The SchoolGram is the 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.

January 30, 2019
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT
Parents/Guardians Invited to Take Part in Technology Survey

Parents/guardians of students in the Ken-Ton School District are asked to participate in a short five-minute survey as the District explores new educational opportunities related to topics such as cyberbullying, digital literacy, social media safety, and responsible technology usage. You can find the survey at the www.ktufsd.org/ParentSurvey.

Call for Kenmore West Athletic Hall of Fame Nominations

The Kenmore West High School Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee is accepting nominations for the Induction Class of 2019. Individuals may be nominated in three categories: Athlete, Coach/Administrator, and Honorary. Click here for more information.

Summer Day Camp Now Accepting Registrations

The Ken-Ton School District Summer Day Camp is now accepting registrations for the 2019 summer season. Day Camp is open to children age 6 to 12 and runs for four two-week sessions for a total of eight weeks during the summer (July 1-August 23). Click here for more information .
Feb. 2 Student Writing Workshop Features Author Mick Cochrane
The District is excited to welcome special guest author Dr. Mick Cochrane during a writing workshop from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Kenmore Middle School Building (155 Delaware Road) in Room 105. All middle/high school students are welcome to attend this free event where they can learn about the writing process and get help with their own writing. Click here to read the story .
32nd SleepOut To Take Place Feb. 1
The 32nd Annual Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools’ SleepOut will take place the night of Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 at Hoover Middle School beginning at 8 p.m. Students, staff, family members, and other participants will sleep outside in refrigerator boxes to raise money for local organizations that help those in need in the Ken-Ton community, including the Ken-Ton Closet and the Ken-Ton School District Family Support Center. Click here to read the story .
Blues Artist Vanessa Collier Visits KE
World-famous blues artist Vanessa Collier visited Kenmore East High School on Monday, Jan. 14 with the support of the Western New York Blues Society. During her visit, Collier spoke to the students about the blues, succeeding in the music industry, and finding and following their passions. She also discussed her own background and the artistic process behind her critically acclaimed music. Click here to read the story and to see photos/videos of Collier's visit. .
Country Music Star Jessie Chris Visits Franklin Middle School
Jessie Chris, a country music star who was named a Billboard Artist to Watch in 2018, visited Franklin Middle School in December with the help of the Devin's Message Foundation for a special anti-bullying assembly and performance of her award-winning music. After the assembly, students enjoyed the opportunity to meet the musician, who signed autographs and posed for photos. Click here to read the story
Districts Working to Educate Students, Communities of E-Cigarette Risks
Schools and communities across the country are experiencing an emerging threat to public health: the rapidly increasing use of electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, among adolescents. The Ken-Ton School District is committed to engaging the entire school district community in curbing e-cigarette use by students and supporting students in making healthy choices. Click here to learn more .
January Board of Education Recognitions: Hoover Elementary School

Congratulations to all those from Hoover Elementary School who were recognized at the January 2019 Board of Education meeting: teacher Dawn Hawthorn, teacher aide Harme Hawramy, and student Taylor Paluch. You can learn more about these outstanding individuals, as well as all those who have been recognized, by visiting the Board Recognitions Page .
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS
Franklin Middle Presents Disney's 'Lion King Jr.' Feb. 1-2

Franklin Middle School will proudly present Disney's "Lion King Jr." at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1 and at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2. Tickets are $5. Disney's "Lion King Jr." is a shortened, junior version of the Broadway musical that brings the Savannah and jungles of Africa to life, incorporating much of the beloved music of the original movie. This quintessential coming-of-age story of a young lion named Simba who flees into exile after the murder of his father, the King of the Pride Lands, is perfect for audiences of all ages. Click here to read the story .
Hoover Middle Presents Disney's 'Alice in Wonderland Jr.' Feb. 7-9
Hoover Middle School will present Disney's "Alice in Wonderland Jr." at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Feb. 7-8, and 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9. Travel down the rabbit hole with Lewis Carroll's famous heroine in this fast-paced, 60-minute adaptation featuring updated songs from the beloved 1951 Disney animated film. Tickets are $5 and $3 for children age 13 and under. Click here to read the story .
Franklin Middle Students Sell Candy Canes to Raise Money for VA Hospital
Nearly 100 students from Franklin Middle School participated in a fundraiser organized by the fifth-grade level. Students from teams 5-1 and 5-3 sold hundreds of candy canes to their friends raising more than $700, which was donated to Buffalo's VA Hospital. Click here to read the story and for pictures of the teams .
Hoover Middle Students Donate 100+ Pairs of Mittens to Ken-Ton Closet
During the holiday season, students of Penny DePasquale and Dawn Wilkinson at Hoover Middle School collected mittens to donate to the Ken-Ton Closet. As donations came in, students hung them on a "Mitten Tree" they built with books in the hallway. The students collected more than 100 pair of mittens as they embraced the spirit of giving during the holidays.
Kenmore East Orchestra Students Take Part in Two Special Performances
Over a period of three days in December, Kenmore East High School Orchestra students took part in two very special performances: a holiday concert at the Vive Refugee Shelter in Buffalo, and a special guest performance and holiday concert at Buffalo Public School #32, Bennett Park Montessori, orchestra director Laura Jay's alma mater. Click here to read the story .
Kenmore East Seniors Make Winter Snowball a Huge Success
Kenmore East High School hosted its annual semi-formal, the Winter Snowball, on December 15. The Class of 2019 officers (Dallas Brummer, Samantha Kelly, Hannah Crittenden and Zackary Kalinowski) along with their Senior Class advisers, Leah Rivas and April Jaeger, organized this successful event. The class extended a special thank you to student Kayla Croom for her dedication preparing for this event.
Kenmore West Senior Trevor Higgins Among 25 NYS Students Nominated for U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

Kenmore West High School senior Trevor Higgins is among 25 New York State high school students to be nominated by the New York State Education Department for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The Presidential Scholar recognition is one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students. Every year, one young man and one young woman from each state are named as Presidential Scholars. Click here to read the story .
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UPDATES
Franklin Elementary students showed what they were thankful for with a “Grateful” chain and graffiti wall. Each student wrote one thing they were thankful for on a chain, then were able to write and draw on a school-wide graffiti wall.
On Friday, Dec. 21, Lindbergh Elementary students all came together for a holiday sing-along. This fun and exciting event included teachers joined by Principal Maccagnano coming together for a performance of the “12 Dances of Christmas.”
Before the start of winter recess, all students and staff at Holmes Elementary came together for a holiday sing-along. Students who had “stepped it up” earned "Rudolph" certificates and some won the chance to come up to the stage to select a prize.
The week before winter recess, first-grade students in Lisa Mitchell's class at Lindbergh Elementary were busy decorating holiday cookies to donate to the Kenmore Youth Center. Approximately 400 cookies were decorated and donated.
As a reward for promoting a positive school environment, Hannah Dean's fourth-grade class at Franklin Elementary earned the opportunity to "read like campers" under their desks with flashlights and the sounds of nature.
As part of the Independent Health Fitness for Kids Challenge, Holmes fourth-graders recently enjoyed tasting a variety of green vegetables during PE class including green beans, sugar snap peas, and snow peas. They then voted for their favorite.
Through the Canisius College Kids Program, which enables schools to earn free tickets to Canisius games, two Division I hockey players visited first-graders at Holmes Elementary to read to students. The visit was organized by PE teacher Christina Zona.
Thanks to the PTA and Wellness team, Edison students enjoyed a visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus on Dec. 17. Students also had the opportunity to make and mail letters to the North Pole and enjoy a holiday ice cream sundae and movie.
Students in Samantha Rajski's class at Franklin Elementary had a great time making gingerbread houses. They had been focusing on shapes in math and in their writing, and they identified shapes while constructing their gingerbread creations.
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
WGRZ Channel 2 visits Edison Elementary to speak with Susan Hirsch's first-grade class about the school's ongoing effort to raise money for water wells in Africa
Second-grade students in Sandra Eaton's class at Holmes Elementary show off their new handmade winter hats from Eaton's sister Paula Schmidt, a resident of Mooreville, NC
Kenmore East students compete at the recent NCCC Tech Wars in events such as VEX Robotics, 3D CAD Modeling, CO2 Racecars, and the On-site Engineering Challenge, just to name a few
KEN-TON IN THE NEWS
Kenmore Teachers Association & NYSUT host summit on addressing coming teacher shortage:
Board of Education President Dr. Jill O’Malley appointed Erie County Association of School Boards Associate Director:
Ken-Ton hosts benefit for the late Julie Roth Neville at East vs. West game night: