Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools is pleased to announce that Jake Hockinson will be the next principal of Parkside Elementary School.
An extensive search and evaluation process has been conducted over the past seven weeks, culminating in the school board’s appointment of Hockinson to the principal’s position during its meeting on Monday, March 24. Hockinson emerged from a competitive field of candidates due to his strong instructional background, his proven ability to form personal connections with students and staff, and his approachable, enthusiastic and collaborative demeanor.
Hockinson joined BHM Schools in the fall of 2023 as a dean of students at Montrose Elementary School of Innovation. This winter he shifted to Buffalo Community Middle School in a support role while BCMS Principal Matt Lubben took on the interim principal role at Parkside.
As the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose School Board has gathered for meetings in the opening months of 2025, a pair of familiar faces have been conspicuously absent for the first time in almost two decades.
Melissa Brings and Sue Lee decided not to run for re-election last fall after serving 17 years and 19 years on the board, respectively. Their seats are now occupied by Angie Grieg and Mike Honsey.
Following their final meeting in December, Brings and Lee reflected on their years of service, and shared their thoughts on the state of the school district.
After months of research and preparation, sixth- and seventh-graders in the Quest program at Buffalo Community Middle School presented their findings in a Minnesota History Day event on Tuesday, March 4.
The theme of this year’s event was “Rights and Responsibilities in History.” Organized by the Minnesota Historical Society, the program challenges students to choose a topic related to the theme, conduct extensive research and present their findings through performance, exhibit, documentary or website.
“Our middle schoolers continue to impress me with the amount of work they put into this project and the quality of what they create,” said BCMS Quest teacher Danielle Kelm. “I feel like with each year of the competition, they keep leveling up what these projects can look like. Their work is nothing short of amazing.”
The Special Services Department of BHM Schools and Autism Allies are combining to offer a Disabilities Resource Fair from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, at the Discovery Center in Buffalo (214 1st Ave. NE).
This free event, formerly known as Transition Trek+, features three speaker seminars, a comprehensive vendor fair, and more. The objective is to provide resources and support to families of individuals with disabilities of ALL ages (birth to adulthood). All are welcome to attend, including those who do not live in the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose School District. The evening is also an opportunity to meet BHM special education staff.
Amid an impressive compilation of pieces performed by Buffalo High School orchestra students at their winter concert, one made history.
For the first time, the Concert Orchestra performed a song composed by one of its own members.
Senior cellist Mitchell Friesz’s four-minute “Chasing the Unknown” was a highlight of the evening. Featuring a memorable melody line combined with layers of satisfying harmonies – as well as a generous distribution of feature moments to each instrumental group – the piece held its own in a program otherwise populated by the works of professional composers.
Excelling in the classroom, on the playing field or in the arts takes hard work and perseverance. Becoming a leader in all three areas simultaneously is a testament to a student’s character as well as their skill.
For that reason, Buffalo High School is proud to recognize seniors Hope Bjornson and Mitchell Friesz as its Academics, Arts and Athletics Award winners for 2025. The Minnesota State High School League honor, also known as the Triple ‘A’ Award, is given annually to two students who stand out in diverse disciplines.
Audyn Molesky and Aiden Herbst have been named Buffalo High School’s nominees for the Minnesota State High School League’s ExCEL Award.
The award, which stands for Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership, is for juniors who participate in an MSHSL fine arts and/or athletic activity, hold a leadership position in their school, and volunteer in their community, among other stipulations.
Nearly 40 students from Buffalo Community Middle School have spent the past month, on either side of Winter Break, preparing their annual play.
“Kokonut High” is the comedic story of a family-owned island resort off the coast of Florida that is desperate to generate income in the wake of a hurricane. After their insurance company declines to cover the cost of repairs, island residents hatch a plot to start a boarding high school with steep tuition fees.
“Basically, everything goes wrong,” said eighth-grader Keira Lemke. “There are some crooks trying to get the island too, but in the end it all turns out.”
From fueling students in the cafeteria to morning hugs as they arrive, and from efficiently handling myriads of office duties to providing a caring and helpful media center presence, this year’s Educational Support Staff Award winners have made their mark on Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools.
Four individuals were honored at a recognition event hosted by Resource Training & Solutions on Nov. 20 in St. Cloud. They included Tamra Otten (Educational Support Professional at Buffalo High School), Tess Teichert (Teaching and Learning Director’s Secretary), Susan Van Lith (former Northwinds Elementary School Nutrition Services Manager), and Melissa Wykoff (Principal’s Secretary at Montrose Elementary School of Innovation).
The wRight Choice Backpack Buddies program provides supplemental meals and snacks for BHM students over the weekends and extended school breaks, free of charge.
But funding for those meals must come from somewhere, and a recent donation by Centra Sota Cooperative highlighted the key role that individuals and businesses in the community can play by supporting hungry students.
