Dear New Buffalo Families,

As we approach the end of 2024, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible year we’ve shared as a school community. Together, we’ve celebrated achievements, supported one another through challenges, and continued our commitment to providing the very best education for our students. Your partnership and support make all the difference, and for that, I am truly grateful.

On behalf of our entire team, I wish you and your family a holiday season filled with peace, happiness, and warmth. May your new year be filled with success, good health, and meaningful experiences.

Thank you for being a part of our Bison family. We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful community supporting our schools.

Warmest regards,
Adam Bowen

We’re seeking your feedback on how we communicated during the recent millage renewal. Your input will help us better connect with the community on important initiatives in the future.

Click here to share your input! https://forms.gle/1G6cc6MNMai1zEnd7

New Buffalo Elementary School has been honored with the 2024 Silver Level Whole Child Award by the Michigan ASCD, recognizing the school’s outstanding commitment to supporting students’ academic, social, emotional, and physical well-being. Elementary Principal Melissa Lijewski accepted the award, which included a $1,000 grant to further the district’s Whole Child initiatives. “This award reflects the hard work we put in, not just academically, but also in the social and emotional learning of our students,” said Lijewski. “This program embodies our vision: Every Student. Every Day.” Congratulations to our students, staff, and community for this remarkable achievement!

Congratulations to New Buffalo High School freshman Phoebe Zalewski on an outstanding performance at the MHSAA Division 1 State Championship! Phoebe made it to the finals in all her events, competing against the top 16 swimmers in the state. She placed 12th in the 100 Free with a personal record, an incredible feat as one of only two freshmen to make the finals in this event. She also helped achieved 15th place in the 100 Free Relay and 14th place in the 400 Relay. Way to go, Phoebe—we're so proud of your hard work and success! 🐾💙 #BisonPride #StateFinalist

Calling a snow day is always great for the kids but sometimes difficult for the parents. Parents do not get the luxury of calling off work if school is canceled. The worst part about calling, or not calling a snow day, is that my kids have to deal with whatever choice is made by me from their friends - they get it in all three buildings. The balancing act of staying open to educate children but yet having the safety of all staff and students weighs heavy. There is a lot that goes into calling a snow day. At times making the call is easier than others. Being right on Lake Michigan adds to the guessing game because you never know how the lake effect snow bands are going to impact us. Factors that play into the decision are snow accumulation, the time in which the event is supposed to happen, duration of the event, road conditions, temperature, wind, wind chill, type of snow (light or heavy). We look at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website https://www.noaa.gov/ as well as the local news to help provide the information needed when making this decision. Making the call early as possible is always the goal. Remember last year when the temperatures were very cold, school was called the night before so that parents could plan appropriately. Just recently, it was forecasted that we would get some lake effect snow and in fact we didn’t get any snow at all. Other events are not that easy and it becomes especially difficult when you are anticipating a snow storm, live on Lake Michigan, and sometimes the weather reports are not that accurate. Lake effect snow can hammer on St. Joe or Northwest Indiana but we are fine. It is a guessing game. It all requires a lot of communication with others. When snow does accumulate, I try to touch base with transportation and facilities personnel to make sure parking lots are open and that buses are properly functioning. Driving the roads early in the morning is something that is done by quite a few of us and reports are shared out. Also, all the Berrien County Superintendents are in communication with each other when snow is expected and provide updates in the surrounding areas. At any rate, if school is open and you feel that the wrong decision was made, keep your child home. Let the building administrative assistant know your decision and we will work with you.

New Buffalo Area Schools continues to set the standard for academic excellence, earning high marks in the recently released U.S. News & World Report Rankings for Michigan schools. This prestigious recognition highlights the district’s dedication to student success at all levels:

• New Buffalo High School ranks #56 out of 1,163 high schools in Michigan, placing it in the top 5% of all high schools statewide. This ranking reflects exceptional college readiness, AP performance, and student achievement.

• New Buffalo Middle School stands out at #45 out of 1,998 middle schools in Michigan, earning a spot in the top 2%. Key metrics include strong performance on state assessments and proficiency in core subjects such as math and English language arts.

• New Buffalo Elementary School achieved an outstanding ranking of #36 out of 2,633 elementary schools in Michigan, placing it in the top 1%. The school’s success stems from high proficiency rates in foundational subjects, as well as a nurturing environment that supports the whole child.

These accolades underscore the hard work and dedication of our students, educators, and families. From fostering college readiness at the high school level to building strong academic foundations in elementary and middle school, the commitment to excellence is evident in every classroom.

We are incredibly proud of this recognition and look forward to continuing to provide a world-class education for every student, every day.

I am the Director of Food Services for New Buffalo Area Schools. I have 25+ years in food service leadership with an emphasis in coordinating and catering for large groups of people. I have had a hand in opening and developing such places as Clementines and Clementines Too, Panera Bread, and Texas Corral. I opened and operated a family catering business, DeFay’s Catering, for the last 20 years and counting. I have been a part of the food service department at Berrien Springs Public Schools for the past couple of years. I am originally from Bridgman, MI but now I reside on 40 acres with my family and

mother in Berrien Center, MI. My fiancé and I have 5 children ranging from 8 to 25 and a

2-year-old granddaughter. I enjoy reading, traveling, golfing and spending time with my

family. Recently, my 13-year-old daughter, Alexa, won Miss Teen Blossomtime. It was

very exciting, and I am a very proud pageant mom.

Hello New Buffalo families! I’m Caroline Fortunato, the Student Advocate for New Buffalo Middle and High School, and I’m thrilled to continue serving this incredible community. I previously taught social studies here at New Buffalo and recently served as the Site Director for the Bridgman Boys and Girls Club. With over a decade of experience in education, I’m deeply committed to supporting students’ academic and personal growth. As a proud graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia University, my teaching journey has taken me from New York City to New Jersey and back home to Michigan. I live locally with my husband and two amazing daughters, who inspire me every day to create meaningful opportunities for students to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. I’m excited to continue reconnecting with the New Buffalo community and working together to ensure the success of all our students!

Thank You, New Buffalo!

We’re incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from our community in renewing the non-homestead operating millage. Thanks to you, we can continue providing quality education and essential resources for our students, teachers, and staff.

Together, we’re building a brighter future for New Buffalo Area Schools. Thank you for believing in our mission and investing in our students!

At the conclusion of each trimester, key stakeholders in the district will assess our progress toward achieving the goals outlined in the district's strategic plan. This assessment, referred to as the Scorecard, will be reviewed during a Board of Education meeting. During these meetings, the Scorecard will serve as an update to highlight progress made and identify areas of focus moving forward. The strategic plan serves as our roadmap for the next five school years, guiding our efforts to achieve district-wide goals. Below is our full strategic plan available for download.