Buchanan Public School

We Feature

Literacy

To improve student literacy skills our school: we continue to work on building staff capacity and leadership, uses data from EQAO, DRA and the Early Reading Screener, the Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test (CCAT-7), and CASI scores, as well as various Board Inventories assessments to set goals and provide the correct Tier of instruction for our students.

We offer systematic and explicit instruction through Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy (CRRP) and base our achievement interventions on specific and identified areas of need. Our well-stocked Library and Learning Commons is supplemented with classroom levelled readers, catch-up readers, and UFLI materials.

Buchanan Public School's Mission Statement

Buchanan Public School opened in 1954. The school was named after the Buchanan family who settled in the area in 1830.

Buchanan Public School serves a diverse student population of over 290 students from grades JK to grade 8. The school also provides a supportive environment to students in four special needs classes. (Primary, Junior and Intermediate Autism Programs and Home School).

Buchanan has a before and after day care provided by Family Day Care Centre.

Buchanan offers specialist teachers in the following areas:

Physical Education, Vocal/Instrumental Music, French, the Arts
Mathematics, History/Geography, and Science

Numeracy

To continue the effective delivery of our mathematics program our school: ensures that all teachers continue to regularly meet to discuss and collaborate on program planning and instruction; uses EQAO, report card data, and perception surveys and professional dialogue to set realistic goals for the students; maintains the goal of having a math resource cupboard of up to date manipulatives for use of the primary, junior and intermediate divisions. Numeracy instruction is based on the 2021 New provincial Curriculum and is implemented in both terms.

More Information About Buchanan Public School

Technology

Our school’s accessibility to digital devices continues to grow through the Board’s 1:1 device program, which begins in Grade 5. Promethean Boards are utilized in our three ASD-ISP classroom programs, and all classrooms are equipped with laptops for the teachers and projectors.

One of our goals is to focus on equipping our K-3 classrooms with more iPads and providing the students regular access to chromebooks. We have a growing number of Dash Robots, which are housed in the Learning Commons and have recently been supplemented with Codey Rocky Bots. Our Kindergarten classes are equipped with a set of Tale Bot Pro to stimulate and support their digital learning.

Learning Environment

Buchanan continues to focus on and value its positive, safe and welcoming learning environment for all our students and families. We reinforce the Board and School’s Code-of-Conducts, and provide opportunities for students to become role models through our grades 5-8 Student Leadership Council (SLC).

We hold regular school support team meetings to monitor students who are at risk, and provide supportive grade-8-to-9 transitions to all our students.

Environmental Awareness

The main goal for our students is to become aware of their own environment and what they need to do to keep it clean and in good shape. We continue to be Eco-Aware and are proud of PLATINUM eco school recognition. We have a litterless lunch and green bin program and participate in school yard cleanups.

The school recognizes Earth day, and one of our School-Improvement-Goals is to develop Indigenous-themed and sustainable garden spaces around the school.

Co- Curricular Programs

Buchanan offers a variety of co-curricular activities before school, at lunch and after school. Every student from grade 1 to 8 is encouraged to join at least one team, club, intramural, or committee.

Student Life - Where You Belong

GO TEAM

It is very important at Buchanan for our students to be actively involved in co-curricular activities and student leadership initiatives.

We have had an active student council for many years. Our student council consists of student representatives from grades 1 to 8. The students meet on a regular basis to come up with ideas for special events for our school. We have special days each month that the student council plan. The student council also organizes events to fund raise for our communities (i.e. fall food drive). Another leadership opportunity we offer is the prefect program. Students from grades 6 to 8 can apply to be prefects. The selected students are trained in conflict resolution and help our younger students when they have difficulties at recess or lunch. The prefects also volunteer at special events during the year.

We offer a huge variety of co-curricular activities for our students. Some of them include: Eco-club, Girls club, choir, art club, school musicals, intermural sports, sports teams, Talent show, Lego Club, track and field and cross country. Our goal is to have all students actively involved in Buchanan's school life.

WHAT SETS US APART

It is important at Buchanan for the teachers to really get to know the students. We believe in giving students as much attention as possible. If that means extra help at recess or after school or a teacher - student badminton or volley-ball game. Staff tend to stay at this school due to the positive environment and good home/school relationships. The school has a family feel as most teachers have taught a variety of siblings over the years. There is a special focus on kindness and a general philosophy of "Treat others as you would like to be treated". Character development is important and is highlighted with our student of the month. Our special needs population is integrated into all of our full school events and into the regular curriculum program. Our active school council works closely with the school to help and provide special experiences for our students.

At Buchanan we set high expectations for all of our students and work diligently to give them the skills, values and attitude that will make them successful, contributing members of our society.

PARENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Teachers work in collaboration with our Before and After Day care program- Co-op placements from local colleges and high schools - Teacher training placements for students from various universities - Offers school space to Scouts, full length school musical every spring - Active and involved School Council - Regular parent volunteers in classrooms - Parent education workshops - Montthly Newsletters - Appropriate use of homework agenda books - Class excursions - Open communication between school and home - Parents invited into the school for additional events such as concerts and the school musical. - Spring community BBQ.