‘VEHICLES FOR CHANGE’ IN OUR SCHOOLS | |
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On Wednesday, we welcomed J. Philippe Abraham, Secretary Treasurer of the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the organization that represents educators across the state. Mr. Abraham came to Ken-Ton to donate hygiene kits, adding to the efforts of staff at Kenmore East, Kenmore West, and Kenmore Junior/Senior High. Our schools have developed unique ways of providing food, clothing, and other items to students when needed. The kits donated by NYSUT contain everyday essentials such as toothpaste, shampoo, and deodorant. It was very generous of Mr. Abraham and his colleagues at NYSUT to make this donation, as we know first-hand how important these everyday necessities are for students to thrive in school.
In addition to his responsibilities as Secretary Treasurer, Mr. Abraham oversees NYSUT's efforts to inspire educators to become vehicles for change within communities. We see the spirit of this initiative running strong in our schools. While Mr. Abraham was in Ken-Ton, Kenmore Teachers Association (KTA) President Jeff Orlowski brought him to our schools to showcase a variety of initiatives underway by our teachers, staff, and administrators to help students. These are just some examples of this fantastic work:
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Kenmore East Food Pantry: Operated by teachers Hannah Aranha and Nicole Hoover and school counselors Michelle Washington and Janine Galante, the food pantry is located in the hallway on the third floor of the building and has a variety of options. It features sought-after items such as lightbulbs and garbage bags, which staff have learned that students don’t always have access to. They also offer a way for students to discreetly request assistance, which can be accessed through this link as well as via a QR code which can be found at school.
- Leo Club: This Kenmore East student group, which is affiliated with the Kenmore Lions Club, is led by school counselor Janine Galante, teacher Kelley Holtz, and clerk typist Sara Catalano. Students in the Leo Club engage in a number of projects throughout the year including the Home Again Project through Journey’s End Refugee Services, which provides a fully furnished and equipped home for refugee families who are new to our area.
- Big Picture Food Pantry: The food pantry is located in the Big Picture school store at Kenmore Junior/Senior High School. Maintained by school monitor Fran Pritchard and clerk typist Andra Fik, the food pantry began several years ago as a student project and has blossomed into something students can rely on throughout the year.
- Big Picture Boutique: This operation, located within the Big Picture Program at Kenmore Junior/Senior High School, is maintained by teacher aide Michelle Phillips. The boutique is an entire classroom filled with racks of clothing that students are able to take home as needed. It also comes in handy when students are assigned to various internship sites and may not have access to items specific to certain work environments.
- Freestyle: Freestyle is an extremely successful free clothing shop at Kenmore West High School overseen by special education teachers Melissa Magaris and Kimberly Zuccari. It was the first operation of its kind in Ken-Ton Schools. It has been operating for several years and has continued to grow, providing students with any clothing they might need at home.
- Bulldog Threads: This is a free clothing thrift store spearheaded in December by teachers Mary Reinoso, Jacqueline Mang, and Jennifer Scifo and their students. Students have been responsible for collecting, sorting, and organizing the clothing as well as the washing, folding, and ironing. The thrift store, located in Room 251, has been available periodically for students to pick out any needed items.
It’s important to note that none of these efforts would be possible without the full support of the entire school community and a continuous supply of donations from teachers, staff, administrators, and community members. There are many students involved in these initiatives as well.
We are deeply appreciative of Mr. Abraham for his generous donation and the opportunity to showcase these wonderful initiatives. These operations are all shining examples of the generosity of our Ken-Ton community and how efforts such as these can make such a tremendous difference in the lives of our students.
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SAFETY TIPS FOR FAMILIES:
DRIVER SAFETY
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Many families will begin teaching their older children how to drive over the next few months in preparation for their road test, so it is once again a great time to focus on driver safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns that teenagers are not ready to have the same level of driving responsibility as adults, which is why it is critical to guide children from the very beginning. The NHTSA provides these basic tips for families of new drivers:
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Learn about and strictly enforce Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws, which are in place to allow young drivers to safely gain driving experience before obtaining full driving privileges. GDL laws restrict privileges for young drivers based on their age and other factors. These restrictions involve whether your child is permitted to drive without supervision, the number of passengers allowed in their car, seatbelt requirements, special restrictions for night-time driving, and penalties for phone-related offenses. The NYS Department of Motor Vehicles outlines these restrictions on their website.
- Talk to your teen about the dangers of drug and alcohol use. Remind them that it is illegal to drink under the age of 21, and it is illegal — and deadly — to drink and drive. If a teen is under 21, his or her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) should always be at .00. Additionally, teens should never operate a motor vehicle under the influence of any drug including marijuana.
- Be a good role model. Remember that your child looks to you as a driver, so practice safe driving yourself.
- Set aside time to take your teen on practice driving sessions. It can be a great way to spend time together and to allow your teen to improve some basic driving skills. Your teen's learning starts at home.
- Don't rely solely on a driver's education class to teach your teen to drive. Remember that it should be used as just part of your child's development.
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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! | |
4 From Ken-Ton Win WNY Educational Service Council Awards | |
Four members of the Ken-Ton School District staff were among 18 throughout the region recognized Wednesday by the Western New York Educational Service Council (WNYESC), a regional organization that plays a key role in supporting school districts in WNY. Superintendent Sabatino Cimato, Director of Facilities Tim Ames, Kenmore West Technology Teacher Kevin Day, and Franklin Cook Manager Maria Marano all received the WNYESC Award of Excellence at the annual awards banquet which took place at the Creekside Banquet Facility in Cheektowaga. Click here to read more about our award winners. | |
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Ken-Ton Named 'Best Community for Music Education' for 14th Year in a Row
For the 14th year in a row, Ken-Ton has been named a "Best Community for Music Education" by the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation. Only a tiny fraction of the nation’s 17,000 school districts receive this prestigious distinction. We could not be prouder of our incredible music teachers who continue to define Ken-Ton as having one of the best music programs in WNY. This is an achievement we can all be proud of because it is the combined efforts and commitment of everyone including teachers, administrators, families, students, Board members, and community leaders which have made music education such an important part of our schools and curriculum. Click here to read the story.
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Students, Staff & Community Members Clean Along the Niagara River in Celebration of Earth Day | |
In celebration of Earth Day, which took place April 22nd, dozens of students, staff, and community members gathered at Aqua Lane Park over the weekend to clean up along the Niagara River shoreline. Ken-Ton is proud to have adopted the section of the beautiful Niagara River Greenway Shoreline Trail which runs right through Aqua Lane Park and it was this section of trail that our students cleaned up through the leadership of Lisa Davidson, Instructional Support Specialist for Science. They also cleaned up along the section of trail maintained by Casella which assisted this effort by providing the totes and recycling services. The group picked up enough refuse to fill up three full garbage totes. | |
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Kenmore West Alumnus Competes at Talladega Superspeedway NASCAR Event
We were extremely proud to see Kenmore West High School alumnus Andy Jankowiak, nephew of clerk typist Peggy Druar, competing in Saturday's NASCAR ARCA Racing Series event at Talladega Superspeedway. The race was broadcast live on Fox Sports 1. Andy joined NASCAR last year and has had several top-ten finishes. Andy was slated to begin the race in 19th place but overcame this disadvantage early, passing five cars in the first three laps. With only a handful of laps remaining, Andy was all the way up in fourth place and was about to battle for victory when his car lost fuel pressure and he had to drop out of the race. Earlier, Andy somehow managed to peel and eat a banana during the mid-race caution period, which was captured on the on-board camera during the live broadcast, which aired on Fox Sports 1. That yielded some positive attention from commentators and that was voted that day's "Sweet Move of the Race." It was extremely exciting to see Andy competing live and we wish him the best of luck in the future.
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Four Ken-Ton Students Named Winners in PBS Kids Writer Contest
Four Ken-Ton School District students were named winners in the Buffalo Toronto Public Media PBS Kids Writers Contest for their creative writing abilities, including two siblings from Lindbergh Elementary School. Jack Cave, a first-grader at Lindbergh Elementary, won second place in his grade level with his story titled “Chicken vs. Super Ultra Mecha Chicken.” This was Jack's second year in a row winning in the contest. Jack’s older sister, Natalie, a third grader at Lindbergh, received an honorable mention in her grade level for her story titled “The Secrets of My Cat.” Hailey Scholl, a third grader at Franklin Elementary, won third place in her grade level with her story titled “The Unusual Neighbor.” Finally, Aria Biddle, a second grader at Edison Elementary, received an Honorable Mention in her grade level with her story titled "The Annoyed Couch." This was Aria’s second year in a row winning in the contest. Stories had to be based on an original and creative idea and be between 150 and 300 words with at least five illustrations.
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2 Students Earn Erie-Niagara Sunrise Exchange Club ACE Award
We couldn't be prouder of two outstanding Ken-Ton students, Layla McCleary from Kenmore East High School and Yuliana Shvaliuk from Kenmore West High School, for earning the Erie Niagara Sunrise Exchange Club’s A.C.E. Award! A.C.E. is short for Accepting the Challenge of Excellence and these awards are presented to students who overcame obstacles and adversity to achieve high levels of success. Read more about them in this week's Ken-Ton Bee.
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Kenmore West and Big Picture Juniors Attend National College Fair
Last month, 80 juniors from Kenmore West High School and the Big Picture Program had the chance to attend the National College Fair at the Buffalo Convention Center. The event gave students the opportunity to meet admissions representatives from more than 100 different colleges and universities throughout the country. Special thanks go out to our amazing school counseling staff for accompanying the students and helping them prepare for life after high school.
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Kenmore East Student Leaders Attend Kids Escaping Drugs Summit
Eight student leaders from Kenmore East High School were recently invited by Kids Escaping Drugs to participate in a one-day summit. The day involved group activities with students from other local high schools and included topics such as team building and the dangers of drug usage. The group was also able to attend a session with public speaker David Flood as he discussed ways and tips on how to navigate the teenage years. At the event, we were proud to learn that Kenmore East Student Congress President Kara Scheuer won the Milt Dickerson Award, which recognizes students in their junior year of high school who demonstrate outstanding Character, Integrity, Excellence, and Teamwork. Also attending Friday's summit were Natalie O'Brian, Elena Bailey, Addison Rejewski, Abby King, Lola Norris, Gianna Colosimo, and Kaleigh Sawyer.
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Franklin & Hoover Middle Hold First-Ever School Chess Competition
Franklin and Hoover Middle School recently held their first chess tournament which took place in the Hoover Middle cafeteria. The Hoover Middle Parent/Teacher Association generously supported this event by providing snacks and refreshments for students. The event was hosted by chess club advisors Tina Pilato and Dave LaMendola and it was a tremendous success with 25 participants from each school’s Chess Club taking part. Congratulations to the two bracket winners: Ronnie Qneis from Hoover Middle and Landon Sun from Franklin Middle.
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Kenmore East Street Law Students Tour Police Department
Students in Kenmore East High School's Street Law class recently visited the Town of Tonawanda Police Department to take a tour of the facility. Students were also given a demonstration of the latest technology in forensics and were able to practice dusting for fingerprints and using alternative ways to lift fingerprints off a piece of paper. A big thank you to the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, especially Captain Joseph Milosich and Detective Joseph Kazmark, for taking the time out of their day to educate our students!
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RECOGNITION: PRINCIPALS, CROSSING GUARDS & FOOD SERVICE STAFF | |
Next week, communities around the country will celebrate the amazing contributions of three groups of personnel who play a critical role in education: principals, crossing guards, and food service staff. | |
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PRINCIPALS:
On Wednesday, May 1st, we will celebrate National Principals Day, a chance to recognize the never-ending work and outstanding leadership of our school principals. Being a principal is an extremely challenging, fast-paced job. As the leaders of their school communities, they are responsible for managing their buildings, supporting their teachers and staff, inspiring students, maintaining close relationships with families, and so much more. They are involved in all aspects of school operations and responsible for everything that takes place in their buildings.
In Ken-Ton, our 10 school principals are the best of the best. Their unwavering focus on the success and well-being of their students and staff is the hallmark of their leadership. They continuously foster a positive culture in their buildings. Their inspirational vision is what continues to drive our schools forward. On Wednesday, I encourage everyone to reach out to your school principal to express your appreciation and recognize them for the vital role they play in the community.
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CROSSING GUARDS:
Wednesday, May 1st also marks the first day of Crossing Guard Appreciation Month, which was designated for the first time last year by the New York State Legislature. A student’s learning and growth is dependent upon his or her ability to get to and from school safely. Crossing guards play an extremely important role in this by safeguarding the most dangerous intersections. There are 26 such locations throughout the Ken-Ton School District where crossing guards are stationed each and every day in the morning and afternoon while students are traveling to and from school. A total of 23 locations are staffed by the Town of Tonawanda Police Department with three additional locations inside the village boundaries operated by the Kenmore Police Department.
We sincerely appreciate all the men and women in our community who work as crossing guards. We also sincerely appreciate the Town of Tonawanda Police Department and Kenmore Police Department for providing this invaluable service. The efforts of our crossing guards help make it possible for thousands of students to walk to and from school safely each and every day. During the month of May, please use this opportunity to express your appreciation for their efforts.
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FOOD SERVICE STAFF:
The first Friday in May is observed throughout the country as National School Lunch Hero Day, a day for communities across the U.S. to celebrate the contributions of food service staff. Under the direction of Food Service Director Kim Roll and Assistant Director Kristin Kryszczuk, our cook managers, cooks, and food service helpers ensure that no student goes hungry. Serving breakfast and lunch for thousands of students every day is a tremendous logistical operation. They must provide quality meals which students will enjoy while meeting a multitude of state and federal nutrition requirements. They must also operate as efficiently as possible, operating as a 100 percent self-sustaining program.
This is something our staff does amazingly well. The quality of the food served in our cafeterias is outstanding. Our food service staff is always looking for new options to serve while also incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables, much of it grown at local farms. They have also been instrumental in providing other opportunities for students, such as the Farm to School Program, wellness initiatives, major events like the district Harvest Festival held in October and the Wellness Fair, and the district's new Blender Bike, which is now frequently being used in schools. On Friday, I encourage everyone to join us in celebrating the amazing work of our Food Service Department. They truly are heroes!
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Wednesday, May 1st
- School Principals Appreciation Day
- 1st Day of Crossing Guard Appreciation Month
Thursday, May 2nd
- Special Education Parent/Teacher Organization Meeting (6:30 p.m. at 1016 Niagara Falls Blvd.)
Friday, May 3rd
- School Lunch Hero & Food Service Appreciation Day
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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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