high school is a massive step in each young person’s life. It
opens up new doors for opportunities that are above and beyond. Now
that I am entering the “real” world, I can’t imagine starting high school
over. However, if I did, there may be some things I would do differently,
academically speaking.
My main tip is to work hard in your courses. This can not be stressed
enough. It may feel like everyone is nagging you by telling you to work
harder in your classes, but they are completely, 100%, correct. It may seem
like far away, but when your senior year begins and you are filling out
college applications, you are going to want a relatively high grade point
average (GPA). This can determine your acceptance to college and other
programs alike. Paying attention and working hard in your classes will not
only help you learn and grow as a student (plus earn positive study habits),
but also open up many possible options for you in the future.
English teacher, Ms. Sara Papineau, recently had her students
complete an assignment regarding the “Top Ten Things I wish I knew as a
Freshman.”
Some of the best:
n By Lauren Steed
“Skinny jeans are just a bad idea.” — Jake Burgess
“DON’T PROCRASTINATE. If you procrastinate at all, you
will never be able to do anything, and you definitely Don’t
want that when you start your senior year or college.” —
Shelby Simmonds
“Don’t take everything so seriously. You’re too young to be
causing yourself a hernia.” — Tilda Kinere
“Arguing with a teacher helps you with absolutely nothing.”
— Bryan Boyett
You can make
Buckley Community Schools
your school of choice.
Buckley Community Schools
(231) 269–3325
Call now to set up a meeting and find
out why so many kids make Buckley
“their choice.”
http://www.buckleyschools.com
Every student is our
first priority
7
Buckley Community Schools
Board approves growth plan
to outline the next five years
Buckley Community
Schools has decided to
present a simplified plan to
outline the next five years at
the school district. Simply
called, “The Plan,” it was
presented to the Board
of Education at its April
meeting.
The main components,
built around the
slogan “Every student
is our first priority,” are
student growth, student
achievement, and financial
responsibility. The Board
developed these important
focal points at a workshop
in February and asked Mr.
Heitmeyer, superintendent,
to develop the ideas and
present back to the Board
at its regular meeting in
March.
Heitmeyer worked with
the leadership team at
several meetings to further
develop the ideas.
Mr. Todd Kulawiak,
principal, focused on
academic areas. Mr.
Kile Charnes, dean of
students and athletic
520, 80, and 15.”
students is able to meet
director, focused on
The 520 is an actual
benchmark projections,”
developing awareness
student growth idea
said Kulawiak.
of our extra‑curricular
— growing the student
NWEA is nationally
activities. Mr. Chris Nuckels, population to 520 FTE (full normed. The data the
technology director, focused time equivalents). That
assessments provide can
on what tools our students is not actually “bodies
lead to amazing growth for
will need for the future.
in seats,” because of the
learners. Impressive results
Heitmeyer, focused on
complicated nature of
and improved outcomes are
giving the plan synergy
counting students. But if
just the beginning.
as well as developing a
BCS can count 520 FTE
Another point about
marketing plan to highlight that’s a desirable number
NWEA is that the
the good things the school
for the district.
assessments are “adaptive,”
district continues to do.
The number 80 refers
which means they respond
“The plan has a lot to it,
to student proficiency;
to the student’s answers and
so it was important to keep however, that may be
questions may get tougher
it focused,”
or easier. State
Heitmeyer
testing with
said.
the SBA is also
The school would like to grow
The
going to be
to 520 students, have 80% of
leadership
adaptive, as
the students proficient, and
team focused
well.
achieve a 15% fund balance.
on three
The final
specific
number, 15,
goals and
is the fund
developed objectives,
difficult to measure because balance the board would
strategies, and actions to go the State of Michigan is in
like to see the school
with the goals.
the process of making the
district attain. Currently,
“We built the plan entirely transition from the MEAP
with about a $3.5 million
with the ‘end in mind,’”
test to the Smarter Balanced annual budget, the district
Heitmeyer said. “We have
Assessment (SBA).
is expecting to end the year
three numbers to aim for:
Buckley may decide
with about a 4–5% fund
to use the Northwest
balance (anywhere from
Evaluation Association
$140,000 to $170,000).
Congratulations to the students,
(NWEA) assessment
“The reasons we would
program to determine
like to get to 15% are that
staff, parents, and community for
annual growth by individual that provides us some
your hard work.
students. The NWEA
protection in case of an
assessment is given three
emergency at the school
times per year to students
(something mechanical
in grades three through 11. failing that would not be
During the fall assessment, covered under insurance
a benchmark for growth
such as a boiler), it would
is determined for each
require us to borrow less
student, so the school could money annually, and it
measure students based on would potentially allow us
annual growth. Currently,
to save even more money
pre– and post–tests
so we can compensate
have been created as one
our employees better,”
Buckley Community Schools was also
measure.
Heitmeyer said.
recognized by US News in 2010 and 2013.
“It would be interesting
Essentially, the whole
to see if at least 80% of our plan is predicated on
B A CK T O B A CK !
growing the student body,
improving curriculum and
assessment, and developing
a system where the district’s
expenditures are less than
its revenue every year.
The marketing plan
Heitmeyer developed
includes radio and
television ads as well as
newspaper ads. The school
also provided incoming
kindergarten students
with lots of swag to build
a relationship with the
students and families prior
to kindergarten round–up
in April.
“We are working hard
to engage our families
and try to make sure that
our kindergarten families
choose Buckley — and then
stay hear,” commented
Kulawiak. “We are doing
good things and are excited
to show that off to new
families.”
Heitmeyer said the
leadership team will be
presenting the plan to
township and village
councils. The hope, he said,
is to develop a relationship
with everyone in the
community.
“We want to create a key
communicators list so we
can share information wide
throughout the district,”
Heitmeyer said. “We have
many people who care
deeply about the school
who don’t necessarily wish
to attend board meetings or
school events,” he added.
The key communicators
list will help the school
reach those individuals and
hopefully allow them to
share the information.