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The SchoolGram is the newsletter of the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda
Union Free School District. The SchoolGram is presented in
e-newsletter format for the convenience of readers and easy access on computers and mobile devices. Sign up to receive the SchoolGram in your inbox or view past editions
on the web at www.ktufsd.org/schoolgram. The special Budget Edition of the SchoolGram will be mailed to households in the spring.
June 13, 2017
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WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT
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2017-18 Instructional Calendar & Student Start/End Times Posted to District Website
The 2017-18 school district instructional calendar overview and start and end times for the 2017-18 school year for elementary, middle and high schools can be found on the district website at www.ktufsd.org/calendars. The district calendar publication will be mailed to households in August.
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Language Honor Societies Welcome Inductees
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Food Service Launches New Website
The Ken-Ton Child Nutrition Program is excited to announce that a new Food Service website has been launched with an assortment of interactive features for parents and guardians as well as students. The website includes breakfast and lunch menus with descriptions and nutritional information which can be translated into different languages.
Click here to read the story.
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Board of Education Student/Staff Recognitions
For the month of May, from Edison Elementary: Third grader Samantha Leggett, school monitor Kim Moser, and music teacher Ron Bordinaro; from the Food Service Department: Kenmore West High School Cook Manager; and from the Staff Development Policy Board: Chairperson Lynn Whitworth and member Kathy Ticco.
Click here to visit the Board Recognitions page.
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Youth Bureau Honors Students, Staff & Parent
Gennie Vitko, Kenmore East Music Boosters/Edison Elementary PTA president; teachers Darlene Evans (Kenmore East) and Diana Gruninger (Kenmore West); and students Alexander Russell and Alexandria Rainey (Kenmore East) and Rylee Watson (Kenmore West) were among those honored by the Town of Tonawanda Youth Bureau at its 40th annual awards dinner.
Click here to read the story.
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Hall of Fame Golf Tournament Set for July 19
The 22nd Annual Ken-Ton Schools Athletic Hall of Fame Golf Tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, July 19 at Sheridan Golf Course. Tournament proceeds go to scholarships for graduating seniors at both Kenmore East and Kenmore West High Schools. Golf is $100 per person and includes golf, cart, dinner and prize opportunities.
Click here for more information.
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Ken-West Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
The Kenmore West Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2017 inductees have been announced: Sue Dewey (Coach), Alex Dockstader ('07), David Fleischman (Coach), Scott Haynes ('01), Richard Hutton ('47), Tony Mermigas ('95), Jenna Rickan ('09), Barbara Fislar Schiffler ('73), Nathan Skiba ('09), and Nick Silvestri (Honorary).
Click here for information on the induction ceremony.
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May 16 Budget Vote & Board of Education Election Results
The annual Budget Vote and Board of Education Election was held May 16. Voters approved Proposition 1, the 2017-18 school district budget, and Proposition 2, the annual bus purchase. Incumbent Jill O'Malley, Board of Education President, and Michelle Tarbox were elected to three-year terms. Full election results can be found here.
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WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS
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Early Graduating Kenmore West Junior Named National Merit Scholarship Program Finalist
Kenmore West High School junior Philip Davis, who will be graduating a full year early, is one of only a tiny fraction of students nationwide to qualify as a National Merit Scholarship Program Finalist. Students from across the country compete in the National Merit Scholarship Program, which recognizes outstanding academic performance and extracurricular achievement. National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists also qualify for scholarships, with approximately half of all Finalists qualifying for a substantial award directly through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and other program awards. Click here to read the story.
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Multicultural Club Hosts 2nd Annual 'West's World Tour'
The Kenmore West Multicultural Club hosted its second annual "West's World Tour" on April 28. Students, staff, and community members shared in exploring the many cultures of Kenmore West through food and entertainment. Students represented cultures across the globe with maps, information, small plates, and music. Click here to read the story.
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Author Amy VanDerwater Visits Franklin Elementary
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, a celebrated children's author, recently visited first-grade classes at Franklin Elementary to share her poems about nature with children and their parents. The first graders enjoyed hearing her poems and making a nature craft. Each child also received their very own copy of "Forest Has a Song." Click here to read the story.
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Ken-East NHS Raises $2,400 for MS Treatment
The Kenmore East High School National Honor Society raised an impressive $2,400 through its third annual Bowl-a-Thon to support multiple sclerosis treatment services. The event was first held in April 2014 to benefit a new comprehensive MS treatment site and has so far raised $7,000 to directly benefit MS patients. Click here to read the story.
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Ken-West Student Wins 2nd in 3D Print Competition
Congratulations to Kenmore East High School ninth-grade student Jeremy Lopat who was among the winners in the recent Buffalo Manufacturing Works Annual Wind Turbine 3D Print Competition. For winning second place in the competition, Jeremy won his very own XYZprinting da Vinci Jr. 3D Printer. Click here to read the story.
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Kenmore East Team Wins Buffalo State Clay Olympics
Students of Kenmore East High School art teacher Matthew Sagurney won the 19th annual Clay Olympics hosted by the Buffalo State College Ceramics Program. The Olympics-style event, held in the college's ceramics studio, provided students with a chance to showcase their work and skills and celebrate the importance of art education. Click here to read the story.
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Ride for Missing Children Visits Hoover Elementary
On May 19, Hoover Elementary School welcomed more than 150 bicycle riders who were participating in the 11th Annual Ride for Missing Children, a 100-mile bike ride coordinated by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. These riders stop at schools along the route to reinforce their child abduction prevention message. Click here to read the story.
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1st Grader Wins PBS Kids Writers Contest at WNED
First-grade student Elliott Knoll from Hoover Elementary School teacher Crista Maghrak's class was the first-place winner in the PBS Kids Writers Contest with his comic story, "Mother Nature." Footage of Elliott's reading of his story at the WNED and WBFO studios can be found on the WBFO news webpage. Click here to read the story.
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Hoover Middle Hosts Student/Teacher Reunion
As a reward for achieving independent reading and writing goals, students at Hoover Middle School were given the opportunity to take part in the Teacher/Student Reunion Celebration. This special luncheon event celebrated their accomplishments as well as former teachers who have had a major impact on their learning. Click here to read the story.
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Alumni Spotlight: Jennifer Spors, Class of 2012
Kenmore East alumna Jennifer Spors was the 2016 recipient of the prestigious D'Youville Medal, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an undergraduate student at D'Youville College. The award recognizes outstanding academic performance and service - a college senior of outstanding character, intellectual achievement, service and loyalty. Click here to read the story.
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Kenmore East Student Artwork on Cover of 'Collective'
The artwork of Kenmore East High School sophomore Vianca Colon was featured on the cover of the April edition of "The Collective." Vianca was also the subject of an article in the print and online publication written by Tehniyet Azam on Vianca's passion for art and inspiration. Click here to read the article about Vianca.
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Students Earn Gold Honorable Mention in Video Contest
Students in teacher Kelly Bacon's seventh-grade ELA classes at Hoover Middle created three- to five-minute videos teaching about human rights defenders who are changing the world for the Speak Truth to Power national video contest. A video created by Quinn Kullerkupp and Janae Colston won a gold honorable mention. Click here to read the story.
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Students Take Part in Buffalo News Kids Day
Students from Kenmore East social studies teacher Nicole Pauly's government classes and Alex Perry's combined Ken-East/Ken-West DevilDogs Lacrosse team participated in this year's Buffalo News Kids Day by selling special editions of the paper. They raised more than $350 to benefit the Variety Club of Buffalo which serves children in need in WNY.
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FBI Agent Visits Kenmore East Social Studies Class
Special Agent Darin Schultz, a 20-year veteran of the FBI, visited Kenmore East Street Laws classes on April 24. He explained to the students how they can become an agent or another support position within the bureau, and the qualifications they would need to have a college internship with the FBI. He also discussed cell phone usage and safety.
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Holmes Students Earn Special Library Visit
After raising $1,200 for the Buffalo & Erie County Library's summer reading program, students at Holmes Elementary were treated to an afternoon enjoying all that the downtown library location has to offer. Students raised the money through a bake sale at Praxair, which is part of a successful mentoring program with the school. Click here to read the story.
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Elementary & Middle Students Partner for 'Zoo Crew'
A special "Zoo Crew" activity at Hoover Middle School gave seventh graders in science teacher Thomas Spengler's classes the chance to teach K-4 students about an assortment of different animals. Spenger's students have learned about different kinds of pets and they passed their knowledge on to visitors from Hoover Elementary. Click here to read the story.
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Kenmore East Chapter Honors Tri-M Inductees
The Kenmore East High School Tri-M Music Honor Society recently honored eight new inductees. Current members and inductees participated in a recital and induction ceremony that featured a variety of musical works. Retired Ken-Ton teacher Eileen Yu was honored at this event with the Tri-M Honorary Life Membership Award.
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Alumni Spotlight: Judy Brown, Class of 2007
Kenmore West alumna Judy Brown was recently part of a team that made a breakthrough in celiac disease research. Judy is earning her doctorate at Vanderbilt University and was part of a team studying the relationship between a common virus and celiac disease. Their work could ultimately prove instrumental in developing a vaccine. Click here to read the story.
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Kenmore West Honors Orchestra Graduates
The Kenmore West Orchestra honored its graduating seniors during the spring concert and gave each a rose as a token of their service and dedication. One Outstanding Senior Orchestra Award winner was also honored: Lesley Rudin, who served as a student liaison for the first-ever high school intern for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Click here to read the story.
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7th Graders Use VR Goggles to Observe Space
Students in Franklin Middle School science teacher Karen Otto's classes have been using Google virtual reality cardboard glasses and the innovative app Fistful of Stars to see space like never before. The app shows how space would look from the Hubble spacecraft and is designed to be a "total immersion" experience. Click here to read the story.
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Kenmore East Chamber Singers Earn Highest Rating
The Kenmore East High School Chamber Singers under the direction of vocal director Jill Neuhaus recently received a "Gold With Distinction" rating at the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Major Choral Evaluations. "Gold With Distinction" is the highest possible rating a choir can receive from NYSSMA evaluators.
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Butterfly Simulation Gives Hoover Elementary Class Insight Into Real Monarch Migrations
Hoover Elementary School teacher Lisa Chiavaroli's class participated in the 2017 Symbolic Butterfly Migration through Journey North to provide students with a concrete way of understanding a real Monarch Butterfly migration. They created one class butterfly and individual student butterflies which made their way to students in Mexico and then back north to classrooms across the U.S. Click here to read the story.
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Franklin Elementary School students show their appreciation for their bus drivers with popcorn and hand-made flowers
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Hoover Elementary School hosts immensely successful art show with works by every student in the school
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Assemblyman Robin Schimminger visits Kenmore East social studies class to teach about New York State government
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Franklin Elementary School students enjoy the "Greatest Show on Merth" with amazing juggling and comedy
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Students in the Hoover Middle School "Be the Change" Club created a pallet garden to celebrate Earth Day
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Franklin Elementary students raise $953.17 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through "Pennies for Patients"
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Kenmore East alumna Corrie Wang, author of "The Takedow," appears beside Sara Shepard at book signing:
Kenmore East High School students at the Buffalo State College Clay Olympics:
Superintendent Bovino's Ken-Ton Bee op-ed:
Budget Vote/Board of Education election results:
Graduating Kenmore West High School student says goodbye as Buffalo News NeXt writer:
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- Monday, June 19: Last student day for elementary schools
- Tuesday, June 20: Last student day for middle schools
- Wednesday, June 21: Last student day for high schools
- Saturday, June 24: Kenmore East High School Graduation (Kleinhans, 6 p.m.)
- Sunday, June 25: Kenmore West High School Graduation (Kleinhans, 2 p.m.)
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