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.

April 24, 2019
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT
2019-20 Budget Vote & Board of Education Election

All school district residents are encouraged to take part in the annual Budget Vote and Board of Education Election, which takes place Tuesday, May 21, 2019 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, 2019 at the Kenmore Middle School Building (155 Delaware Road) in the Community Room. The special 2019-20 Budget Edition of the SchoolGram will be mailed to households prior to the vote and is now available for download and viewing on the web. You can find all budget-related information at ktufsd.org/budget . For information on the candidates for Board of Education, visit ktufsd.org/candidates .

After-School Writing Assistance for Gr. 8-12 Students: May 2

One-on-one writing assistance is available to all high school students through the After-School Writing Center beginning at 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 in the Kenmore East and Kenmore West libraries. These sessions are perfect for students at any skill level, from aspiring young authors to anyone wishing to improve their skills as a writer. Students need not make appointments and may come for all or part of the session. For more information, visit ktufsd.org/WritingCenter .

Questions? Comments? Feedback? Message Us on Facebook!

Do you have questions, concerns, comments, or feedback for Ken-Ton Schools? Consider messaging us on Facebook! We will either provide you with the information you are looking for, forward your question/comment to a staff member who might be able to help, or let you know exactly who to contact for more information. You can use Facebook Messenger, or you can click the "Send Message" option on the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District Facebook Page (@ktufsd). You can also find the messaging option on our homepage at ktufsd.org .
For 9th Year in a Row, Ken-Ton Named Best Community for Music Ed
For the ninth year in a row, Ken-Ton has been designated as a Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation in recognition of its outstanding K-12 music programs and commitment to music education. Only 623 districts, representing just 4 percent of the nation’s 15,000 school districts, earned this distinction. Click here to read the story .
3 Earn National Board Certification, the Gold Standard in Teaching
Three teachers have joined the growing list of Ken-Ton educators who have earned National Board Certification: Robyn Brydalski and Larissa Gramza from Franklin Elementary and Mike Ihde from Kenmore East. Ken-Ton is among the districts in NYS with the highest numbers of Board Certified Teachers and highest percentages of teachers who have earned this distinction. Click here for the story .
Ken-East's A.J. Neubert Achieves Extraordinary Level of Success
Kenmore East senior Alex “A.J.” Neubert has achieved an extraordinary level of success, establishing himself as one of the best young bassoon players in and beyond NYS. Most recently, A.J. was accepted into the ultra-selective NAFME All-Eastern ensemble, which represents the most talented high school performers from 11 states, Washington D.C., and NAFME’s European association. Click here to read the story .
5 Students Are Award Winners at Kenan Center's Storrs All High Photo Show
At the 34th annual Storrs All High Photo Show sponsored by the Kenan Center in April, awards were earned by Kenmore East students Anna Nesci (Best Portrait), Isabella Colby (Best Animal), Alexis Sevrey (Best Urbanscape), and Jenna Partsch (Merit Award), and Kenmore West student Will Benk (Merit Award). Click here to see photos from the event .
All-County, NYSBDA Ensemble Participants Honored
Many students from Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Schools were recently honored by the Ken-Ton School District Music Department for being accepted into the Erie County Music Educators Association (ECMEA) All-County festivals as well as the New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA) ensemble. Click here for the full list .
April 2019 Board of Education Recognitions

Congratulations to all those who were recognized at the April 2019 Board of Education Meeting: from Lindbergh Elementary School, student Maisy Fleming, cafeteria monitor Kara Pezzino, and counselor Cathy Miller. 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 7th Graders Correspond with Classroom in Africa

Some seventh-grade students in Denise Grandits' English class at Franklin Middle School have recently been corresponding with a classroom in Namibia, Africa as part of a Distance Learning, project-based educational initiative through the Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES. The grant connects students from this class with students in Namibia, Africa. The students have been communicating with them via letters for the last few months and they all had the opportunity to "meet" each other recently using a virtual meeting space. Students shared interests and life experiences. One of the Namibian students, Prudence, even sang a song for their enjoyment. Students are looking forward to getting to know their new friends even more through the end of the school year.
Franklin Elementary Counselor Introduces Students to Mindfulness
During the 2018-19 school year, one school in the Ken-Ton School District has made the practice of mindfulness a cornerstone of its efforts to improve social-emotional health and well-being among students. Leading this effort is Michele Melligan, Franklin Elementary School counselor and a finalist in the Ken-Ton School District Innovation Contest. Click here to read the story .
Edison Sets Goal of $10,000 for Water Well in African Village
It started with a reading of “The Water Princess,” the story of a girl in an African village named Gie Gie who spends much of her day walking a long distance to fetch drinking water from a far-off well. At Edison Elementary School, “The Water Princess” has inspired students and staff to set out to raise $10,000, enough to build one water well in a village just like Gie Gie’s. Click here to read the story .
Music Teacher Leads Dyngus Day Celebration at Kenmore East
On Thursday, April 18, the last day before spring recess, Kenmore East students were treated to polka music during arrival and dismissal as part of an early Dyngus Day celebration led by music teacher Michael Ihde. The Polish-American holiday, celebrated extensively throughout Western New York, took place on Monday, April 22 during spring recess. Click here for a video of the performance .
Burchfield-Penney Art Show Opening Features 3 Former HMS Students
Three former Hoover Middle School students - artists Chuck Tingley (HMS '98) and Joe Radoccia (HMS '76), and musician Elliot Scozzaro (HMS '06) - were all featured at the opening of the Burchfield-Penney Art Center's Contemporary Portraiture show on March 8. Tingley and Radoccia had artwork on display and Scozzaro performed for the opening event. Click here to read the story .
Hawaiian Reading Advocates Partner with Lindbergh Elementary
Students at Lindbergh Elementary School were recently excited to meet volunteers from Ohana 100, a group that operates in Hawaii and Western New York to promote reading and literacy. Students each received a free book, and third-graders corresponded with pen pals in Honolulu through the partnership. Click here to read the story .
Ken-West Senior Earns $16,000 1-Year German Exchange Scholarship
Lauren Gradzewicz, a Kenmore West High School senior, has been awarded a Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange scholarship valued at over $16,000, which will enable her to live and attend school next year in Germany as a result. Lauren was one of only 250 students in the nation to earn this scholarship. Click here to read the story .
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Artwork by Kenmore East students Tiffany Phelps, Samantha Gartz & Zeya Salamone is featured at Buffalo State College Art Invitational
Student tends to baby chick after it visits a Kenmore East High School Family & Consumer Sciences (FACS) class during a unit on eggs
Maker of custom-made trumpets shows Kenmore East students the different properties of instrument materials such as copper and brass
KEN-TON IN THE NEWS