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Weekly E-Newsletter from the Superintendent of Schools
Volume 3, Issue 20 (January 27, 2023)
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UPDATE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT | |
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SAFETY & ENGAGEMENT TEAM
As you know, we are continuing to move forward in partnership with Vista Security Group, a NYS-licensed security agency headquartered in Amherst, to enhance safety and student engagement across the district. Through this partnership, we will have four School Safety Officers to complement our extremely successful School Resource Officer program through the Town of Tonawanda Police Department at Kenmore East and Kenmore West. Vista will provide one School Safety Officer at both the Franklin and Hoover complexes, one on a rotating basis at Edison, Holmes and Lindbergh, and one at Kenmore Middle. This group will be called the Safety and Engagement Team (SET). This team will focus on:
- Increasing support in our buildings to sustain a school culture characterized by trusting and supportive relationships
- Improving the quality of interactions among students and staff as steps toward implementing common-sense security policies and procedures
- Creating more consistent and positive points of contact and support for our students and families to reduce potential for violence
- Conveying a district-wide message of care and respect for all students founded on the pillars of safety and belonging
The School Safety Officers are scheduled to begin on Monday, February 6th. There will be a total of seven individuals hired in these positions. Our priority is to have two individuals at each location to focus on forging deeper relationships. All are retired law enforcement officers and many have worked in or near the Ken-Ton community. The week of February 6th will be devoted to orienting them to the district, getting to know the schools and community, working with principals, familiarizing themselves with the buildings, and getting to know the students and staff.
In next week’s Weekly Connection update, we will include biographies and photographs of our new School Safety Officers. You should also be on the lookout for additional information from your principal. We are excited to welcome these individuals to our Ken-Ton family.
36TH ANNUAL SLEEPOUT
The 36th annual Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools' SleepOut is only one week away. It will take place Friday, February 3rd. This wonderful event will support families in need in the Ken-Ton community with all proceeds going to the Ken-Ton Closet and Family Support Center. As a reminder, here is how you can help support the SleepOut:
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Donate online via GoFundMe
- Cash/checks made payable to “Ken-Ton Schools – E.T.C." sent via U.S. Mail to Ken-Ton Schools’ SleepOut, c/o Kenmore West High School, 33 Highland Pkwy., Buffalo, NY 14223
- Dropped off in person the day of the SleepOut (monetary donations, food, personal care items, new/gently used clothing and small furniture items will be accepted)
BLIZZARD RESPONSE RECOGNITION
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From left, Councilman Carl Szarek, Director of Facilities Tim Ames, Councilwoman Shannon Patch; Councilwoman Jill O’Malley, Director of Transportation Mike Klemann, Superintendent Sabatino Cimato, Town Supervisor Joseph Emminger, Assistant Director of Facilities John Wille, and Councilwoman Gina Santa Maria. Food Service Director Kim Roll was also honored but was unable to attend.
At a Town Board meeting on Monday, January 23rd, Town of Tonawanda officials recognized some of those who were instrumental in establishing a warming center at the Hoover Complex. This warming center, which represented a partnership between the Town of Tonwanda and the Ken-Ton School District, provided refuge for 106 people during the blizzard that struck Western New York last month. District personnel were also ready to assist following a fire on the of December 26th. You can read more about these heroic efforts in the January 13th edition of the Weekly Connection.
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With the return of winter weather this week, families should keep in mind some important guidance regarding frostbite when their children are going to be outside. Whether they are playing in the snow, walking, or waiting for the school bus, children are at greater risk of getting frostbite than adults are.
Skin that is red and numb or tingly is an early warning sign. KidsHealth.org recommends that families bring their children inside if this occurs. Remove all wet clothing, because it draws heat from the body. Immerse the chilled body parts in warm (not hot) water for about 20–30 minutes. Frostbite happens mostly on fingers, toes, ears, noses, and cheeks. The area becomes very cold and turns white or yellowish gray. If you notice frostbite, take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
The best way to prevent frostbite is to make sure children are dressed warmly in layers of clothes and don't spend too much time in extreme weather. Wool is generally warmer than cotton and waterproof pants/jackets can help keep kids dry, which is especially important when it is cold. A hat, gloves/mittens, socks, and warm boots also aid in preventing frostbite.
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SCHOOL & DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS | |
Each week, we will highlight some of the exciting things taking place in the district. Be sure to follow the Ken-Ton School District on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@ktufsd) for more school highlights! | |
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Sabres Players Wear Ken-Ton Hockey Jerseys to Key Bank Center
Pictured here are Buffalo Sabres players arriving at Key Bank Center on Saturday, January 21st wearing Ken-Ton hockey jerseys! Forward Jeff Skinner chose to wear a Kenmore/Grand Island Girls Varsity Ice Hockey jersey while Tage Thompson chose Kenmore West Boys Varsity Ice Hockey. The Buffalo Sabres had hosted a Youth Hockey Day and decided to wear different high school hockey jerseys from all across Western New York to promote youth hockey.
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KE to Host Music is Art Youth Jazz Festival Featuring KE & KW Musicians
The Kenmore East High School Jazz Band is proud to host the Music is Art Youth Jazz Festival, which will take place at 7 p.m. today in the Kenmore East auditorium. This event will feature eight different schools and 10 different ensembles including our own Kenmore East and Kenmore West musicians. This concert is free. A second performance will take place tomorrow (Saturday, January 28th) at 6 p.m. at Asbury Hall (341 Delaware Avenue). Tickets for Saturday's performance are $15 at the door. Click here for more information.
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Prestigious Scholarship Enables KW Student to Study in Germany
One Kenmore West student is in the middle of a year-long opportunity that is giving her a first-hand look at life and education in another country. Junior Karli Schmitt has been a part of the Ken-Ton German language program since the seventh grade and is currently attending high school and living with a host family in Wecheselburg, Germany. The opportunity is thanks to a study abroad scholarship program called Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange. It is a dynamic and immersive exchange program jointly offered by the United States and German governments. Click here to read the story.
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Weeks of Work Culminates With KE Dance Club’s Annual Performance
On January 19th, the Kenmore East High School Dance Club held its amazing annual dance performance. The group is made up of 27 students of all abilities, including seven seniors, who practiced hard for this event. This also includes the work of the club's advisors, choreographers, teacher helpers, and volunteers. The group performed multiple dance numbers including a "through the decades mix" and a "senior dance." The Dance Club was created to provide a way for students of all abilities to learn new dances, get active, make friends, and have fun. Since then, it continues to grow while giving students the ability to showcase their talents at a range of events including public performances and visits to schools.
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Holmes Partners With Buffalo State to Enhance the Student Experience
A unique partnership is allowing Holmes Elementary to further educate its students, improve literacy in the classroom, and develop relationships with future educators. For three school years, Holmes and Buffalo State University have engaged in a Professional Development Schools (PDS) partnership. It’s an idea that started with teaching and learning literacy in the classroom and has evolved into different layers of teamwork and collaboration between the two schools. Their shared vision is to “work together to provide evidence-based best practices in literacy instruction to ensure the growth of all learners into literate, knowledgeable, and humane human beings." Click here to read the story.
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Kenmore West & Edison Partner to Help Rotary International Eradicate Polio
Kenmore West High School Challenge/Interact Club members recently visited Edison Elementary School for a "Purple Pinkie" fundraiser. Students painted the pinkies of every student who donated money. The club worked with the Rotary Club of Kenmore to raise funds for Polio vaccines for children in countries around the world who don't have regular access to health care or vaccinations. Overall, a total of $2,500 was raised thanks to the Edison students, Kenmore West students, the Rotary Club, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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Franklin Middle Classes Explore Technology Concepts by Building Robots & Rockets
Earlier this week, Franklin Middle School students had a great time with two exciting projects in Franklin Middle technology teacher Joseph Stawisuck's technology classes. Seventh-grade students built their own functioning robots that were challenged to fight one another and capture achieve a fun objective: capturing a "troll." Meanwhile, fifth-grade students created rockets which were launched using a Josh Allen-themed "rocket launcher" and aimed at Buffalo Bills targets. These projects created a fun way for students to learn and explore various technology-related concepts.
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Franklin Elementary Students Explore Their Own 3D Characters & Worlds
After learning about and writing folktales, third-graders at Franklin Elementary School learned how to create 3D characters in an online modeling program called Tinkercad. This fun and exciting activity was facilitaed by David Rogalski, instructional support specialist for technology. Students put their characters in CoSpaces (a creation app) where they learned how to code and record themselves reading their stories in virtual worlds. Using virtual reality goggles, students were then able to explore each other's worlds and listen to one another's stories. Not only did students learn more about each program, but they were also able to provide support and encouragement to one another.
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Hoover & Franklin Students Enjoy Evening Literacy Events
Last week, Hoover Elementary and Franklin Elementary students and families had a wonderful time at different literacy events at both schools. Hoover Elementary hosted a Gr. K-2 literacy event with students coming to school in their pajamas and some even bringing along a stuffed animal. Throughout the night, families enjoyed a flashlight reading room, a snack/charades room, and various stations in classrooms where teachers read aloud to students. Franklin Elementary also hosted a "Read Aloud Night" with students dressed in their pajamas and teachers and staff reading favorite books while the students who enjoyed hot cocoa and cookies.
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Kenmore East Basketball Team Inspires Future Bulldog Athletes
On Thursday, January 19th, the Kenmore East High School Boys Basketball Team coached by Jim Badgley paid a very special visit to Franklin Elementary School. As part of the visit, the Kenmore East players assisted the younger students in learning basketball skills during physical education classes. They also visited classrooms to read and work with students. In this way, they were able to share their love of the game and inspire future Bulldog athletes. It was an experience the Franklin Elementary students will never forget.
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KE Wilderness Club Enjoys Educational ‘Owl Prowl’ Night Hike
The Kenmore East High School Wilderness Club recently enjoyed an educational "owl prowl" night hike with Buffalo Audubon Society naturalist Tom Kerr at the Audubon Society's nature preserve in North Tonawanda. The group, consisting of eight Kenmore East students and one Big Picture student, had fantastic luck spotting screech owls. This species of owl is fairly common in our region but are very elusive, since they only stand approximately 10 inches tall and have very quiet voices. If you can hear one, you are close enough to see it if you can spot it.
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KW French Club Students Compete in French Food Competition
The Kenmore West French Club held its second annual "Concours de Cuisine Française" (French Food Competition) on January 17th. Students were challenged to prepare French dishes which were graded on presentation, flavor, and authenticity. Winning 1st place was Ella Jones for Tarte au Citron; winning 2nd place was Everdina Clinch for Bûche de Noël; and winning 3rd place was Ashe Fusani for Mousse au Chocolat. Click here to read the story.
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KW French, German & Spanish Clubs Team Up to Create Gingerbread Houses
In recent weeks, students in the French, German, and Spanish Clubs at Kenmore West enjoyed a combined meeting after school to build gingerbread houses. More than 70 students participated and were given 20 minutes to build the "best" gingerbread house they could. Students partnered up and chose their own ingredients. Teachers were extremely impressed with their creative designs.
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RECOGNITION: NTHS INDUCTEES | |
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On Tuesday, January 24th, I was honored to attend the Erie 1 BOCES National Technical Honor Society Induction Ceremony at Villa Maria College. The ceremony included many Kenmore East and Kenmore West students who attend two-year Erie 1 BOCES career and technical education (CTE) programs. In order to qualify for acceptance into NTHS, a student must be nominated by his or her teacher, have a 90 percent or higher average in their career and technical education course, and maintain an overall GPA of 85 or higher. Furthermore, students must demonstrate outstanding skill development, leadership, responsibility, and good character.
Students recognized are, from Kenmore East, Carelia Capizzi, Sawyer Crawford, David Daigler, Eva Eggers, Brigid Gallagher, Skylar Hotchkiss, Angelina Khouri, Sienna Maalouf, James Orlando, Brady Plapus, Zachary Rice, Ashleigh Roebuck, Kaylin Sautter, Emily Schirrmacher, Alayna Schupp, and Noah Stachoski; and, from Kenmore West, Brianna Hakes, Emma Schauss, and Chastity Vazquez. Please join me in congratulating these students for their achievement. They exemplify the seven pillars of the NTHS: skill, honesty, service, responsibility, scholarship, leadership, and citizenship.
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Visit www.ktufsd.org/calendar to access website calendars and Google calendars with
up-to-date event information for the district and each of its schools.
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- Monday, January 30th:
- Start of 3rd marking period/2nd semester
- Saturday, January 28th:
- Ken-Ton Wrestling Tournament (9 a.m. Kenmore West)
- Wednesday, February 1st:
- Elementary & Middle School Early Release
- Friday, February 3rd:
- 36th Annual Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools' SleepOut
- Gr. 5-12 Report Cards Posted to Infinite Campus
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Thank you for reviewing this information. As always, we remain Ken-Ton Proud, Ken-Ton Strong, and Ken-Ton Moving Forward!
Sabatino Cimato,
Superintendent of Schools
For previous editions of the Ken-Ton Weekly Connection, visit
www.ktufsd.org/connection
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