August 25, 2010It won't be long before students are back in school! I am looking forward to meeting our young adults in the middle and high schools and to greeting our excited youngsters in our elementary buildings.! There is nothing more exciting than the first couple of days of the school year, even for me!

I have been in Buchanan for about three weeks, and I am already feeling at home! I want to thank each and every one of you who have stopped by to say hello and who have welcomed me into the district. My calendar is quickly getting booked for sports events and community get-togethers. I hope to meet many more families soon!

During the past couple of weeks I have taken the time to review our school improvement plans and to meet our administrative team. I am impressed with the level of professionalism and the focus on student achievement. Over the past couple of years, teachers have been working hard, analyzing student data, and improving instruction for our students. In addition, our high school staff has been matching our curriculum to the Michigan Merit Curriculum. Our hard work is paying off! Our school report card scores came in over the summer, and I am proud to report that our three elementaries and our middle school all received an "A" on the State Report Card. Buchanan High School's Michigan Merit Exam scores are on the rise. The Class of 2011 did an outstanding job on this test. The High school Michigan Report Card grade raised from a "D" to a "B" thanks to everyone's hard work. It will now be up to the Class of 2012 to keep us moving towards an "A". To view report cards for all Michigan schools to to www.mi.gov/mde.

As you enter the school buildings for the first time this year, you will notice new staff! Please welcome them to Buchanan Community Schools:

Carissa Calcut - 7th grade ELA teacher - Middle School
Eastern Michigan University

Nicole Teshka - 4th grade teacher - Moccasin
St. Mary's College - completed several long-term sub positions at Moccasin

Joshua Wegener - Social Studies teacher - High School
Ferris State University - experienced teacher from Eau Claire Public Schools

Kathleen Spencer -Speech and Language Pathologist
MA from Western Michigan University - worked for Buchanan Schools from 1993-2000

Erin Kratky - 3rd grade teacher - Ottawa
Grand Valley State University - was a substitute teacher at Traverse City Area Public Schools

Ashlee Nason - Health Teacher - Middle School

Kasey McBeth - Moccasin Intervention Facilitator
Indiana University - experienced teacher from Edwardsburg School district

Tracy Grishaber - Administrative Assistant to the Principal - Middle School

Meagan Hildebrand - Administrative Assitant to the Principal - Middle School

Karin Dale - Administrative Assistant to Superintendent and Board of Education

Renee Cornwell - Administrative Assistant to the High School Principal

In addition you will notice new lights in our gyms, new woodchips on our playgrounds, a new bus, new computers in student's hands, and a new look to the front of our middle school. A huge thank you to our maintenance and custodial staff and to our many volunteers!

I have learned a lot about Buchanan, the Buchanan Community School Board of Education and staff in the past three weeks! I am proud to be the new Superintendent and am looking forward to a great school year!

Sincerely,

Dr. Andrea van der Laan, Superintendent