February 2011 305 S.

First Street
Proudly Serving Buckley

Homecoming on
Issue #3 Buckley, Mich. 49620

tap for Bears

It’s already time for Homecoming Week at Buckley
Community Schools. The big week begins on
Valentine’s Day. Events are scheduled throughout
the week, with the Homecoming Game on Friday,
February 18, against the Glen Lake Lakers.
The Homecoming Court will be honored between
the JV and varsity games, with representatives
from each class and the crowing of the king and
queen.
The Homecoming Dance, A Night at the Oscars,
is slated for Saturday night in the little gym from
8–11:30 p.m.

Daily Themes
Monday: Farmers Day
Tuesday: Backwards Day
Wednesday: Wacky
Wednesday
Thursday: Neon Day
Friday: Blue & Gold Day

In This Edition
Homecoming on Tap 1
Looking Forward 2
PTO Activities 2
Third Grade Learning 3
21 Things 3
Briefs 3
Superintendent Wins Award 4
FOCUS 4
New Teachers 4
Buckley District Host 5
Northern Belles Champs 5
100 Years of Graduates 6
Preparing Our Youngest 8
School Pride
Above left: The girls’ basketball team is having a competitive season, including a
convincing win against Leland. Above: Buckley students are excited about school
spirit. The louder and larger the crowd at our home games, the better our teams
seem to play. Students were excited about the Benzie Central–Buckley game on
February 2, which the Bears prevailed at the buzzer, 36–35. Left: The basketball
team was focused against the Huskies, with Evan Chalker keeping his eye on the
bucket while a Benzie player shoots a free throw. The Homecoming Game will
be played Friday, February 18, against the Glen Lake Lakers. The JV game tips
off at 6 p.m. Please come out to the game to support the Bears in this Northwest
Conference battle.
Bear Facts PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid
Cadillac MI Permit #147
Buckley Community Schools
305 S. First St. l PO Box 38
Buckley, Mich. 49620
Box Holder
BUCKLEY MI 49620
2 Buckley Community Schools / The Bear Facts

Support Buckley’s PTO by

Looking
Forward
Homecoming
Homecoming is always a fun week at school. The students are
able to exhibit their Bear Pride in ways not normal throughout
the year. Monday is Farmers Day; Tuesday is Backwards Day;
Wednesday is Wacky Wednesday; Thursday is Neon Day;
Friday is Blue & Gold Day. The big Northwest Conference
basketball battle will be Friday night against the Glen Lake
Lakers. The JV game begins at 6 p.m.
Construction Project
We have been in discussions at the school about the possibility
of asking the community to support a bond to build a school
building off of the gymnasium, a commons area, and a
corridor to connect the buildings. We have also explored the
idea of bleachers and a press box at the athletic complex for
soccer and track events.
At our February board meeting, we will meet with
representatives from both Triangle Associates and Granger
Construction Company to discuss working with them as
construction management firms.
In the coming months, we will hold community forums
to discuss what community members see as needs within
the school. Further, we will work with staff and others to
determine the best course of action for the future of our
school.
Website
We continue to update
and improve our
website every day.
Published by BCS
You can check things
Superintendent: Rick Heitmeyer
out at http://www.
buckleyschools.com. The Bear Facts is published six times
during the school year from August–
We strive to keep things May. If you have any suggestions, or
updated on a regular questions, please contact the office at
(231) 269–3325 between the hours of
basis. 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
dining at La Señorita
Parent group active in many
areas, including wonderful
parent events in January
Buckley Community Schools is lucky to have a
parent group that is active on many fronts and
does all it can to help earn money to assist our
teachers and students in “extra” activities.
Recently, the Donuts with Dad and
Muffins with Mom events in January were
spectacular. Thank you to all who attended and
made the students feel special!
Bear Pride
The PTO is working with the elementary staff and students to encourage them
to participate in Homecoming activities to show that Bear Pride. The PTO
is hosting a poster contest for the students and will display all posters in the
gymnasium for game night on February 18. In addition to the posters, the PTO
has invited all students and teachers to engage in the Spirit Week theme days
and will award individual Bear Pride prizes along with classroom rewards. Top
classroom reward is $100 in Scholastic dollars! Show your Spirit and win!
Eat at La Senorita and energize the PTO
On Monday, February 21 at the US–31
South La Señorita location (2455
N US 31 South; Traverse City,
Michigan 49684; phone: (231)
946–4545), Buckley can earn 20% of
all purchases made from 11 a.m.–12
midnight. Purchases include all food,
drinks, and gift certificates and the
purchaser must present a token.
Tokens may be obtained at the school
office or by contacting Jessica Francisco at (231) 263–0334 or Heather Cade at
(231) 218–4651. La Señorita will allow us to pass out and use as many tokens
as we would like — no limit! So, please pass this along and ask co–workers and
others to visit the restaurant on February 21 with a Buckley token. If you would
like to volunteer to pass out tokens, please let us know — think outside the box
and earn for your school!

Contact All content Many ways to earn $

If you have questions
regarding the school,
please contact Principal
Todd Kulawiak or
Superintendent Rick
Heitmeyer. They
can be reached by
email (tkulawiak@
buckleyschools.
com or rheitmeyer@
buckleyschools.com)
or phone at (231) 269–
3325.
Copyright © MMIXI by BCS
Board of Education
Membership 2011
President—Dave Buck
Vice–President—Lew Chalker
Secretary—Hollianne McHugh
Treasurer—Kellé Tyson
Trustee—Matt Breithaupt
Trustee—Matt Simon
Trustee—Brian Warren
As always please save and send in any Box Tops (see our ad on page 7),
Campbell’s and Spartan labels. Check out our PTO website for updated
product lists at www.buckleyschools.com under the community link. My
School’s Cool at the Grand Traverse Mall — we need your help! Please send in
any mall receipt including Target, the food court, and movie
theatre! We will be competing in a book drive in March and
would love your donation of used books, CDs, DVDs, VHS,
and cassette tapes (but no magazines please).
Contact Francisco [(231) 263–0334] or drop
your items off at the school.
Thank you to all who help the PTO put special
events together for the kids! We appreciate you!
 The Bear Facts / Buckley Community Schools 3

Animals, money hot 21 things for students

topics in third grade Townsend to pilot program for semester

Miss Dana Monks’ third graders have been working on
their animal research projects in science. The 28 students
researched an animal of their choice and are writing reports
on them.
Students learned about the animal’s habitat, diet, and
appearance.
The students have learned about characteristics and
adaptations the animals use to help them survive in the
wild.
Students
will be creating
dioramas of their …Students learned about the
animal’s habitat, animal’s habitat, diet, and
and hope to appearance.
display them in
the library and
around school!
The third
graders have also been learning about money in the current
math unit.
“They have been doing awesome,” commented Monks.
“We have learned a lot of interesting facts about coins and
bills, including how they are made.”
Monks also said the students learned about the words
that appear on both the fronts and backs of coins and
bills — and why it is significant. Further, the students have
learned which presidents are on the fronts of coins and bills
and what number president they were!
“I am very impressed at how well the third graders have
been doing with this and how much fun they have been
having with! Keep it up third graders!” said Monks.
B
uckley’s technology class
taught by Mr. Dal Townsend
was one of only 40
classrooms chosen to pilot the new
course called 21things4students.
The class includes 21 things students need to know in order to be
technologically proficient. The following are the 21 things that will be
covered: Staying Organized, Web Presence, Be Legal & Fair, Productivity
Suite, Project Collaboration, Digital Video, Information Literacy, Personal
Networks, Self–Directed Learning, Online Learning, Interactive Tools,
E–Commerce, Career Prep, Troubleshooting, Visual Organizers, Powerful
Presentations, VIA–Casting, Visual Programming, Data Quest, Mobile
Computing.
The resources on this site have been developed by teacher–educators and
instructional technology specialists working for intermediate school districts
across Michigan. The goals are to:
• Improve proficiency for Michigan students in grades 6–12, in
meeting the Michigan Educational Technology Standards (METS)
and National Educational Technology Standards (NETS).
• Provide 21st Century resources for teaching and learning with
educational technology for teachers and their students using
performance–based activities based on 21st Century educational
technology tools such as Google Docs, spreadsheets and graphing,
digital citizenship, copyright, presentation tools, etc.
• Provide just–in–time and project–based resources online which
increase opportunities for authentic portfolio–based assessment of
educational technology literacy skills in 6–12 grade levels.

Mid–winter break runs

February 21–25
Mid–Winter Break, which coincides with Presidents’ Week,
will be Monday, February 21–Friday, February 25. School
will resume the normal schedule on Monday, February
28. All sporting events and practices will still occur as
scheduled during the break.

Spring break coming up

Spring break will be Monday, March 28–Friday, April 1.
School will resume on Monday, April 4.

Spring pictures March 7

Spring pictures will be taken by Geskus Photography on
Monday, March 7, beginning at 8 a.m. Please watch the
weekly bus notes for additional information.
4 Buckley Community Schools

Superintendent wins
State Leadership Award A chance for all students
Buckley Community Schools’ Superintendent Rick Heitmeyer to FOCUS on their
has been selected by the executive committee of the Michigan
Association of State and Federal Program Specialists (MAS/ learning in grades 4–6
FPS) to receive the State Leadership Award. All students in grades
Heitmeyer earned this recognition because of his active 4–6 are invited to attend an
involvement in professional development planning, creating after school program called
of brochures, flyers, and conference booklet development, FOCUS.
as well as his role as editor of the MAS/FPS newsletter, The FOCUS will run
Informer. Monday–Thursday from
MAS/FPS President Michele Burley Lemire explained that, 3:15–5:15 p.m. in room 310.
“Students from all over our state reap benefits from teachers Mrs. Nancy
and administrators who have taken advantage of professional Winogrodzki, our Title I
development offerings he helped to advertise and publish, and para–professional, will be
also from federal programs effectively implemented as a result lead instructor.
of his work.” Students may choose
Heitmeyer has been invited to attend the National which days they want to
Association of Federal Education Program Administrators attend and they do not
(NAFEPA) Conference in Washington, D.C., to receive need to attend every day.
the award at the annual NAFEPA Conference. The award During FOCUS students
ceremony will occur at lunch on Monday, March 28, 2011. will be engaged in a variety
While at this conference, Heitmeyer will not only be of activities, including
presented with the award, but will have the opportunity homework support, study
to take advantage of high quality training on how best to and organizational skills,
implement federal programs such as Title I, as well as how to educational computer games, creative projects, and math and reading fluency
ensure federal compliance associated with these programs. practice
He will have the chance to visit Capitol Hill and meet Students will need to arrange
members of Congress to explain how reauthorization of the for their own transportation home. FOCUS will run
Elementary and Secondary Education Act affects local school
districts and children.
Bussing is not available.
Monday–Thursday
There is no pre–registration
Mr. Heitmeyer said he was surprised by the award. required to join FOCUS. Daily from 3:15–5:15 p.m.
“I had no idea that I had even been nominated,” he said. parental permission for students will in room 310.
“I’m excited to receive it, but also excited to network with our be mandatory. Parents may send a
politicians in Washington, D.C., and rally support for public permission slip or call the school.
education.” The program began on January 24 and is supported by Title I federal
Heitmeyer said he expects changes nationally and at the funding. Buckley Community School receives funding from several sources,
State level. including local, state, and federal. Our federal money is based on our district’s
“Schools were designed a long time ago, and we still fit free and reduced breakfast and lunch count, which is established each year
today’s education into that model. There is a great deal of in November based on the number of free and reduced lunch forms that are
discussion about reform, but I think it’s time to transform submitted to the school district. Title I funding allows for additional learning
education,” he said. “Students today have different needs and opportunities for our students, including the new FOCUS option.
expectations from school than students just 10 years ago.”

New teachers join BCS for second semester

Two new teachers joined Buckley Community Schools for the St. Mary’s.
second semester. Hartl brings Hartl brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to
Mrs. Colleen Hartl joins the staff as the new Spanish, history, a wealth of our hallways from her time as a legislative assistant on the
and English teacher and Mrs. Mary Schubert takes over as the knowledge Committee on International Relations of the U.S. House of
Early Childhood Program teacher. and Representatives, as well as her position as an operations
Both Hartl and Schubert have previous teaching experience. officer with the Central Intelligence Agency prior to her re-
experience
Señora Colleen Hartl joins the staff at Buckley after teaching locating to Traverse City with her husband, Jerome, in 2001.
Spanish, history, and government at Manton High School since to our In 1994, she received her B.A. in International Relations
2007, and previously teaching K-12 Spanish at Lake Leelanau hallways … from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY, her
See new teachers, Page 6
 Buckley Community Schools 5

Buckley to host
MHSAA Girls’
Basketball Districts
It’s always fun to play the Michigan High School Athletic
Association tournament on your own court. The 2011
version of the Buckley girls’ basketball team has that
opportunity.
Teams participating will include the Baldwin Panthers,
Marion Eagles, and McBain Northern Michigan Christian
Comets — as well as our very own Buckley Bears.
Games will be played on Wednesday, March 2. The first
game pitting Baldwin and Marion will be at 6 p.m. At 7:30,
McBain NMC and Buckley
will battle on the hardwood.
The District final game will be We hope to
Friday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m. see all of
The winning team will advance
to the Traverse City West High
you out at
School Regional. the games
Because this is an MHSAA wearing your
sponsored event, no season,
golden senior, or league passes
blue and gold.
will be accepted. Admission
is $5 for everyone, including
young children. No family discounts are offered, either.
The boys’ district will be played a week later, at
Baldwin. Buckley will battle McBain NMC on Wednesday,
March 9, at 8 p.m. Winner of the Baldwin District will play
in the Cadillac Regional the following week.
We hope to see you at the games wearing your blue and
gold.

Northern Belles Conference Champions

50th Anniversary team honored at BCS
Champions from a past generation had an
opportunity to meet the new generation.
Fifty years sounds like a long time, but
50 years goes by fast. Mrs. Jeanne Skillet
headed up this reunion of the graduating
class of 1961.
She contacted Athletic Director Réne
LaFreniere and said that many members of
the team would be attending the January 14,
2011, game against the Mesick Bulldogs.
LaFreniere began to develop an idea for Now and Then
the reunion. Left: The current varsity team with members of the Class of 1961 varsity team. Right: The varsity basketball team from 1961.

The team photo and player names were included in that night’s program, LaFreniere said. Prior to the start of the varsity game, team members in
attendance were introduced and presented with commemorative shirts.
Skillet brought out the championship trophy and the team was given a standing ovation. A new team picture was taken — with the current varsity
basketball team.
LaFreniere said, “It was a unique opportunity to bring together the pioneers of girls’ basketball and our current members. It was a fun night. Plus,
the girls beat Mesick!”
6 Buckley Community Schools / The Bear Facts

100 years of
graduating
classes at BCS
What does it mean to be graduating the
100th class at Buckley Community Schools?
It means that this small northern Michigan
district has withstood the test of time.
On Sunday, May 29, 2011, the 100th
graduating class will walk across the stage at
the Big Gym.
One could argue that a great deal has
changed in the last 100 years, but a lot has
changed just in the last 10 years, as well.
That first class had one student graduate.
The Class of 2011 will see 38 students walk
across the stage and receive their diplomas.
Buckley has always been small, but in the
last few years, the school has grown. With 420
students attending school on our campus every
day, our hallways are busy and classrooms
jammed. But, we’re not in a one–room school
house, either.
Since the mid–80s, we have been housed
in the new school after the former school was
condemned. We made it through the rebuilding
process, though, and now have a newer school.
Our Big Gym was added in 1995 — and it was
state of the art.
In 2005, the community supported another
bond to allow for repairs and upgrades to the
school buildings, as well as a weight room and
track.
One hundred years is filled with many
changes, even here in Buckley!

New teachers, from Page 4

secondary education certification in 2003 from Ferris State

University, and in 2007 she received her Master of Arts in
Humanities from Central Michigan University.
The Hartls have a 23-month old son named Henry and two
amazing English Setters, Timber and Hardy. She is excited to
be here at Buckley, and wants everyone to feel welcome in her
classroom!
“¡Bienvenida!” she said.
Schubert obtained her Masters Degree in Special Education
at Montclair State University in New Jersey. After completing
the degree, she began teaching middle school social studies and
science at Montclair Public Schools.
In 2008, her husband and she moved to Adrian, Michigan,
due to his job relocating to Michigan. Schubert taught at the
Autism Model School in Ohio for two years prior to moving to
Traverse City.
“I am very excited to be the early childhood teacher at the
Buckley Community Schools!” she said.
 The Bear Facts / Buckley Community Schools 7

Clip box tops, attach them to this form, and

return it to school!
Show your school you care
with a bouquet of Box Tops.

2 4
3

5
6

8 10
9

Thank you for helping! Every Box Top

you collect is worth 10¢ for your school.

Name
Grade
Teacher’s Name

Support ouR pto

8 Buckley Community Schools

Preparing for
learning a key Buckley Community School
for our youngest KINDERGARTEN ROUND–UP
students Points of Pride
Buckley offers early childhood education
programming for our students. We offer an • Certified and experienced early childhood teachers
Early Childhood Program (ECP), a Young • Young Fives class option
Fives (Y5) option, as well as All Day Every Day • All day, every day kindergarten
kindergarten (ADED).
• Highly qualified paraprofessionals
Prior to the 2010–11 school year, Buckley
offered an every other day option for
• Small class size
kindergarten students, in addition to the ECP • Computers in classrooms
program. • Physical education and music classes
The school district surveyed the community, • Certified speech and language teacher
looked at the different options, discussed what • Teacher consultant services
different programming options were and the
Board of Education voted to adopt a Y5 and
ADED system.
The school district hired Darcey Matthews
Students must be five years old by
to teach the Y5 class three days a week.
Students in the class are a bit younger than
December 1, 2011, to attend
their kindergarten peers and may need some
additional time before kindergarten in order to
fully succeed in a kindergarten program. Save the date: May 6, 2011
Matthews said, “I’ve watched the students
improve so much, and not just academically. Call (231) 269–3325 to register for an appointment
The students social growth has been awesome.”
Anne Stull has taught kindergarten at Please bring your child’s certified birth
Buckley for several years. certificate, immunization record, proof of

Bear
She said that ADED is working. physical examination and proof of residency
Stull said, “Every day kindergarten is a
wonderful opportunity for the student who is
ready to handle school all day every day. The
every day schedule gives students a consistent
schedule, lots of time to practice early reading
Pride
and math skills along with plenty of time for
music, gym and library. Our kindergarten day
has a good balance of active and quiet times.”
Rick Heitmeyer, superintendent, said he is
pleased with the addition of Y5 and ADED.
He has concerns about President Obama’s
recent proclamation that educating children
“earlier and longer, with greater emphasis on
math and science” is the answer.
Students need to be ready to learn, and
over–educating them when they are young
is not going to produce positive results,
Heitmeyer said. He believes that early
childhood education is extremely important
and that the curriculum should focus on all core
subjects.
“Getting our youngest students ready to learn
for the next 16 or so years has to be a priority,”
he said. “Our initial contact with students and
families is extremely important.”