Please don't miss all the information in this newsletter!

When you see a message like this at the bottom of your email: "[Message clipped] View entire message"

make sure you click it for more important information!

Friday, February 16 - No School - Professional Development Day

Monday, February 19 - No School - Presidents' Day

Wednesday, February 28 - Family TIES - No homework and no activities after 5:30 pm

Tuesday, March 5 - PTO Meeting; AB Room; 9:45 am

Wednesday, March 6 - SAT Testing Day, for juniors only; 7:45 - 12 pm

Thursday, March 7 - Band & Choir OMEA Concert; Lee Auditorium; 7 pm

Monday, March 11 - Athletic Booster Meeting; 6:30 pm

Tuesday, March 19 - NHS Blood Drive

Monday, March 25 - Spring Break Begins (School resumes April 2, 2024)

Monday, April 8  - No School - Solar Eclipse Day 

Kenston's Academic Challenge Team competed and was filmed on Wednesday, February 7 against Twinsburg and St. Vincent - St. Mary on News Channel 5 Cleveland.

Set your calendar reminder to tune in on April 13, 2024, to watch Jack Beclay, Brett King, and Martin Weber compete.

All students taking AP courses in the 2023-2024 school year must take the AP associated exam in May 2024. Please refer to the registration form below listing the test dates and times and the test fee. Payment is due to Guidance by March 8, 2024. Please see or email Mrs. Kardamis in Guidance for any questions or concerns.

No Homework / Activities Night

We are thankful for the support of our community participants, be sure to take advantage of the special offers from our local neighborhood business on Family TIES Night. More details to follow.

The SAT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions. This special half-day is set aside to offer the SAT exam for free to all juniors. This exam is only for current 11th grade students and is not open to any other grade levels. Parents/Guardians should be mindful of this date to be sure not to schedule any appointments for their junior on this important day.

All other students will have a full day of classes as scheduled.

Parents/Guardians are now able to view their student's balances and make payments for the second semester online through the parent portal of Infinite Campus.

Fee Payment Deadlines

Seniors:

Friday, April 26, 2024

All accounts must be paid in full. Please select the drop down menu for "all years" for the total balance owed.

Underclassmen:

Friday, May 10, 2024

March 19, 2024

All students will need parental consent to donate blood even if they are age 18. Only students who are age 16 or higher will be able to sign up to give blood. Rapid Pass questions must be filled out by every registered student on the morning of March 19 prior to giving blood.

Attention Juniors and Seniors!

Kenston High School Prom

Saturday, May 4th

at The Embassy Suites in Independence

After Prom - We need volunteers! Join us Thursday, February 22!

On April 8, 2024, Northeast Ohio will be experiencing a spectacular event as we will be in the path of totality of the solar eclipse. Due to this event, the District calendar is being changed to reflect a no-school day for students. However, staff members will be reporting for a portion of the day to participate in collaboration and meetings about the 2024/25 school year and the Bomber Reconfiguration plan.

For more resources on solar eclipse activities to do with your family, please visit:

• Ohio Total Solar Eclipse Facts
• Video: What is a solar eclipse?
• Great Geauga Total Solar Eclipse - hosted by the Geauga Park District at the Geauga County Fairgrounds

We hope everyone enjoys this special learning experience with your family and friends.

Have you completed the Kenston Schools Website Survey? If you are a resident of Auburn or Bainbridge, a parent or a student, or a staff member, please complete the following survey. We value your opinions. Thank you!

Seniors Only - Important information

KHS Guidance Department has compiled all the important information for your senior year. Please print, highlight, and put all the important dates into your calendar reminders

Kenston High School is excited to celebrate the Class of 2024 and their educators with the presentation of the ACE Awards.

In the upcoming weeks, deserving seniors who exhibited any of the following traits (Achievement – Citizenship – Excellence) in or out of the classroom will be featured in Social Media posts and on the webpage. The honorees have embraced at least one of the Peaceful Environment at Kenston (PEAK) traits of hard work, responsibility, respect, gratitude, love, self control, compassion, positive attitude, honesty, good judgment, integrity, fairness, or embodied our Bomber Beliefs, showed improvement in academic performance, attendance or achievement of a personal goal.

We are celebrating them on Facebook and Instagram – Kenston Schools and X (formerly known as Twitter) @Kenstonschools and @KenstonKHS

#kenstonschools #kenstoninspired #kenstonbombersflytogether #kenstonclassof2024

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR SENIORS

Friday, May 10, 2024

SENIOR PROJECT-MENTORSHIP

May 13-21, 2024 -The Senior Project-Mentorship is for seniors only

SENIOR PROJECT INTERVIEWS

Wednesday, May 22, 2024 - 8:00 am - 2:15 pm, KHS AB Room

SENIOR PROJECT EXHIBIT

Wednesday, May 22, 2024 - 6 pm, KHS Main Gym

COMMENCEMENT DATE

Thursday, May 23, 2024

More information will be shared once the details of commencement are determined.

Any senior who has NOT ordered the

graduation cap and gown to date

should order now!

Order online: Jostens.com 

Please note: If you are borrowing a gown and ONLY need a cap or tassel or both, please see Mrs. Hanzak in the Guidance office.

Senior students who have earned a graduate honor are included in the link below.

The criteria for a senior to earn a graduate honor is as follows:

Summa Cum Laude – All A’s for all coursework* awarded high school credit (see below)**

Magna Cum Laude – All A’s with four (4) credits of B or fewer for all coursework awarded

Cum Laude – All A’s with eight (8) credits of B or fewer for all coursework awarded high school credit.

(*) All coursework includes math and foreign language taken in eighth grade, College Credit Plus classes, any online or distance learning classes, educational options, transfer courses from other schools, etc.

(**) When calculating Summa, Magna and Cum Laude, a grade of “B” in an AP or CCP course is the equivalent of an “A” letter grade. One credit of a grade of “C” in an AP or CCP course is equal to two (2) credits of “B”. This only applies to AP and CCP courses. Courses that are re-taken by students in order to secure a higher grade will NOT be considered in order to qualify for Summa, Magna or Cum Laude honors at graduation.

(***) + and – grades are not considered when determining Summa, Magna and Cum Laude awards.

Dear Senior Parents,

With graduation fast approaching, we want to commemorate and celebrate the Class of 2024 and their years at Kenston.  

Your help is needed; we are looking for videos of your child and their classmates, from K-12, at school events, sports, class parties, field days, class fairs, and more. We encourage videos, but please also include pictures as well. Digital submissions ONLY - limited to 10 items.

Photos and videos submitted may be included as part of the student-produced video that will premiere during Commencement. We are looking for pictures and videos of your child with their friends from all grades K-12.

The deadline to submit is Friday, March 15, 2024.

The Community Service Award is given at graduation to seniors in the Class of 2024 who complete at least 120 hours of documented and authorized volunteer service on file. These are cumulative hours based on paperwork the student has submitted to Guidance by April 26, 2024. Recipients receive a special cord to wear at graduation, are recognized at commencement and in the program, and have a "Community Service Award" on their transcripts. Don’t delay if you have service hours that are not submitted – turn them in to Guidance now.

(Please note: the requirements and deadline for this award are different from the President's Award deadline of March 22, 2024. See more information in the Counseling section of this newsletter). 

New Local scholarships have arrived!

View the current list of SCHOLARSHIPS here.

Please pay close attention to all deadlines.

See the LEAF section in this bulletin for even more scholarship information.

Start now to create a very special honor recognition for your senior by placing a Yearbook Recognition Ad in the 2023-24 Yearbook! The deadline for this ad is March 22, 2024.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Mr. Fodor with any questions at [email protected]

Expect yearbooks to arrive sometime in September of 2024

2024 Senior Project-Mentorship - May 13-17, 2024, and May 20-21, 2024

Proposals due - March 7, 2024

Exit Interviews - May 22, 2024; AB Room

1. Students were encouraged to research local businesses and organizations to find a community sponsor willing to host/work with them. If students need an idea of places to contact, a list of former sponsors is available in Guidance. This is NOT a list of places that WILL accept students this year, simply places that have hosted students in the past.
2. Students must select one KHS faculty member as their advisor, and their proposal must be turned in to their advisor no later than Thursday, March 7, 2024. 

Serving students and families of Kenston High School

Guidance Phone: (440) 543-3035 Fax: (440) 708-2986

School Counselors

Ray Kimpton (Last names A - G)

(440) 543-9821 x2120

Jessica Kardamis (Last names H - O)

(440) 543-9821 x2110

Bethany Hussong (Last names P - Z)

(440) 543-9821 x2130

Administrative Assistant

Linda Hanzak

(440) 543-3035

Dear Kenston Families,

We would like to announce that SchooLinks, a comprehensive college and career readiness platform, is now accessible to our students, families, and counselors. This tool is designed to facilitate the planning process for the future, offering features that empower students to explore, plan, and actualize their postsecondary goals, while also providing families with resources to actively support this journey. To get started with SchooLinks, please refer to the following for guidance on creating a guardian account.

A big "thank you" to those who attended Kenston’s College Credit Plus (CCP) Annual Information Session on Thursday, February 8, 2024. If you would like to continue to learn more, we have included several resources below that you may review at your leisure. We appreciate the time you took out of your evening to learn about this program and to speak to our CCP representatives. Deadline to participate is April 1, 2024

Kenston partners with LEAF to assist

students and families through the college financial aid process.

Hello Kenston Seniors and Families, 

LEAF is a non-profit organization that partners with your high school, providing career, education, and financial aid advisory services to help students and families plan for the next step after graduation. Kenston’s LEAF Career and College Advisor, Heather Moll, is available for individual appointments virtually or at our Resource Center. Please see below for contact information. LEAF's services are free to students and families within the schools we serve. 

President's Award for Educational Excellence is awarded to all students who qualify and apply by the deadline. Community Service Hours must be submitted, documented, and on file by March 22, 2024.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 3.5 unweighted, cumulative GPA or higher
• Community Service hours:

Freshmen - 25 hours

Sophomores - 50 hours

Juniors - 75 hours

Seniors - 100 hours

Kenston Community Service Award

Students should start their volunteer service as soon as they can, beginning the summer before their freshman year of high school. The Community Service Award is given at graduation to seniors who complete at least 120 hours of documented and authorized volunteer service on file. These are cumulative hours based on paperwork the student has submitted to Guidance by April of their senior year. (Please note: the requirements and deadline for this award are different from the President's Award deadline in March). Recipients of the Kenston Community Service Award receive a special cord to wear at graduation, are recognized at commencement and in the program, and have the "Community Service Award" on their transcripts which looks great on any resume!

Students must register for the SAT and/or ACT online. When registering, make sure you place the school code “360860” on the form so your test scores will be sent to KHS to be placed on your transcript. Athletes, also indicate “9999” for scores to be sent to the NCAA Eligibility Center if you plan to participate in sports in college. Send scores to four colleges, free of charge. Register online (see links below).

 **After you register, check your email for any changes or changes in test locations.

2024 Kenstonian Yearbook order forms are available online at www.Jostens.com. The price is $80 through May 24, 2024. Yearbooks can be personalized with the student’s name engraved on the front for an additional $11.00 but must be ordered online at Jostens.com no later than April 12, 2024. PLEASE NOTE: Yearbooks are shipped to the high school in early September. Save yourself a trip to the high school to pick it up in September by having it shipped directly to your home for an additional $10.00.   

Seniors:

The Yearbook Recognition Ad is available online. The deadline for this ad is March 22, 2024. See the details in the Senior section of this newsletter. Contact Mr. Fodor with any questions at [email protected].

WINTER SPORTS UPDATES

(As of 2/12/24)

• Boys Basketball: 2-18 record; Senior Night on February 16; open the OHSAA tournament on March 1 at winner of Girard/Glenville
• Girls Basketball: finished regular season with 8-14 record; open the OHSAA tournament on February 21 at Youngstown Ursuline
• Boys Bowling: 3-12 record; finished in 8th place at NEOHSL Conference Championship; Sectional will be on Monday, February 19 Trevor Stretch earned NEOHSL Player of the Year, finishing in 1st place
• Girls Bowling: 6-6 record; finished in 4th place at NEOHSL Conference Championship on February 2; Sectional on February 19; Alumna Jenna Stretch will represent Team USA at the 2024 Youth World Cup in Peru
• Gymnastics: won its fourth WRC Championship in five years; District Meet on February 18 Gymnast of the Year freshman Sofia Macias Nicole Martorello earned Coach of the Year
• Hockey: finished regular season with 29-2-3 record; earned regular season GCHSHL White North Division Championship; finished as Baron Cup Runners-Up; open the OHSAA tournament on February 17 versus Solon 
• Boys Swimming: the following swimmers qualified for the District Meet on February 16 - Will Belew, Luke Schmidt, Kaden Selby, Connor Ward, and Brian Worsdall
• Girls Swimming: the following swimmers qualified for the District Meet on February 16 – Patsy Brennan, Hannah Cooper, Katie Hodgekins, Giuliana Walters, and Cate Zoltowicz
• Wrestling: finished in fifth place at the WRC Championships - Senior Sean Doyle finished in 3rd place at 285 pounds but also won his 100th career varsity match, WRC Champions included freshman Joey Triscaro at 106 pounds and freshman J.J. Strano at 113 pounds.

FINAL FORMS & SPRING SPORTS REGISTRATION

To avoid lapses in communication from the administration and our coaches, all students interested in participating in any sport for the spring season should register with a parent/guardian in Final Forms and select ALL sports that they have an interest in participating in before e-signing all required documents.

To avoid delays in clearance for participation, parents and students should complete all tasks for registration on Final Forms (including ensuring a current physical is on file with the athletic department) as soon as possible.

Registration instructions are available here:

https://kenstonathletics.com/athletic-registration/



The first day of practice for boys' tennis is March 4; all other spring sports begin on February 19. Students: be sure to have completed registration before these dates or you will not be able to participate!

Happy February!

The 2nd semester is off and running! PTO has been busy planning and preparing for our events and activities. We are always looking for more volunteers so please reach out if you want to get involved! 

Ana Timmons, KHS PTO President 

Traci Felton, KHS PTO Vice President 

What's New?

Next meeting:

Tuesday, March 5 at 9:45 am

Come meet with us and learn more about KHS PTO!

Fundraiser Update 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the fundraiser and helped support our PTO.

Bomber hangar 

The Bomber Hangar is looking for a volunteer to assist on our team for next school year! If you would like to help spread school spirit and want to learn more, a representative will be at the upcoming PTO meetings, or feel free to reach out to [email protected].

After Prom

This year’s After Prom theme was picked by the students and we can’t wait to get started! The team is gearing up to plan an eerie fright night at our Haunted After Prom! Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to help. If you wish to join this fun group, you can be added to the list through the PTO sign-up link. There is an option to join this amazing team when signing up. Stay tuned for more information and look for a welcome email soon!  

Thank you for your support. Looking forward to an incredible year! 

Membership

If you haven’t already please join the KHS PTO and help us support all the amazing programs and events at the High School!

 MAAK is the parent booster group for the band, choir, and Bomberettes program. If your student participates in one of these programs, you are a MAAK member! Thank you for supporting the musical arts at Kenston.

Dear MAAK families,

Thanks to all who attended the MAAK meeting in January! Band, choir, and dance parents are all MAAK members, and we greatly appreciate you.

MAAK scholarship applications for eligible seniors are available to those interested.

Spring sports concessions are around the corner. Please watch for an upcoming email with volunteer opportunities or check the MAAK page on the Kenston website. 

Important dates:

February 25: Bomberette Dance Team competition at Lakeside High School in Ashtabula

February 26 - March 2: Dance Team Try-Outs

March 7, 7 pm: KHS Band and Choir concert at KHS Robert A. Lee Auditorium

March 15 - 16: Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) Large Group Adjudicated Event for Choir and Band in Mentor

Suzanne Taber, President MAAK 2023-2024

Through the generous support of our members,

you should see what we accomplish!

Click below for more information and become a member!

Kenston Athletic Boosters wishes the best of luck

to all Winter athletes/teams participating in the postseason! 

For those with Spring athletes, here are a few dates to keep in mind:

Spring Yard Signs - Deadline is March 18

 Yard Sign Order Form Spring 24 

Senior Bomber Ad in the Spring Program - Deadline is March 18

 Senior Bomber Ad Spring 2024

Senior Banner Picture Day - March 18 (same day as team photos)

DID YOU KNOW?

Kenston Athletic Boosters Scholarship Application is now available! Each year KAB awards two (2) $1500 scholarships to deserving Seniors. Application information is available here and must be submitted by March 25, 2024.

Membership in Kenston Athletic Boosters supports Hudl Software, Senior Banners, Senior Scholarships, Spirit Buses, State Qualifiers, and district facility improvements.

Visit the Kenston Athletic Boosters website to sign up to be a volunteer, find out about meetings, and join with a membership to Kenston Athletic Boosters.

A strong foundation - the power of community.

Thanks to the generous donations from alumni, local businesses, community supporters, and families like you, the Kenston Foundation supports Kenston Schools through senior scholarships and teacher grants.



To see the latest Kenston Foundation news and updates, visit www.kenstonfoundation.org and follow @kenstonfoundation on Facebook and Instagram.