Welcome to Buchanan Elementary (PK-5)

We are honored to serve a school with amazing scholars and a supportive community. As a school we focus on building positive relationships so that each scholar feels valued and supported. 

We welcome you to visit our school and take a tour by calling 616-819-2252. You will get to meet our wonderful secretaries and support staff. Our open door policy will empower our families to maintain a positive communication pathway. Looking forward to seeing you at Buchanan Elementary.

Michael Thomasma
Principal

School Apps

Buchanan Elementary

1775 Buchanan Ave. SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Phone: 616-819-2252
Michael Thomasma
Principal
Elena Conley
Assistant Principal
Jacqueline Suarez
Head Secretary
Vanessa Cervantes
Kent School Services Network (KSSN) Coordinator

School Hours

Breakfast 8:10 a.m.
Start Time 8:30 a.m.
Dismissal 3:28 p.m.
Half Day Dismissal 11:40 a.m. 

KSSN

We are a Community School!
Connect with your KSSN Coordinator

At Buchanan Elementary, we believe that our scholars benefit from a school culture that embraces their identities as Bilingual Learners; our school takes great pride in diversity and celebrating our scholars' rich cultural heritages.

We believe that every scholar deserves...

  • The opportunity to maintain their first language into adulthood. Research shows that there are more economic, social, and educational benefits for those who participate in a late-exit bilingual program, and we are proud to provide that for our scholars. 
  • The opportunity to acquire Spanish language skills even if their first language is not Spanish. Acquisition of the Spanish language supports our desire to ensure every scholar is provided a rigorous, stimulating educational experience. 
  • The opportunity for a prosperous future in which the number of languages they speak, read, and write is viewed as an asset.
  • The opportunity to learn through their first language with the goal of proficiency in English and Spanish; we believe Biliteracy is an investment in our global community. 
  • The opportunity to develop academic proficiency in both languages over time.

Meet Our Principal

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Principal Profile: ‘This would have been the perfect school for me’

Dr. Denise Flavin has loved hands-on learning since she was a child.

Community support for those affected by SNAP funding concerns

The following email was shared with all GRPS families on October 27, 2025.

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When it came time for third-graders in the environmental science school, C.A. Frost Elementary, to learn about adaptation, teacher Crystal Schultz saw an opportunity to expose students to a natural resource right in their own backyard.