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.

November 1, 2019
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT
Superintendent Search Update

In October, the Ken-Ton School District announced that the Board of Education is commencing a search for the next Superintendent of Schools. The Board of Education and the District are grateful for the service of Superintendent Steve Bovino, who has indicated his intent to retire at the end of the 2019-20 school year. During this school year, the Board of Education will work in conjunction with Erie 1 BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Lynn Fusco and all school district stakeholders to conduct a thorough, extensive, and exhaustive search for the next Superintendent of Schools. All information related to the search process will be made available on the school district homepage at www.ktufsd.org and at www.ktufsd.org/search .

Thank you to all the staff, students, parents, and community members who took part in the Superintendent Search Survey which was conducted Oct. 9-19. The survey, conducted by Erie 1 BOCES, will help identify the most important qualities, traits, skills, and experience the next Superintendent of Schools should possess. Survey results will be made available as soon as they are compiled and presented to the Ken-Ton School District.
High School, Middle School & Ken-Ton School District Apparel
(Order By 12:59 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 5)

The online apparel store is back once again with a wide variety of Kenmore East, Kenmore West, Franklin Middle, Hoover Middle, and Ken-Ton School District apparel through a new-and-improved online store format. Go to https://ktufsd.itemorder.com/sale and check out individual items to see all the different color/logo variations. Orders will be accepted through 12:59 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. A portion of all proceeds comes back to the district. Orders will be ready for distribution at your specified building by the week of Nov. 18. Special thanks goes out to Nickel City Shirt Co. for their help facilitating this sale. If you have any questions or special requests, feel free to contact them at [email protected].
Students, Art Teachers & Board Recognized at Student Artist Reception
On October 22, students representing all schools in the Ken-Ton School District were recognized at a special event that celebrates the importance of art education and the contributions of the Board of Education. Art teachers from across the district selected one student artist from each school to be recognized at the annual Student Artist Reception and Board of Education Appreciation Night. Click here to read the story .
National Athletic Administrators Assoc. Recognizes Ken-Ton AD Brett Banker
The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) recently recognized the Ken-Ton School District’s longtime Athletic Director Brett Banker for earning his certification as a Master Athletic Administrator. To earn this distinction, Banker had to demonstrate exemplary knowledge, contributions, and on-going professional development in the field of interscholastic athletic administration. Click here to read the story .
Capital Project Public Forums
Thank you to those who attended the first community forum for the upcoming capital project, which is expected to go to vote in February. The forum was held at Kenmore East on Oct. 30. The next forum will be held at Edison Elementary on Monday, Nov. 4. One forum has been planned for each school building to give the community the opportunity to discuss the project, and you can find the dates of upcoming forums here: Capital Project Public Forums . All information on the project will be posted to ktufsd.org/CapitalProject leading up to the vote.
Kenmore West Honors 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees at Homecoming
At the Kenmore West High School Homecoming, the Kenmore West Athletic Hall of Fame was excited to honor the induction class of 2019: Marissa Dressel, Tara Kibrick, Brandon Lathrop, Michael Licata, Jenna Panepinto, Lexi Panepinto, the Santa Maria brothers (Bernie, Paul and Rob), Phyllis Sava, William Tepas, John Theobald, and Jennifer Wilcox. Click here for more information on each of the inductees .
October 2019 Board of Education Recognitions

Congratulations to all those who were recognized at the Oct. 8 Board of Education meeting: from Franklin Middle School, Head Custodian Matthew Fleming, music teacher Ciaran Krueger, and student Camryn O’Neill. 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
Kenmore East & Kenmore West Fall Plays: Nov. 7-9

Kenmore West High School and Kenmore East High School will both present their fall plays from Thursday, Nov. 7 to Saturday, Nov. 9. Kenmore East will present “Almost, Maine” on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7-9, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door. Kenmore West will present "Peter and the Starcatcher" on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Nov. 7-9, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $9 for general admission or $10 for reserved seating and tickets can be purchased at kwtheatre.com . Click here for more information on each play: "Peter and the Starcatcher" and "Almost Maine."
Unveiled at School-Wide Rally, Franklin Elementary Students to Vote on Mascot's Name

The day before Election Day, on Monday, Nov. 4, students at Franklin Elementary School will have their own important vote taking place to decide the name of their new school mascot, which made several appearances during the month of October. The already beloved bulldog was unveiled at a school-wide rally which took place at Franklin Elementary in early October to show support for Kenmore East High School leading up to the Kenmore East Homecoming, complete with a special visit by the Kenmore East Marching Band led by Band Director Phil Aguglia. Since then, the bulldog has quickly become a cherished member of the Franklin Elementary School community, and Principal Evans says the bulldog is always excited to find students being responsible, kind, and respectful! Click here to read the story .
1st Redesign, Refurbishment of Kenmore West Gymnasium Completed
During the summer, a partnership between the Ken-Ton Athletics Department, Kenmore West High School, and the Ken-Ton School District Buildings and Grounds Department, working in conjunction with several local businesses, resulted in the very first redesign and significant reworking of the Kenmore West High School gymnasium floor since the facility was constructed in 1999. Click here to read the story .
Kenmore East High School Honors Top 10 Students of Class of 2020
Kenmore East High School was excited to honor the Top 10 seniors of the Class of 2020. Pictured with Principal Heyden, the students are, from left, Samantha Gartz, Cassandra Schwab, John Abramo, Aiden Root, Jordyn Parks, Emily Schofield, Samantha Sauvageau, Madison Fox, Evan Haeick, and Bailey Hauck.
KW Students, Art Teacher Collaborate on Art Exhibit Representing School Violence
More than 150 students from Kenmore West High School and Starpoint High School contributed plaster-based sculptures with local artist and Kenmore West art teacher Rich Tomasello as part of a breathtaking exhibit entitled “Safe Space” representing the anxiety of school violence. The art they created was for the show “Play/Ground” which took place in Medina in September. Click here to read the story .
'Genrefication' at Kenmore East Library Helps Students Find Just the Right Book
The Kenmore East High School Library has gone through a big change – “genrefication”! It was a tremendous undertaking by the library staff, who divided the library's fiction section into 10 different genres to allow students to more easily find books that may be similar to ones they have liked in the past while also giving them an opportunity to explore new genres. Click here to read the story .
Mrs. Tahirak's fourth-grade class at Holmes Elementary School was recently invited to take part in the Fitness for Kids party at New Era Field. While there, the students had the opportunity to participate in a group warm-up then did some circuit training and football stations while getting tips from Buffalo Bills players.
First graders at Holmes enjoyed a red carpet celebration to mark the end of their "Small Moments" writing unit, which focused on small special moments from their life. Students learned how to write across three pages, in sequence, and brought their stories to life by adding thoughts, emotions, and speech bubbles.
Mrs. Bulmer’s 2nd-grade students recently participated in a “get to know you” video exchange with their partner 2nd-grade classroom in Memphis, Tenessee. The two classrooms will meet virtually for different activities once a month throughout the school year as part of Empatico’s Empathy Challenge Fellowship.
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
A big thank you went out to all the professionals who volunteered their time at the recent Career Day event at Hoover Middle School, as well as the event organizer, Mrs. Cipolla. It was a fantastic opportunity for seventh-grade students to learn all about a wide range of careers and professions and the life and academic skills they will need to be successful.
Franklin Elementary families recently enjoyed a fun evening with math. Students had many opportunities to share their math skills with family members playing math games, sharing their favorite number on the graffiti wall, estimating how many pieces of candy were in a jar, and signing-in on a 10-Frame, followed by a presentation on literacy initiatives.
A total of 24 Ken-Ton German language students traveled to Frankenmuth, Mich. in June to learn about German culture and German history in the U.S. This was the second year for the trip which is organized by district German language teacher Anne Crusan. Frankenmuth is called Michigan's "Little Bavaria" and is known for its Bavarian-style architecture and German culture.
Sam Rajski's Gr. K-1 class recently celebrated Apple Week at Franklin Elementary. They created an apple journal and looked at the different characteristics of apples. They practiced "Apple Math," measuring and weighing apples as well as voting on their favorite apple and creating a graph to compare numbers. They also learned about Johnny Appleseed and created a recipe for apple sauce with all helping to prepare it and then tasting it.
The Kenmore East High School Varsity Choir, which is directed by Jill Neuhaus and is comprised of 33 select treble voices from Gr. 10-12, was featured as part of the BGMC "You Are Light" concert. Varsity Choir is one of four choirs that meets every day at Kenmore East which repeatedly earn Gold and Gold With Distinction ratings at NYSSMA Major Choral Evaluations and have won numerous Gold and 1st Place ratings at festivals and invitationals.
Representing Ken-Ton at a round table hosted by NYS Sen. Tim Kennedy and Education Committee Chair Shelley Mayer, Superintendent Bovino provided input on the NYS Foundation Aid formula, which determines how much funding school districts such as Ken-Ton receive from NYS each year. Superintendent Bovino and other representatives highlighted the flaws in the formula and the need to repair it in order to ensure fair and equitable funding for all students.
KEN-TON IN THE NEWS
Ken-Ton School District superintendent search:

Capital project:

Kenmore East & Kenmore West fall plays (Nov. 7-9):