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.

March 27, 2019
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT
All Invited to Board of Ed Community Forum: April 13

All members of the Ken-Ton School District community are welcome and invited to attend a community forum with members of the Board of Education and Superintendent Stephen Bovino on Saturday, April 13 beginning at 9 a.m. One topic Board of Education members hope to get community feedback on is the capital needs of the district and the upcoming capital project, though other topics may be discussed as well. The forum will take place at the Kenmore Middle School Building, 155 Delaware Road, in the Community Room. Guests are encouraged to come early so as to not miss part of the discussion.

Middle & High School Writing/Poetry Workshop: April 6

​All middle and high school students are invited to take part in a special writing workshop at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 6 at the Kenmore Middle School Building (155 Delaware Road) in Room 105. Each of these workshops includes a focus on a specific writing topic followed by time for one-on-one conferences. The topic this month is Finding Poems. Click here for more information .

2019-20 School Year Calendar Adopted

The 2019-20 school year calendar has been adopted by the Ken-Ton School District and posted to the website at www.ktufsd.org/calendar. This page also includes links to website calendars and shareable Google calendars for the district and each of its schools. The dates of parent/teacher conferences and early release days will be included in a supplemental document when they are announced. Families will receive the 2019-20 calendar publication in the mail in August.

Kenmore East & Kenmore West Winter Sports Highlights

The winter sports season saw numerous achievements by Kenmore East and Kenmore West teams and athletes. Kenmore East bowler Kaelynn Weber helped lead the Section VI team to a NYS championship; Kenmore West Boys Hockey finished the season 15-6-0-1 and clinched the Division II Championship; and several athletes in swimming, indoor track, wrestling, and rifle distinguished themselves at the Section VI and NYS tournaments, just to name a few. Also, numerous teams and athletes earned Scholar Athlete honors for demonstrating academic success throughout the season. Click here to read the story.

2019-20 Budget Update

All residents and stakeholders are encouraged to learn about the 2019-20 school year budget, and to take part in the Budget Vote and Board of Education Election which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Hoover Middle School (use the Sheridan Drive entrance). The budget hearing will take place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14 at the Kenmore Middle School Building (155 Delaware Road) in the Community Room. All information on the 2019-20 budget will be posted at www.ktufsd.org/Budget , and the special Budget Edition of the SchoolGram will be mailed to all residents in May.
Kenmore East Proudly Presents "Sister Act" March 28-30
Kenmore East High School will proudly present its 2019 musical production "Sister Act" at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 28-30. Tickets are $8 pre-sale and $10 at the door. The musical comedy is based on the hit 1992 movie about a disco singer who hides from the mob in a convent. Click here for the story .
April 3 World Music Concert to Feature Leanne Darling & KE/KW Orchestras
The Kenmore East and Kenmore West Orchestra programs are excited to welcome violist/composer Leanne Darling and other guest artists who have performed across the country for a series of clinics and rehearsals culminating in a free World Music Concert on Wednesday, April 3 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Kenmore East auditorium. Click here to read the story .
Kenmore East to Welcome U.S. Army Field Band for Free Concert on April 4
The Kenmore East Band Program is proud to welcome the renowned U.S. Army Field Band for a special guest concert beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 4. The Concert Band and Soldiers’ Chorus of the Army Field Band will perform a celebration of the U.S. Army’s legacy and the sacrifice of our nation’s soldiers. This very special event is free and open to the public. Click here to read the story .
Transportation Department Coordinates Bus Safety Drawing Contest
The Transportation Department in conjunction with New York Bus Sales recently coordinated the first-ever Ken-Ton School District Bus Safety Drawing Contest to promote school bus safety. Elementary school students in grades K-4 were asked to draw what school bus safety means to them, and prizes were awarded to the first-, second- and third-place winners in each grade level. Click here to see the winning submissions .
Ken-East Model UN Team Wins Competition for 14th Time in 16 Years
For the 14th time in 16 years, the Kenmore East Model United Nations Team coached by Christopher Knab won the top honor at the Western New York Model UN competition: Best Overall Delegation. The competition included more than 600 students from more than 30 different schools in the Western New York region representing 54 different countries. Click here to read the story .
Ken-West Students Win 1st, 2nd at WNY Shakespeare Competition
Both the winner and runner-up in the 2019 Regional Shakespeare Competition are Kenmore West High School students. Competing against students from high schools across Western New York, Kenmore West senior Josh Sinclair won this year's competition, and junior Luci Weatherbee placed second for the second year in a row. Click here to read the story .
5 Music Teachers Among JazzBuffalo Poll Winners, Nominees
Once again, several Ken-Ton School District music teachers were among the winners and nominees in the annual JazzBuffalo Poll which represents some of the most talented jazz musicians and ensembles in the greater Buffalo region. Winners included Ken-Ton teachers Laura Anderson, Lisa Hasselback, Phil Aguglia, and E.J. Koeppel, and Mike Ihde was among those nominated. Click here to read the story .
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS
Franklin Middle School Highlights
Franklin Middle School recently celebrated the diversity of the school community at its recent Family Heritage Night , which featured food and culture from all around the globe (left photo). Also, fifth-grade students recently presented four Army veterans from the American Legion #264 with a $500 donation from their very successful candy cane fundraiser earlier this year (middle photo). And on St. Patrick's Day, faculty and staff celebrated the day with shamrock shakes courtesy of assistant principal Michael Haggerty assisted by Patty Mack (right photo) - a yearly tradition appreciated and enjoyed by staff.
Holmes Elementary School Highlights
Fourth-grade students in Mrs. Staley's class at Holmes Elementary won the most “Stepping It Up” sneakers in the cafeteria line for showing responsible and respectful behavior throughout the month of February and were rewarded with a visit by therapy dogs from Paws for Love (left photo). In other Holmes Elementary news, kindergarten through second-grade families had a blast disco bowling at the school’s Family Sports Night on March 6 (middle photo). A total of four family sports nights are hosted each year by Holmes Elementary's physical education teachers Chrissy Zona and April Liebler. And in February, Holmes Elementary participated in the Pennies for Patients campaign . Staff and students raised a total of $2,304.37 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (right photo).
Performing Arts Hall of Fame Inductees
The Kenmore East Performing Arts Hall of Fame will hold its fifth induction ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday, April 12 in the auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. The inductees are digital matte painter Andrew Cunningham, radio consultant and management agent Steve Nice, and musicians Gail Bauser, Elliot Scozarro, Gary Astridge, and the late Bruce Brucato. Click here to read the story .
Hoover Middle Sixth-Grader Wins Local & Regional Lions Club Essay Contest
Sydney Gasiorek, a sixth-grade student at Hoover Middle School, won first place in the Annual Lions Club Peace Essay Contest. At a luncheon and award ceremony, Sydney was surprised to learn that she had also won first place at the Lions Club District level, and her essay will now be entered into the state-level Lions Club essay competition. Click here to read the story .
Franklin 4th-Grader Praised for National Anthem Performance
Franklin Elementary fourth-grade student Annabella Cruz did a phenomenal job singing the National Anthem at two recent varsity basketball games. She had the crowd cheering and on their feet after singing an unaccompanied version of the National Anthem at a Kenmore East Boys Varsity Basketball game in January and one in February, receiving praise all around for a moving and flawless performance.
Anonymous Donor Makes Classroom Initiative a Reality
When a community member saw Hoover Elementary teacher Lisa Chiavaroli's current project on DonorsChoose.org aimed at providing nutritious and allergy-free snack options, she did more than just fund the project – she purchased the items herself and personally delivered them to the school. Click here to read the story .
German Language Students Take Part in 'Sprachfest' Immersion Day
Ken-Ton students and their German language teachers from Hoover Middle, Franklin Middle, Kenmore East, and Kenmore West joined students from the Sweethome Central School District to take part in German Immersion Day. The "Sprachfest" is funded with support by the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG). Click here to read the story .
FACS Classes Participate in 'Chocolate Chip Cookie Throwdown'
Kenmore East Family & Consumer Sciences teacher Kim Schildwaster’s Foods II classes recently participated in a “Chocolate Chip Cookie Throwdown” to create the perfect chocolate chip cookie. The students demonstrated their knowledge and understanding of ingredient functions and properties by manipulating key ingredients and ratios to achieve a superior cookie. Click here to read the story .
Special Events at Lindbergh Elementary School
Lindbergh Elementary School students and staff have had the opportunity to enjoy some very special events including the school’s first Book Exhibition which included a fun-filled evening of reading and therapy dogs from Paws for Love, the Neon Dance Party hosted by the PTA, and a wellness fair for staff organized by the school's Wellness Committee. The committee has also initiated "Meatless Mondays" with volunteers bringing healthy meatless meals for all staff to enjoy.
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Thanks go out to Office Depot for a generous and unexpected donation of two large boxes of school and office supplies to Franklin Elementary for students in need and incentives/rewards
Ken-Ton teachers and technology leaders take part in the NYS Association for Computers and Technologies in Education (NYSCATE) Digital Pathways Conference at Erie 1 BOCES
During mid-winter recess, students from the Kenmore East and Kenmore West Pep Bands team up and perform with the UB Bulls Pep Band prior to a UB Women’s basketball game