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.

September 20, 2018
NOTICES & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Town & School District to Host Sept. 25 Forum on Shared Services Athletic Complex Proposal

On Tuesday, Sept. 25, the Town of Tonawanda and the Ken-Ton School District will host an informational forum to provide residents the opportunity to learn more about a shared services proposal currently being explored to construct a new athletic complex. The town and school district are working together to explore the feasibility of partnering on a multi-use facility that would include an ice rink and facilities for additional sports and educational functions. The Sept. 25 forum, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Kenmore West High School auditorium, will include a presentation and update on the ongoing discussions and the opportunity for residents to ask questions about, and comment on, the proposal. Click here for more information .

Proposals Being Accepted for 1st Ken-Ton Innovation Contest

The Ken-Ton School District is accepting proposals for its first-ever Innovation Contest. Anyone with an idea for an innovative new program in Ken-Ton Schools is invited to submit an abstract description (no more than two pages) by October 1. Proposals and questions may be sent to [email protected] . A select number of entrants will be invited back for the next phase of the contest which will allow them to more fully develop their proposals and present their idea to a panel on November 1 from 4 to 6 p.m. Visit www.ktufsd.org/innovation to learn more.

Student & Family Flu Clinic to Take Place Oct. 16

Ken-Ton students and families are invited to prepare for flu season by getting their flu vaccinations at a clinic provided by Independent Nursing Care. The clinic will take place Tuesday, Oct. 16 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Franklin Middle School, located at 540 Parkhurst Blvd., in the cafeteria. Be sure to bring your insurance card, as most major insurance plans are accepted as payment. For those without insurance, the cost will be $30 per injection or $40 for Flu Mist.. Click here for more information .

Important My Stop & Parent Portal Log-In Information

Some parents/guardians may have been encountering issues while trying to access their student's information on either the My Stop school bus tracking app or the Infinite Campus (Parent Portal) student information management system. Click here for information on how to resolve these issues .

Ken-Ton & Bulldog/Blue Devil Online Apparel Store

If you are interested in purchasing Ken-Ton School District or Bulldog/Blue Devil apparel, click here to visit the new Ken-Ton School District online apparel store . Orders will be accepted until Oct. 7 and items will be available for pick-up beginning the week of Oct. 15 at the school or building you designate. A portion of the proceeds will support school/district programs. Questions about items can be sent to [email protected] .

NYS Body Mass Index (BMI) Data Reporting Notice

The Ken-Ton School District has been selected by the NYS Department of Health to participate in the BMI (Body Mass Index) Data Reporting. This data collection is conducted by school nurses and is based on BMI data from the 2017-18 school year. NYS requires that parents or persons in a parental relationship be given the right to exclude their child’s weight status information from the survey. Click here for more information on BMI reporting and to access the opt-out form .

District & School Website Changes

The Ken-Ton School District is excited to provide visitors with an enhanced website experience with new features, improved accessibility options, and greater functionality on devices of all different sizes. Click here to learn more about the recent changes to the school and district websites . If you have any questions or encounter any links or webpages that are not working or displaying correctly, please report them to [email protected] .
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT
Ken-Ton Forward: The Ken-Ton School District 2018-2023 Strategic Plan

The 2018-19 school year marks the first year of "Ken-Ton Forward," the Ken-Ton School District's new 2018-2023 Strategic Plan. This plan represents a significant shift in the governing philosophy and vision of the school district, and it encompasses long-range strategic intents in the areas of instruction, social-emotional wellness, and technology. Click here to learn more about Ken-Ton Forward .
District Welcomes New Administrators

The Ken-Ton School District was excited to announce several administrative leadership changes for the 2018-19 school year ( click here for details ):

  • Kelly White, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction & Student Services
  • Michael Muscarella, Interim Director of Elementary Education
  • Elaine Thomas, Principal of Hoover Middle School
  • Ann Maccagnano, Interim Principal of Lindbergh Elementary School
  • Trevor Brown, Assistant Principal, Kenmore East High School
  • Anne Martell, Assistant Principal, Kenmore West High School
  • Marco Galante, Assistant Principal, Hoover Middle School
  • Danielle Frye, School Support Specialist, Hoover Elementary School
  • Larissa Gramza, School Support Specialist, Franklin Elementary School
Grandson of Charles Lindbergh to Visit Lindbergh Elementary via Mercy Flight
At 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, Mercy Flight's Bell 429 helicopter will land at Lindbergh Elementary School with Erik Lindbergh, grandson of American aviator and the school's namesake Charles Lindbergh. All members of the Lindbergh Elementary and Ken-Ton School District community are invited to attend this special event. Click here for more information .
EPIC, Lindbergh Elementary to Host 1st Parent Workshop on Sept. 26
EPIC (Every Person Influences Children) in collaboration with Lindbergh Elementary and the Lindbergh PTA will host the first of its 2018-19 parent workshop series on Wednesday, Sept. 26 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dinner and childcare will be provided, and all Ken-Ton School District parents are welcome to attend. Click here for more information .
Student Artwork Transforms Human Resources Department
The Advertising Design students of Kenmore East High School art teacher Rick Skaduto designed new large-scale logo images that have transformed the Human Resources Department in the Ken-Ton School District Administration Building at 1500 Colvin Blvd. Click here to read the story .
Ducks Hatch in Classrooms Thanks to Kenmore West AP Chemistry Class
Thanks to an Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry class at Kenmore West High School, students at Holmes Elementary had the opportunity to witness ducks hatching first-hand in their classrooms as part of their life cycles unit. Click here to read the story .
Athletics News

  • Kenmore East Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees: Congratulations to the Kenmore East High School Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2018. The incoming class of Hall of Famers will be inducted Friday, Oct. 12 at Banchetti by Rizzo’s in Amherst. The Class of 2018 includes: Ron Astridge (‘65), Coach Geoff Brunger, Michael Doherty (‘09), Amanda Herberger (‘02), Patrick Huntington (‘97), Cristen Cirrito (‘88), Mark Kessler (‘90), Anthony Kirbis (‘03), Dale Przzbysz (‘71), and Cheryl Williams (‘02). For ticket information for the induction ceremony, contact Athletic Director Brett Banker at 871-3082.
  • Spring Season Highlights: Highlights from the spring season included Kenmore West golfer Zac Boyes who qualified for the NYS Championships, and Kenmore East golfer Sean Barrett who qualified as an alternate; several top finishers from Kenmore East and Kenmore West at the Section VI Track & Field Championships, including West's Christina Wende who went on to place 4th in NYS in the triple jump; senior Andrew Fron of the Kenmore West Baseball team featured as a WKBW Channel 7 Super Athlete of the Week; and senior Abby Bortkowski of the Kenmore West Softball team featured as the WIVB Channel 4 2018 Female Scholar Athlete Scholarship Award Winner and a Buffalo News Scholar Athlete, just to name a few. Click here to read the story.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS
School News Briefs

  • Kenmore West Teacher Earns Buffalo Bills/M&T Recognition: Congratulations to Edward Clinch, Kenmore West High School Earth Science and AP Chemistry teacher, who was the recipient of a 2018 Certificate of Recognition from M&T Bank and the Buffalo Bills Touchdown for Teachers Program. Clinch was nominated for this honor by a former student of his who recently graduated from college with an associate degree in mechanical engineering and secured a job with industrial gas supplier Praxair.
  • Kenmore East Team Wins Tech Wars Escape Room Competition: A team of Kenmore East High School students won first place in the SUNY Erie Tech Wars Escape Room competition, which took place in the spring. Teams were given 30 minutes to complete the challenge, which required them to solve a variety of puzzles using nothing but clues inside the room and their own creative thinking skills. Participating were John Abramo, Andrew Reinhart, Samantha Moore, Samantha Rozak, Jeremy Lopat, Muataz Awad, David Huang, and Jacob Lexner.
  • Kenmore West Graduate Wins AAUW Scholarship: Congratulations to Kenmore West High School graduate Anna Cryan who was awarded a $2,500 scholarship from the Buffalo Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Anna Cryan is a 2018 graduate of Kenmore West where she earned a 100.68 GPA and ranked sixth in her class. She is attending Canisius College to pursue a degree in psychology with a minor in Studio Art that will lead her to her goal of becoming a Board-Certified Art Therapist. Click here to read the story.
  • Kenmore East Teacher Wins Scholarship to Attend Agriculture Conference: Aquaculture, school gardens, oxen, whoopee pies, distilleries, sustainability, biodiversity and more were the focus of this year’s National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Portland, Maine. Kenmore East High School Family & Consumer Science (FACS) teacher Kim Schildwaster was one of the 60 teachers selected from across New York State for a scholarship to attend the conference. Click here to read the story.
Lindbergh Introduces New Mascot, Lucky Lindy
On Friday, Sept. 7, Lindbergh Elementary was proud to introduce its new mascot: Lucky Lindy, who was selected by student vote. He was introduced at a special pep rally event, the first event of its kind and a great way to kick off the year. The event gave the school the chance to introduce all staff and provide a very warm welcome to kindergarten students and all others new to Lindbergh this year.
Kenmore East Students Participate in Bioinformatics Research Project
Six Kenmore East High School International Baccalaureate (IB) Biology students recently participated in a research project to develop better ways to teach bioinformatics through the use of hands-on, state-of-the-art bioinformatics tools and create awareness of careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Click here to read the story .
Ken-West Alum Wins Art Scholarship
The Kenmore West Art Department was proud to announce that 2018 graduate Catherine Kirk won first place and a $2,000 renewable scholarship for her portfolio submission to the Allentown Art Festival Student Art Scholarship. The scholarship is sponsored through the Allentown Village Society, which produces the annual Allentown Art Festival, promotes scholarships to local art students, and supports local cultural organizations in the region.
German Language Students Honored for Outstanding Achievement
Five Kenmore West 11th-grade German language students were honored by the WNY Foreign Language Education Council (WNYFLEC) for their outstanding achievement in German studies at a dinner ceremony in Hamburg in June. These students have demonstrated a dedication to not only their language acquisition but also to strengthening their world understanding. Click here to read the story .
Holocaust Survivor Sophia Veffer Visits Hoover Middle School Students
On May 18, Holocaust survivor Sophia Veffer visited Hoover Middle School to talk with the students of Team 7-2 about her experience during the Holocaust. She has dedicated her life to teaching the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides to Western New York students. Click here to read an article by student Adriana Mann on Veffer's visit .
Lindbergh 4th Graders Support Make-A-Wish Foundation
Last school year, six Lindbergh Elementary fourth-grade students wanted to make a difference. Under the direction of school counselor Cathy Miller, the students led a collection drive and raised more than $500 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation to help make a child's wish come true. Click here to read the story .
ELEMENTARY END-OF-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS
Students at Franklin Elementary enjoy a variety of activities and a special lunch sponsored by the PTA and fire department at Field Day
Third-graders at Franklin Elementary participate in the Living Museum , researching and playing the role of an influential person in history
Students at Franklin Elementary celebrate and learn about Flag Day with a patriotic assembly and parade around Lincoln Park
Holmes Elementary hosts its very first Parent Thank You Dinner to build stronger partnerships with parents and guardians
Impressive array of student artwork on display at annual Holmes Elementary Arts Rock event, with music by 3rd and 4th graders
First-grade classes enjoy a visit by the Zoomobile from Buffalo Zoo with live animals, touchable biofacts, and educational props
Maryann Mercer’s third-grade class visits the Apple Store at the Galleria Mall to participate in a coding and robotics class
Hoover Elementary classes begin recycling discarded markers through Crayola ColorCycle program to keep plastic out of landfills
Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda UFSD | 716-874-8400 | [email protected] | www.ktufsd.org