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.

January 9, 2020
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT
Capital Project Vote: Wednesday, February 5, 2020

The proposed Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda UFSD Capital Project will be presented to voters on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Hoover Middle School (use the Sheridan Drive entrance). In addition to the public forums which have been held in each school building, the district will hold two district-wide public forums on Monday, January 13 and on Thursday, January 30 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Kenmore Middle School Building, located at 155 Delaware Road, in the Community Room. Information on the project will be mailed to all district residents in the coming days and is available in each school building and on the web at ktufsd.org/CapitalProject .

Kindergarten & UPK Registration

Registration for Kindergarten and Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) programs in Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda UFSD schools is currently underway. Registration for all students is by appointment only at the Central Registration Office, located at 1500 Colvin Blvd., Buffalo, NY 14223. To be eligible for Kindergarten, children must be 5 years of age on or before December 1, 2020. To be eligible for UPK, children must be 4 years of age on or before December 1, 2020. Contact the Central Registration office at 716-871-2090 for an appointment to register. Parents who expect to register a child in a non-public school for Kindergarten need to complete a Private/Parochial/Charter School packet.  Click here for more information .
33rd Annual SleepOut Planned for Feb. 7
The Ken-Ton School District community will celebrate the 33rd Annual Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools’ SleepOut on the night of Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 at Hoover Middle School beginning at 8 p.m. For more than three decades, the SleepOut has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless donations of food, clothing, and other everyday necessities for families in need in WNY. Click here to read the story .
Ken-Ton Closet Featured in NYS School Boards Association Publication
In December, the weekly news publication of the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA), "On Board," featured the Ken-Ton Closet, which was founded in 2013 by Ken-Ton UFSD Board of Education President Dr. Jill O'Malley to provide clothing and other essentials for children in need in the Ken-Ton community. Click here to read the article .
Trustee Reigstad Helps Commemorate Anniversary of Mark Twain in Buffalo
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Mark Twain's arrival in Buffalo, the Kenmore Library invited Board of Education Trustee and Buffalo State College Professor Emeritus Dr. Thomas Reigstad to lead a discussion about the influential author and this historically significant period in Twain's life. Click here to read the article from the Dec. 18 edition of the Ken-Ton Bee .
KT Closet, Nickel City Shirt Co. Donate Shirts for Franklin Elementary Students
Thanks to the Ken-Ton Closet and Nickel City Shirt Co., Franklin Elementary students all received a free school shirt prior to an all-school assembly celebrating the unity in its diverse school community. The logo on the shirt incorporates both the spirit of the Bulldogs and the Ben Franklin lightning bolt, and it was created by Kenmore East student Grace Eleey. Click here to read the story .
Community Club Party Exemplifies KT Tradition of Kindness & Compassion
If there is one event that exemplifies the kindness and generosity of the entire Ken-Ton community, it’s Kenmore West High School’s annual Community Club Holiday Party. The event, made possible by organizers, volunteers, and donors, brings together families from across the Ken-Ton community for a fun-filled day of crafts, holiday activities, cookie decorating, games, and giving. Click here to read the story .
Kenmore East Becomes 1st School in WNY to Host Best Buddies Chapter
Kenmore East has become the very first school in the greater Buffalo area to be home to Best Buddies, which is dedicated to creating opportunities for people with disabilities. In just a short time, it has become a special part of the Kenmore East community, providing opportunities for students of all abilities to forge new friendships and build an even more welcoming and inclusive school community. Click here to read the story .
Kenmore East Athletic Hall of Fame Nominations Due April 10
The Kenmore East Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee is accepting nominations for the Induction Class of 2020. Individuals may be nominated in three categories: Athlete, Coach/Administrator, and Honorary. Teams may be nominated as well. Nomination forms can be found on the district's website at ktufsd.org/HOF and must be sent by April 10, 2020. Click here for more information .
December 2019 Board of Education Recognitions

Congratulations to all those who were recognized at the December Board of Education Meeting: from Hoover Middle School, student Gianna Sperrazza, teacher Kristen Coley, and groundskeeper Tom Green. 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
Students Open New School-Based Enterprise, Bulldog Café
A new entrepreneurial undertaking at Kenmore East is providing students with real-life workplace experience while also providing a much-appreciated service for staff. Students in the Work-Based Learning program have opened a new school-based enterprise, the Bulldog Café, which offers coffee and other beverages to staff every Tuesday and Thursday before school. Click here to read the story .
Bestselling Children's Author Susan Verde Visits Lindbergh Elementary
Bestselling children's author Susan Verde visited Lindbergh Elementary School on Wednesday, Nov. 6, sharing her message of mindfulness, compassion, and celebrating what makes each child unique. Susan Verde is the author of many bestselling books including the “I Am” series (“I Am Yoga,” “I Am Peace,” “I am Human”) as well as “The Water Princess” and “Hey Wall.” Click here to read the story .
KW Band Students Bring Holiday Music, Instrument Demos to Holmes
Instrumentalists at Kenmore West High School led by Band Director Kenneth Belote performed a special holiday concert at Holmes Elementary on Wednesday, Dec. 18, an annual tradition to provide students with a memorable holiday celebration while also teaching them about all the different band instruments they will soon be able to play. Click here to read the story .
Lindbergh Teacher Organizes First School ENL Pot-Luck Dinner
Christina Brown, an English as a New Language teacher at Lindbergh Elementary School, organized Lindbergh Elementary's very first Multicultural Family Pot-Luck Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 7. Families of English as a New Language students brought in their favorite family meals to share, met other families, and shared many laughs at the tremendously successful event.
Counselors Bring Empathy Week to Franklin & Hoover Middle
In November, students at Franklin and Hoover Middle embraced Empathy Week which promoted kindness and compassion while challenging students to explore what empathy means to them and how to practice it in their daily lives. School counselors at both schools launched a week-long program the very same week as World Kindness Day with a variety of activities that taught students what empathy means and what it looks like. Click here to read the story .
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Families had a wonderful time at Kenmore East High School on Dec. 6 for the Class of 2023's Movie & Activity Night which featured a viewing of "Polar Express" and a variety of holiday-themed activities. Pictured here is Edison Elementary first-grader Aubrey Wilkins enjoying one of the highlights of the evening: meeting Santa!
This holiday season, the Kenmore East High School Chorus performed at Kenmore Mercy Hospital and Ellicott Square, and then joined together with the Kenmore West High School Chorus with both ensembles performing at the other's school. What a great way to spread holiday joy throughout the Ken-Ton community!
Kenmore East teachers, staff and students all came together to deliver their most impressive Angel Tree collection to date! All donations went to WNY Child & Family Services. Pictured here is National Honor Society Adviser Peggy Lucero and students Samantha Sauvageau, Zachary Peterson and John Abramo delivering the donations.
Each year, Edison Elementary School art teacher Wendy Yiengst spearheads a school-wide pajama drive for families in need in the Ken-Ton community. This year, they donated a grand total of 281 pairs of pajamas (and a Target gift card) to the Ken-Ton Closet! Great job Mrs. Yiengst and all those at Edison who supported this effort!
The Blue Devil and several accomplices were "caught on camera" decorating Kenmore East's beloved Bulldog statue in anticipation of the Kenmore East vs. Kenmore West games in the annual Ken-Ton Boys Basketball Holiday Classic. (The Bulldog was not harmed in the implementation of this senior prank.)
Franklin Middle School is proud of its seventh-grade leaders! As part of WEB ("Where Everybody Belongs") crew, they work hard throughout the year to foster a positive and supportive school community at Franklin Middle, especially for its fifth graders as they are welcomed to the school each year. These students truly make a difference!
KEN-TON IN THE NEWS