October 2010 305 S.

First Street
Issue #2 Proudly Serving Buckley Buckley, Mich. 49620

School year is
running along
I
t’s hard to believe it’s
already November.
The school year just
got going on September 7.
We’re off and running …
Several events are coming up, including Parent/Teacher
Conferences on November 16 and 18. We also have some half–
days of school coming up: November 18, November 19, and
November 24. School will be dismissed at 11:45 a.m. on those
days.
Thanksgiving break will be Thursday, November 25 and
Friday, November 26. Winter sports practices will also begin,
with high school girls’ basketball beginning on Monday,
November 8. High school boys’ basketball will begin a week
later.
Please watch the Bear Facts for additional information
about upcoming events at BCS!

In This Edition
School Year Update 1 Cross Country Runners
Above, Kayla Traylor competes in a recent cross country meet. Below left, Paul
Growth Plan 2 Spitzer and Michael Rosek run. Photos courtesy of Mr. Ron Spitzer.
My School’s Cool / PTO Info. 2
Pen Pals in Third Grade 3
Fitness Focus 3
New Computer Classes 3
News Briefs
Cross Country Begins Early
3
4
Bear Facts PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid
Cadillac MI Permit #147
Buckley Community Schools
Volleyball Digs for Pink 4 305 S. First St. l PO Box 38
Buckley, Mich. 49620
Updated School Calendar 5
The Bear Chair 6
Music Schedule 7 Box Holder
School Directory 7
Winter Athletic Schedule 8 Get Set … Go! BUCKLEY MI 49620
2 Buckley Community Schools / The Bear Facts

PTO moving
Looking Forward forward …
The Buckley Community
Growing … planning Schools PTO is on the move …
As Buckley Community Schools continues to grow, we are faced with new ideas or some may say, hasn’t stopped
on a regular basis. Our school enrollment continues to increase — and this is a moving!
problem. Certainly, it’s a good problem to be faced with in our current economic The PTO had a great kick off, which started
climate, but it is a problem none–the–less. with giving the Bear Pride shirts to every student and staff
Our class sizes have traditionally been reasonable. One item that we are proud member. Blue really looks good on everyone! The PTO
of is that we can offer “small class sizes.” Those class sizes have gone up, and has taken in its first order for Spirit Wear …watch for
because of the rising class sizes, the Board of Education approved making part time another order just before Christmas.
teachers full time at its September meeting. The students have enjoyed a Scholastic Book Fair,
“The main goal in making the teachers full time was so we could reduce our character assembly, popcorn Friday, move-a-thon and
class sizes at different times in kindergarten, second, third, and fourth grades,” very cool Bear Pride store!
Principal Todd Kulawiak said. “With classes around 27 or 28 kids, we felt it was
important to try to reduce those classes, especially with relation to language arts Be sure not to miss
and mathematics.” Family Movie Night, starring Toy Story 3 — is Friday,
November 12, at 7 p.m. in the small gym. This event is
Buckley out of room free and all are welcome — just bring your blanket or
Our school is a K–12 building, and it’s run out of room. We have teachers teaching chair. We will have
in classrooms that at one time were used for other purposes. For example biology a concession stand
is taught in the former elementary computer lab (located in the high school part of available.
the building). December is filled
Some elementary classrooms are too small to accommodate 28 students. We do with lots of holiday
not even have the classroom space even if we could hire an additional teacher. cheer … watch the
Options website for updates
on Santa’s Secret
The School Board and administration has met to discuss the class size issue and the
Shop and our
issue of growth. The student count is 13% larger than just three years ago. We have
Christmas Basket Raffle at the concert.
10% of our students from Schools of Choice.
Please help us continue to serve the students by
The Board of Education met on Saturday, October 30, to discuss the district’s
sending in all of those Grand Traverse Mall receipts and
growth and what options may be possible. Please watch the Bear Facts and district
helping with the special events for
website (www.buckleyschools.com) for additional information. Furthermore,
My School’s Cool!!!
Kulawiak also updates families with Friday information every Friday afternoon. If
Our Box Tops, Campbell’s and
you are not on the Alert Now list and would like to be, please contact the office at
Spartan label competition are
(231) 269–3325.
also under way …
Communication is important to the school district. In addition to Bus Notes
send them in today!
being available online every week and the daily announcements available daily on
PowerSchool, we include frequent updates via Twitter, on our website, and the
school district blog. … Send in those
If you have any questions regarding the school, please contact Kulawiak Grand Traverse
or Superintendent Rick Heitmeyer. They can be reached by phone or email, Mall receipts …
tkulawiak@buckleyschools.com or rheitmeyer@buckleyschools.com.

Thank you to
everyone who
Published by BCS
Board of Education
Superintendent: Rick Heitmeyer
Membership 2010–11

President—Dave Buck
Vice–President—Lew Chalker
Secretary—Hollianne McHugh
supports your
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

school!
Treasurer—Kellé Tyson at (231) 269–3325 between the
hours of 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Trustee—Ken Gibler
Trustee—Matt Breithaupt
All content
Trustee—Matt Simon
Copyright © MMIX by BCS
 The Bear Facts / Buckley Community Schools 3

Real writing with pen Take baby steps when changing

your routine
pals from third grade More often than not it is human
to high school nature to want to make things
work, or make things right, or
Third grade students first reading program unit was make things better all at once.
about friendship. A few of our stories in our text and An all or nothing attitude. That
supplemental texts involved pen pals. may work in some situations but
Dana Monks, third grade teacher, thought it would be most solutions come in small
a fun idea to have pen pals. So, third graders have been steps, baby steps. The same is
corresponding with high school students in Kelly Mikula’s true when it comes to our health.
high school English class! Even though diet ads will try to convince you that they have the answers YOU can
The students take control by making small adjustments in your eating and lifestyle habits. By
have learned …Students have learned how making one change a week, or even one a month, you could quickly see and feel
how to write to write a friendly letter and the difference. Here are just a few ideas:
a friendly have improved their sentence
letter and have and letter writing skills. • Pack your own lunch and include whole grain bread and lean turkey or
improved their chicken along with some fresh veggies.
sentence and
• Take a 10–minute walk during your lunchtime.
letter writing skills. Moreover, the students have been
writing letters and sharing pictures back and forth every • Substitute fresh fruit or vegetables for your morning and afternoon snacks
week. instead of candy bars, chips or donuts.
The students think this has been a fun way to learn
writing skills as well as get to know someone new! We will • Replace your high calorie soda, energy drink, or cappuccino with green tea or
be finishing our pen pal activity when we go down to the flavored water.
high school wing to meet and visit with our pen pals, read
them a story, and have a treat! • Resolve to turn the TV or computer off and get some sleep!
A big THANK YOU to Mikula and her students for Don’t try to do it all at once! Make your changes gradually so that they can
participating with the third grade class on this fun and last a lifetime!
educational activity.
n by Jack Ledford, Physical Educator

Computers provide opportunity Parent/Teacher

New classes available to BHS students
Conferences
Parent/Teacher Conferences will be
Buckley Community Schools has introduced a new class in the high school this school year.
Tuesday, November 16, from 5–7 p.m.
The new class is called Computers III. Students are allowed to take this class as an elective
and Thursday, November 18, from 1–3
after they have completed computers I and Computers II successfully. Students may choose
and 5–7 p.m. Elementary conferences
from a variety of computer subjects they are interested in and complete the assigned work
will be scheduled ahead of time;
in a quarter. This quarter students are working on Photoshop, Paint, Sketch-up, Word,
secondary conferences will be first come,
game design, robotics, claymation. Students pictured in the photo are Haley Morairty, Haley
first served. We are looking forward to
Baldinger, and Paige Gokey.
your visiting the school.
n By Dal Townsend, Computer Teacher
Early dismissal
School will be dismissed at 11:45 a.m.
on November 18 for P/T Conferences.
November 19 and November 24 are also
half–days.

Christmas Break
Christmas Break will begin at the end of
the school day on Friday, December 17,
2010. School will resume on Monday,
January 3, 2011.
4 Buckley Community Schools / The Bear Facts

Cross country runners begin

running in the elementary
Volleyball teams
The cross country program at Buckley is built around a strong tradition. Cross “Dig for Pink” to
support locals
Country is a demanding sport and Buckley is known in the area for producing very
good distance runners.
One goal as the team entered the season was to create enthusiasm among our
team members and to generate interest that would help add new members to the The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
teams. National campaigns have been going for a few years now,
“I’m happy to say that it worked,” said Coach Ken and the Buckley
Wicker. “The varsity teams have their biggest groups volleyball teams got
in many years and are doing a great job competing this into the act with
season. the second annual
“As we come to the end of our season, both teams are “Pink” game.
really coming into their own. Both groups finished third in Volleyball players
the final Conference jamboree held in Buckley on October sported pink
12, behind perennial powers Benzie and Kingsley,” he jerseys, socks, and
added. shoelaces. Coaches
The boys’ team placed 11th out of 40 teams in the Class and officials wore
D state championships and the girls team ran very well Fifth grader Austin pink, and the
Harris takes part in the
and would have been a top–10 team as well. Nine of the 11 elementary program. court lines and
athletes who competed had season or lifetime best time in game ball were
this meet. even converted to
“Both groups were looking strong and had high pink for the event.
expectations as we headed to the regional championships Spectators entered
at Benzie. We look forward to qualifying for the State the crowded lobby
Championships and representing Buckley against the best where they placed
Team Elmers sponsored the Dig for Pink
runners in the state,” the coach added. bids on silent event — including bringing the pink cement
One key element to Buckley’s success is that many of auction items. The truck. The event’s focus was community
member Amy Larson. She is pictured above
our varsity runners have been involved with cross country names of those with her family and her co–workers. The
teams are below.
since elementary school. Buckley’s runners develop a lost and those that
knowledge of the sport at an early age and it has helped the Coach Ken Wicker are fighting on were honored with posters, a moment of
team stay competitive at the varsity level. Of the 17 junior silence, and a sustained standing ovation.
high and varsity runners, 13 were involved in the elementary program, according When the evening was finished, fans were treated to
to Wicker. wins over Mesick by both the JV and varsity teams, and
Varsity runners include Paul Spitzer, Drew Burmania, Logan Walters, Austin approximately $3,000 went toward breast cancer. On
Burmania, Michael Rosek, Braxton Bliss, Jordyn Garza, Haley Morairty, Kayla behalf of the community, the volleyball teams were proud
Traylor, Mariah Guernsey, Kendra Duby and Haley Baldinger. to make donations to Amy Larson and Hannah and Lydia
Kastenschmidt.
Elementary Cross Country The community of Buckley has once again shown
Buckley offers an excellent opportunity to participate in an elementary cross its support for its friends and the school. We sincerely
country program. The program was started seven years ago and is designed to appreciate the generosity of our local businesses and
introduce running in a fun, informative way and provide a healthy physical activity community members. Go Bears!
for the young students in our district.
The program has seen as many as 50 kids per practice session and is consistently
around 40 kids per session. The past two years have seen the expansion of the
program by adding competitions with other schools. Buckley’s elementary runners
had the opportunity to compete in six competitions with athletes from other
schools.
“Our young runners did very well,” said Wicker. “This exposure to these
competitions helps introduce our young athletes to the joys of competition and
helps to continue the tradition that has been built to establish Buckley as a leader
in our area.”
He added that our elementary group has some exceptional talent and if they
continue on as a team, they could be outstanding and help to carry the Buckley Thank You
running program to new heights. Members of the Buckley High School volleyball teams worked hard to put
together the Dig for Pink event. They would like to thank all of the parents
“We had several runners do an outstanding job in their races, highlighted by who helped, as well as everyone who made donations to make the event
possible.
Please see Cross Country on Page 7
 The Bear Facts / Buckley Community Schools 5

Buckley Community Schools

2010–11 School Year Calendar
September February

September Highlights M T W Th F M T W Th F February Highlights

1 2 3 1 2 3 4
• 7 — First day of school for students; • 17 — MME/PLAN/EXPLORE: pre–
school dismissed at 11:45 a.m. 6 7 8 9 10 7 8 9 10 11 testing activities
• 13–17 — AIMSweb Testing 13 14 15 16 17 14 15 16 17 18 • 21–25 — No school, Presidents’ Week
20 21 22 23 24 21 22 23 24 25
27 28 29 30 28

October March
M T W Th F M T W Th F
October Highlights March Highlights
1 1 2 3 4
• 12–14 — MEAP testing • 1–3 — MME/PLAN/ EXPLORE testing
• 16 — PSAT 4 5 6 7 8 7 8 9 10 11 • 10 — P/T Conferences, 1-3 and 5-7 p.m.
• 19–20 — MEAP testing 11 12 13 14 15 14 15 16 17 18 AND Community Appreciation Night
• 25–29 — NWEA testing • 28–31 — No school, Spring Break
18 19 20 21 22 21 22 23. 24 25
25 26 27 28 29 28 29 30 31

November Highlights
• 1 — No school for students – Staff November April
Development Day M T W Th F M T W Th F
• 2–5 — NWEA testing April Highlights
• 5 — End of 1st quarter 1 2 3 4 5 1
• 1 — No school, Spring Break
• 2–12 — Imagine-It or MLPP Benchmark 8 9 10 11 12 4 5 6 7 8
• 4 — School Resumes
• 16 — P/T conferences, 5-7 p.m. 15 16 17 18 19 11 12 13 14 15 • 8 — End of 3rd quarter
• 18 — School dismissed at 11:45 a.m; P/T
22 23 24 25 26 18 19 20 21 22 • 22 — No school, Good Friday
conferences 1-3 and 5-7 p.m.
• 19 — School dismissed at 11:45 a.m. 29 30 25 26 27 28 29
• 24 — School dismissed at 11:45 a.m.
• 25–26 — Thanksgiving Break, no school

December May
M T W Th F M T W Th F
December Highlights 1 2 3 2 3 4 5 6 May Highlights
6 7 8 9 10 9 10 11 12 13 • 2 — NWEA testing
• 20–31 — Christmas Break, no school
• 30 — No school, Memorial Day
13 14 15 16 17 16 17 18 19 20
20 21 22 23 24 23 24 25 26 27
27 28 29 30 31 30 31

January June
January Highlights M T W Th F M T W Th F
• 3 — School resumes 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 June Highlights
• 17–21 — AIMSweb testing 10 11 12 13 14 7 8 9 10 11 • 2–3 — Exams, school dismissed at 11:45
• 20–21 — Exams, school dismissed at a.m.
11:45 a.m. 17 18 19 20 21 • 3 — Last scheduled student day
• 21 — End of first semester 24 25 26 27 28
31

The school day for students in grades 7–12 is 8 a.m.–3:07 p.m. and 8:05 a.m. – 3:12 p.m. for students pK–6.
We will be in session for 160 full days and nine half days for a total of 169 school days.

School Phone Number: (231) 269–3325 / School Website: www.buckleyschools.com

Updated 10/20/10
Clip this calendar and place it on your refrigerator
6 Buckley Community Schools / The Bear Facts
 The Bear Facts / Buckley Community Schools 7

Young musicians making noise

Students and parents, we are very excited to have several music performances scheduled
for the 2010-11 school year. We will offer three band concerts and two elementary
concerts. Listed below are the concert dates, times, and locations along with who will
be performing in each concert. Please mark your calendars! We have many musically
talented Buckley Bears, and we look forward to sharing our music with you in our
concerts to come!

Concert Date Time Place Performers

Big
Fall Band Concert Thursday, November 4, 2010 7 p.m. MS/HS Band
Gym

Elementary
Big All elementary students
Christmas Thursday, December 2, 2010 7 p.m.
Gym (Young 5’s through 6th Grade)
Concert

Winter Band Big

Tuesday, February 8, 2011 7 p.m. MS/HS Band
Concert Gym

Elementary Spring Big Elementary Students in Young 5’s through 4th Grade
Thursday, April 28, 2011 7 p.m.
Concert Gym (No 5th or 6th Grade)

Spring Band Big All Bands:

Thursday, May 12, 2011 7 p.m.
Concert Gym 5th Grade Band, 6th Grade Band, MS/HS Band

Buckley Community Schools Alert Now great way

305 South First Street n Buckley, Michigan 49620 to communicate
T (231) 269–3325 / F (231) 269–3833
www.buckleyschools.com Keeping you informed is a top priority at Buckley and is why
Athletics Food Service
we have adopted the Alert Now Notification Service. This
Réne LaFreniere, Athletic Director Phil Fairchild, Director service allows us to send a telephone message to you providing
rlafreniere@buckleyschools.com pfairchild@buckleyschools.com important information about school events or emergencies.
We would like to use Alert Now to notify community members
School Office Technology
Chris Nuckels, Director of school events and various updates. As a community
Rick Heitmeyer, Superintendent
rheitmeyer@buckleyschools.com cnuckels@buckleyschools.com member, you may be added to the Alert Now phone list by
contacting the school and providing us with a contact phone
Todd Kulawiak, Principal
tkulawiak@buckleyschools.com
number. Please call today to be added to our Alert Now
family, (231)
Pat Kuhn, Business Manager 269–3325.
pkuhn@buckleyschools.com

Cross Country from Page 4

Denver Cade and Ridge Beeman winning the final league jamboree races
against elementary runners from the schools in the Northwest Conference,”
he said.
Cade placed first at the Traverse City Invitational against the best
elementary runners in the area. Other outstanding performers this season
in grades three through six were Austin Harris, Bobby Thifault, Dillon
Hankins, Brock Beeman, Tyler Francisco, AJ Garza, Gable Shadoff,
Makayla Luther, Camryn Ensor, Samantha Wicker, Haley Garza,
Emilee McIntyre, Ronny Butrey, Abby Wicker, Montana Yens, Nora
Ramsay, Megan Wilkie, Molly Pahl, and Evie Shadoff.
Wicker said that all of our young running bears did an excellent job
and he would like to thank them for their hard work and commitment.
 Buckley Community Schools
Winter Athletics Schedule

Varsity Bears Middle School

GIRLS’ JV AND VARSITY Bears
BASKETBALL
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Date Day Opponent Time Bus Time
30-Nov. Tue. Northport 6:00
3-Dec. Fri. Boyne City 6:00 Date Day Opponent Time Bus Time
6-Dec. Mon. Manton 6:00 4:55 20-Nov. Sat. Kingsley 9:00 8:00
9-Dec. Thur. Kingsley 6:00 23-Nov. Tue. Manton 6:00 4:55
17-Dec. Fri. Leland 6:00 4:15 29-Nov. Mon. Kingsley 4:30
21-Dec. Tue. TC Christian 6:00 1-Dec. Wed. Leland 4:30 2:45
5-Jan. Wed. Frankfort 6:00 6-Dec. Mon. Frankfort 5:30
7-Jan. Fri. Glen Lake 6:00 4:15 8-Dec. Wed. Glen Lake 4:30 2:45
14-Jan. Fri. Mesick 6:00 15-Dec. Wed. Mesick 4:30
18-Jan. Tue. LL St. Marchy 6:00 22-Dec. Wed. Manton 4:30
21-Jan. Fri. Suttons Bay 6:00 4:30 5-Jan. Wed. Suttons Bay 4:30 3:00
26-Jan. Tue. Manton 6:00 10-Jan. Mon. Benzie Central 4:30
28-Jan. Fri. Benzie Central 6:00 15-Jan. Sat. NWC Tournament
1-Feb. Tue. Kingsley 6:00 4:55 @ Frankfort 9:00 7:30
3-Feb. Thur. Leland 6:00
8-Feb. Tue. Frankfort 6:00 4:20
10-Feb. Thur. Glen Lake 6:00
15-Feb. Tue. Mesick 6:00 5:10 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
17-Feb. Thur. Suttons Bay 6:00
24-Feb. Thur. Benzie Central 6:00 4:45
2-March Wed. Districts @ Home TBD Date Day Opponent Time Bus Time
29-Jan. Sat. Benzie Central 9:00 7:55
31-Jan. Mon. Kingsley 4:30 3:40
2-Feb. Wed. Leland 4:30
BOYS’ JV AND VARSITY 7-Feb.
9-Feb.
Mon.
Wed.
Frankfort
Glen Lake
4:30
4:30
2:55

BASKETBALL 14-Feb.
16-Feb.
Mon.
Wed.
Manton
Mesick
6:00
4:30
4:55
3:45
23-Feb. Wed. Suttons Bay 4:30
Date Day Opponent Time Bus Time 28-Feb. Mon. Manton 4:30
7-Dec. Tue. TC Christian 6:00 2-March Wed. Benzie Central 4:30 3:20
10-Dec. Fri. Boyne City 6:00 3:39 12-March Sat. NWC Tournament
13-Dec. Mon. Manton 6:00 4:57 @ Buckley 9:00
16-Dec. Thur. Kingsley 6:00
6-Jan. Thur. Leland 6:00 4:11
8-Jan. Thur. Big Rapids CR 5:00 3:01
11-Jan. Tue. Frankfort 6:00
13-Jan. Thur. Glen Lake 6:00 4:29
20-Jan. Thur. Mesick 6:00
25-Jan. Tue. Manton 6:00
27-Jan. Fri. Suttons Bay 6:00 4:29
2-Feb. Wed. Benzie Central 6:00
4-Feb. Fri. Kingsley 6:00 4:57
9-Feb. Wed. Leland 6:00
11-Feb. Fri. Frankfort 6:00 4:27
15-Feb. Tue. Northport 6:00 Ticket Prices
*18-Feb. Fri. Glen Lake 6:00
23-Feb. Wed. Mesick 6:00 5:09 ADMISSION WILL BE $4 FOR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC
25-Feb. Fri. Suttons Bay 6:00
EVENTS AND $3 FOR JUNIOR HIGH ATHLETIC
3-March Thur. Benzie Central 6:00 4:47
9-March Wed. Baldwin TBA TBA EVENTS.

* Homecoming ANNUAL PASSES ARE AVAILABLE FOR $90 PER

BEAR
FAMILY, $60 PER PERSON, AND $30 PER STUDENT.

PASSES ARE GOOD FOR ALL HOME ATHLETIC EVENTS

THROUGHOUT THE 2010–11 SCHOOL YEAR,

EXCLUDING MHSAA TOURNAMENT EVENTS.

PRIDE