Buchanan High School

• Area IDAC Meetings (12:00 – room 853): 

          October 15

          March 4

• Harmony  (MPR) – 7:00 p.m. 

          December 7th

• Site IDAC  Meetings (Time: TBD; Room 853) 

          October 28

          April 7

AREAS OF FOCUS

Focus Area 1: Increasing the level of Connection and Engagement for ALL students (Student IDAC)

STUDENT IDAC (BHS Student Intercultural Diversity Advisory Council) 

BHS STUDENT IDAC is a group of students focused on enhancing cultural awareness throughout the year by helping to highlight various cultural groups that exist at Buchanan. Currently, four students represent Buchanan's CUSD's IDAC group that meets monthly with the Superintendent. In addition to those two groups, the BHS Principal and Deputy Principal meet quarterly with our six Inter School Council (ISC) BHS representatives. ISC students are district-level student representatives who make sure students across the district, and high schools have a voice at the district level. They devote a large portion of time and work to school projects, including planning and running leadership camps, serving on various committees, and attending and presenting at school board meetings. This year, STUDENT IDAC increased to include representatives from a variety of cultural clubs on campus.  

PASA (Principal Advisory for Student Affairs)

PASA meets monthly with the Principal and Deputy Principal. Each year the Principal asks staff to recommend students to this group. The group is formed to keep a representative body that reflects the demographics of the student body. The principal requests that students be chosen who perhaps are not involved in a co-curricular type of activity, thus involving the non-involved students, including students that might have disabilities as well as second language learners who are a part of the group. PASA's Mission is to discuss with the principal areas of improvement for the campus. It is a solution-oriented group that works hand in hand with topics such as bullying, student relationships, social media, using technology, course offerings, teacher relationships, campus safety, and cleanliness. For example, the group worked in a brainstorming session on how to combat vape usage on campus or provide additional support for students with social and emotional struggles.

Focus Area 2: Increase the awareness of the rich variety of cultures represented by our student population.

Students work with teachers, especially during specific units of study, to promote their own culture.  Teachers give students voice to teach through their own experiences – sharing perspective, traditions, and history.

Our dance troupes (Folklorico, Filipino Tinikling, and Chinese Lion Dancers) perform on campus, across the district, and out in the community.   Students practice their craft outside of the school day perfecting their performances and understanding of history to share with others.  

Harmony Talent Show

HARMONY – The BHS all inclusive talent show offers opportunities for cultural clubs to highlight their poetry, song, and dance.  This is also an opportunity for our leadership students to work alongside our Special Needs students to present their talent to the entire student body over the course of two days.  There is also a parents’ night for the community to attend. 

BNN Highlights

BNN (Buchanan News Network) our BHS videography class highlights a variety of cultures within their news segments.  

Link to BNN here

Hmong Dance Bear Spotlight from Dan Pearce on Vimeo.

Library Multicultural Displays

In the library, student cultural groups create displays of literature and artifacts highlighting the rich variety of cultures on campus such as Dhaliwal, Hmong New Year, Dia de los Muertos, and Black History Month.