The SchoolGram is the award-winning 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.

October 3, 2019
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT
For 5th Year in a Row, Ken-Ton Honored for Excellence in Communications

For the fifth year in a row, the Ken-Ton School District was honored by the New York School Public Relations Association (NYSPRA) for excellence in communications. Ken-Ton was recognized with an Award of Honor for the District Calendar and an Award of Merit for the SchoolGram . Ken-Ton was one of four school districts in Western New York to be recognized this year. This is the second time the calendar and the SchoolGram have been recognized; NYSPRA has also recognized Ken-Ton multiple times for the district Facebook page, as well as for its special budget edition of the SchoolGram, which is mailed to households in the spring, and the 2018 “125 Years of Excellence” campaign which celebrated the 125th year since the opening of the district’s first school. Awards will be presented at the annual New York State School Boards Association Convention in October. Click here to read the story .
Kenmore West Health Teacher Laura Jelonek Earns 'Teacher of the Year' Distinction

Congratulations to Kenmore West High School health teacher Laura Jelonek who was named the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYSHPERD) Western Zone Health Teacher of the Year. NYSHPERD is a statewide organization comprised of educators, professionals, and coaches who are committed to promoting and advancing health education, physical education, recreation, and dance among students in grades K-12 and higher education. NYSHPERD’s Western Zone represents the entirety of Western New York, and the Health Teacher of the Year Award is presented to one outstanding health teacher in the region who demonstrates excellence in teaching and overall performance in K-12 health education.

Upcoming Capital Project Forums

The Ken-Ton School District is currently in the process of planning an upcoming Capital Project, which is expected to go to voters for approval in February 2020. All information regarding the Capital Project will be posted at www.ktufsd.org/CapitalProject . One Capital Project Public Forum is being planned for each school building. These forums will provide parents and community members the opportunity to receive information about the project and to learn more/ask questions about the scope of work planned for each school, the anticipated impact, and other topics. If you cannot attend your school's public forum, you can attend the district forum on January 13, 2020 to receive information about the project and to learn more/ask questions about the scope of work planned for each school, the anticipated impact, and other topics. Forums will take place on the following dates:

  • Edison Elementary School Forum: 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, 2019 (Edison auditorium)
  • Franklin Elementary/Middle School Forum: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 (Franklin auditorium)
  • Hoover Elementary/Middle School Forum: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019 (Hoover auditorium)
  • Holmes Elementary School Forum: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 (Holmes auditorium)
  • Lindbergh Elementary School Forum: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020 (Lindbergh auditorium)
  • Kenmore East High School Forum: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019 (Kenmore East auditorium)
  • Kenmore West High School Forum: 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, 2019 (Kenmore West auditorium)
  • Ken-Ton UFSD District-Wide Forum: 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 (Kenmore Middle School Building Community Room)

Student & Family Flu Shot Clinic: Tuesday, Oct. 15

Students and families in the Ken-Ton School District are invited to prepare for flu season by getting their flu vaccinations at a clinic provided by Independent Nursing Care. The clinic for students and their families will take place Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Franklin Middle School, located at 540 Parkhurst Blvd., in the cafeteria. All students and families are invited to participate and are encouraged to make an appointment by calling 805-1020 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Walk-ins will be welcome as well. Click here for more information .

Child Abuse & Maltreatment Reporting

New York Education Law and New York State Education Department regulations require schools and districts to provide parents with the New York State Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) toll-free number to report child abuse or maltreatment and information on accessing the OCFS website. This information is required to be provided in both English and Spanish. Click here for more information .

  • To report child abuse and neglect by phone: 1-800-342-3720. If deaf or hard of hearing, report by TDD/TTY: 1-800-638-5163; or Video Relay System: 1-800-342-3720.
  • Reporte el abuso y el maltrato infantil, allemande al 1-800-342-3720. Si es sordo o tiene problemas auditivos, llame a la línea TDD/TTY 1-800-638-5163. O mediante el Sistema de retransmisión de vídeo, al 1-800-342-3720.
  • NYS Office of Children and Family Services/Oficina de Servicios para Niños y Familias del Estado de Nueva York: http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/cps/
Ken-Ton Staff Gather Together for Special Opening Day Welcome

The entire Ken-Ton School District staff filled the Kenmore East High School auditorium on Wednesday, August 28 for a very special Opening Day presentation led by Superintendent Steve Bovino. Also welcoming staff were Board of Education President Dr. Jill O'Malley, Kenmore Teachers Association President Peter Stuhlmiller, Kenmore-Tonawanda School Employees Association President Jill Ackerman, and Kenmore Administrators Association President Patrick Heyden. Superintendent Bovino provided staff with an update on "Ken-Ton Forward," the Ken-Ton School District's 2018-23 Strategic Plan, as well as the upcoming capital project and other initiatives.
Ken-Ton AD Brett Banker Presiding Over NYS Athletic Administrators Association
Presiding over the statewide organization for New York State's high school athletic administrators is Ken-Ton School District's longtime Athletics Director Brett Banker. Since March, Banker has served as president of the New York State Athletic Administrators Association (NYSAAA), an organization which supports athletic administrators in hundreds of school districts and secondary schools and helps facilitate interscholastic sports across NYS. Click here to read the story .
Free FAFSA Assistance Available at Family Support Center
Students and families will be able to receive free assistance in completing the 2020-21 FAFSA form through a new program being offered through the Ken-Ton School District Family Support Center. Appointments will be available on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. beginning Monday, Oct. 7, and they will take place at the Family Support Center located at 255 Myron Avenue in Kenmore. Click here for more information .
September 2019 Board of Education Recognitions

Congratulations to all those who were recognized at the Sept. 10 Board of Education meeting: from Kenmore East High School, student Evan Haieck, art teacher Rick Scaduto, and classroom aide Judy Lobuzzetta. You can read more about these outstanding individuals and all those who have been recognized by the Board of Education on the Board Recognitions Page .
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS
2019-20 School Year Off to a Wonderful Start

The 2019-20 school year got off to a wonderful start on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 as students were welcomed back for the first day of school. All nine schools in the Ken-Ton School District and the Big Picture Program were excited to welcome all new and returning students for what is sure to be another great year!
Franklin Middle Staff Give New, Returning Students a Warm Welcome

On the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 3, as Franklin Middle School students stepped off their buses or were dropped off at school, they were given a very warm welcome by their teachers, staff, and administrators. The students were cheered on as they entered the building for the first time of the 2019-20 school year, and the staff carried hand-made signs with special motivational messages to help get the year off to the best possible start.
Kenmore East High School Hall of Distinction Seeks Nominees

Kenmore East High School and the Kenmore East High School Alumni Association are pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for its Hall of Distinction Induction Ceremony. Past inductees include alumni who have exhibited great contributions in their professional fields as well as humanitarian and cultural achievements at the local, national, and international level. Nomination forms for the Hall of Distinction can be found at the alumni website www.kealumni.org (under Honors) or by calling Kenmore East at 716-874-8402. Nominations must be submitted by October 31, 2019. Induction ceremonies will take place at Kenmore East High School on May 8, 2020.
1st Summer 'Reading Invasion' Held at Franklin Elementary
Franklin Elementary School families and staff gathered together at the end of the month of July for the first-ever Franklin Elementary "Reading Invasion." The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library Book Mobile was on hand and busy checking books out to students and signing guests up for library cards. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather, sharing stories, and celebrating the love of reading!
Lindbergh Elementary Enjoys Exciting Start to 2019-20 School Year
Lindbergh Elementary has enjoyed an exciting start to the 2019-20 school year which has so far included a summer reading celebration and record-setting participation in the summer reading program; a special outdoors PBIS kick-off assembly; and the “Pinwheels for Peace” initiative, which brought more than 500 pinwheels planted outside the school to inspire peace and hope. Click here to read the story .
German Language Students Enjoy Trip to Frankenmuth, Michigan's 'Little Bavaria'

A total of 24 Ken-Ton German language students traveled to Frankenmuth, Mich. in June to learn about German culture, German history in the U.S., try some German foods, and enjoy a fun, educational experience. This was the second year for the trip which is organized by district German language teacher Anne Crusan. Frankenmuth is considered Michigan's "Little Bavaria." Students from Hoover Middle, Franklin Middle, and Kenmore West participated this year. Students enjoyed a horse-and-buggy ride, a visit to a working farm, one-room schoolhouse, and petting barn just like the German immigrants would have established when they arrived in the U.S., as well as a stop at a log cabin where they made candles, did tin punching, and spun wool, a paddle boat ride, pretzel rolling, and eating lots of tasty German food. They also enjoyed an escape room, mirror maze, fudge demonstration, and water park hotel. Any German language student in the district is welcome to apply for the 2020 trip which will take place from June 29 to July 2. If interested, see your German teacher for more information, or contact Frau Crusan at acrusan@ktufsd.org.
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Kenmore East is starting a new "Best Buddies" club; Allison was very excited to be promoting the new club recently during lunch, and we are thrilled that Kenmore East is the first high school in the Buffalo area to be hosting a Best Buddies club!
The Kenmore East Band Program did an exceptional job performing at the recent grand re-opening of the Ken-Ton Tops location! You can find footage of the students performing the National Anthem 4 minutes into Tops' livestream of the event .
First-grade students at Holmes Elementary were wrapping up "Bend One" in their reading unit of study, “Readers Build Good Habits,” and paraded through the building for the 1st Grade Reading Parade to show off all that they have learned!
KEN-TON IN THE NEWS
Capital project:

Kenmore East alumnus A.J. Neubert:

District success relies on community input (op-ed):

School safety and security:

Flipgrid features Hoover Elementary students' projects at national conference:

District seeks public's help after vandalism at Crosby Field: