Dear New Buffalo Families,

Happy spring! As the days grow longer and warmer, I’m reminded of the wonderful sense of renewal this season brings to our schools. I’m excited to share our latest updates in this Q1 newsletter. At the bottom of this letter we kindly ask that you rate our schools on Niche.com as this is an incredible way to support our schools and share your experiences with other prospective families! Your voice makes the difference!

Wishing you all warm days ahead,

Adam Bowen

In an ongoing effort to ensure every student feels safe, supported, and heard, we launched our No Bullying Schools Task Force in the fall of 2023. Initially, our community expressed concerns that reported incidents were not being addressed. Since then, we’ve come together with a dedicated team—including counselors, social workers, student advocates, school resource officers, teachers, principals, and Board of Education members—to make tangible changes within our schools.

Key Initiatives

• No Bullying Schools Program: Officially implemented in Fall 2023, featuring weekly lessons that help students understand what bullying looks like and how to respond.
• Reporting App: A user-friendly tool for reporting concerns quickly and anonymously, ensuring no call for help goes unheard.
• OK2SAY: Continued commitment to this statewide program, offering an additional platform for safe and confidential reporting.
• Data-Driven Approach: The Task Force meets three times a year to review NBAS bullying data. We discuss trends and create action steps to keep our schools a safe place for everyone.

Our Current Focus
Based on recent data, we’re emphasizing upstander behavior—teaching students how to safely intervene or seek help when they witness bullying. A key goal is ensuring every student can identify one trusted adult at school. Our vision is for 100% of our students to know exactly who they can turn to for support.

The Team
Our Task Force members include Counselor Angela Robertson, Counselor Keri Haskins, Counselor Lisa Price, Social Worker Megan Smith, Student Advocate Caroline Fourtinato, SROs Rick Edgerle and Brie Schmidts, Principals Ripley, Lijewski, and Caudle, Teachers Morgan Edquist, Chris Beushasuen, Jennifer Bauer, and Nicole Bowen, BOE members Vanessa Thun and Greg Vosberg, and Adam Bowen. We’re here to listen, learn, and act—together.

We’re proud of the strides made so far and remain committed to building a culture where every student feels safe and empowered. If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, please reach out. Together, we can ensure a positive school environment for all.

Over the past year, the cannabis industry has grown rapidly in New Buffalo, with over two dozen businesses now operating in New Buffalo Township—and more emerging. As a result, our students pass these establishments daily, raising concerns among parents, teachers, and community members about cannabis use and accessibility. In response, we want to highlight how we educate our students on this important topic, ensuring they have both knowledge and guidance to make informed decisions.

• Cannabis Education Team Formation

Our newly formed Cannabis Education Team brings together key individuals committed to supporting student well-being, including:

• Nicole Bowen, MS/HS Health Education Teacher
  • In 8th grade and high school health classes, students participate in an 8-10 lesson unit on drugs, including cannabis.
  • On March 17, Ms. Bowen conducted a webinar on current school drug, alcohol, and cannabis trends.
  • In the past, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) has sponsored various drug-awareness programs and speakers—such as the Arrive Alive Tour, Cody’s Community, and STR8Talk—all of which increasingly address cannabis use.
• School Resource Officers (SROs)
• Principals: Tracy Ripley and Dan Caudle
• Superintendent, Adam Bowen
• Board of Education Subcommittee Members: Lisa Werner, Denise Churchill, and Jennifer Summers
• Local Cannabis Businesses
• Providing financial support to bring in specialized programs like Vive 18 to further educate our students on cannabis use.

Upcoming Vive 18 Presentation

With generous support from local cannabis businesses, we are excited to host Vive 18 on Friday, May 2 for students in grades 5–12. This presentation is dedicated to educating youth about the risks and realities of cannabis use.

Future Plans

Looking ahead to the 2025–2026 school year, the Cannabis Education Team is planning additional events. One key initiative is an informational session for parents during next fall’s parent-teacher conferences. This session will feature a walkthrough of a mock bedroom, designed to help parents identify hidden drug-related items and recognize warning signs of potential substance use.

The Red Arrow Raiders Girls Basketball captured a share of the BCS conference championship in its inaugural season. The Raiders are comprised of student-athletes from New Buffalo and River Valley Schools. The team had a conference record of 6-2 and this is the first conference championship in girls basketball for either team since 2013. 22 girls participated in basketball between the JV and V squads with 19 of the members being Freshmen or Sophomores. Congratulations!!

NBAS has fully adopted the Raptor Emergency Management Software
We’re excited to announce that New Buffalo Area Schools is implementing Raptor Emergency Management, a cutting-edge solution designed to help us prepare for, respond to, and recover from any emergency—large or small. From securely managing drills and instantly alerting first responders to accurately accounting for every individual and safely reunifying families, this software puts comprehensive crisis management at our fingertips.

Raptor seamlessly integrates with our existing systems to centralize all emergency processes, ensuring swift communication with staff, families, and local authorities. We’re committed to providing the safest environment possible for our students, staff, and community, and this new tool empowers us to respond quickly, reduce risk, and minimize disruption when the unexpected happens. Learn more about the system by clicking here.

Director of Operations: Mark German - I am a proud graduate of New Buffalo High School and have dedicated 14 years to serving as a firefighter with the New Buffalo Township Fire Department, including the past 6 years as a lieutenant. Additionally, I serve as a lieutenant with the Three Oaks Fire Department. Beyond my professional commitments, I am a father to two wonderful children who are my right hand. In our free time, we enjoy the outdoors, engaging in activities such as hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and off-roading. Our family also shares a passion for attending tractor shows and pulls, where we participate in pulling garden, antique, and farm stock tractors.

Professionally, I have been working for the district for 10 years and have thoroughly enjoyed my time in maintenance. I am now excited about the new opportunities and experiences that the director position will bring.

I’ve always been passionate about working with children, which led me to take a Peer-to-Peer class in high school. I completed my first year of college at LMC, majoring in Psychology. However, it wasn’t until I enrolled in an Art Education course and volunteered at the River Valley Elementary, with their art teacher, that I discovered my true passion for teaching. I believe that child care providers play a critical role in shaping the leaders of tomorrow. It is essential to nurture and support children in a way that fosters their creativity, ensuring they thrive and develop their full potential.

I look forward to the opportunity to work at the New Buffalo Area Schools Daycare because I am passionate about supporting children’s growth and development in a nurturing environment. I believe my skills can contribute positively to the daycare, and I am excited about the chance to be part of a team that plays such an important role in shaping young minds. A fun fact about me is that I enjoy both reading and drawing, as they allow me to explore my creativity and expand my imagination.

Jazmyne comes to us with a big heart, a curious mind, and a love for all things tiny and adorable—whether that’s children or kittens! Hailing from Northern Nevada, she recently earned her bachelor’s in Psychology and has big dreams of becoming a Mental Health Counselor in the future.

Her journey into early childhood education began when she worked at her university’s daycare, where she fell head over heels for the joy and wonder of little learners. Whether it’s building block towers, singing silly songs, or marveling at the latest crayon masterpiece, she finds endless joy in watching young minds grow and discover the world.

Beyond the daycare walls, Jazmyne is a world traveler who’s studied in Korea and Japan (where she picked up a minor in Japanese along the way!). She’s also a devoted animal lover, happiest when snuggling her cats or lending a hand at local humane societies.

With her adventurous spirit, love for learning, and warm, caring nature, Jazmyne brings a special spark to our daycare family. We’re so excited to have her on board!!!

My name is Corey Hayes. I was born in Anniston, Alabama and lived there for the past 36 years. My family and I just moved to New Buffalo in August 2024. My wife, Lakeicha, and I have two children, Jad and Lillith. We currently have no pets, but hope to get one in the future. When I lived in Anniston, I spent many years building cars and programming Fanuc and Motoman robots at the Honda Plant in Lincoln, Alabama. I was then given the opportunity to build and test drive tanks at BAE Systems like the M992A3 Cat, M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer, and the M88 Hercules. I enjoy woodworking and building things. I also enjoy spending time outside. My family and I like to kayak and bbq on the weekends. I'm excited to be part of the Bison family!

Parents, we need your help! Rating New Buffalo Area Schools on Niche.com is a simple way to support our district and showcase the incredible experiences our students have every day. Your feedback helps prospective families learn about our strong academics, outstanding programs, and dedicated staff. Positive ratings also enhance our school’s reputation, making New Buffalo a more attractive place for families and businesses. It only takes a few minutes—visit Niche.com, search for New Buffalo Area Schools, and share your thoughts. Your voice makes a difference!