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.

October 17, 2018
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT
Youth Risk Behavior Survey: Important Information for Gr. 7-12 Parents/Guardians

This year, the Ken-Ton School District will once again be administering the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), which is designed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, in Grades 7-12. Please visit www.ktufsd.org/YRBS for comprehensive information about the survey.

First-Ever Ken-Ton School District Innovation Contest: Contestants to Present Proposals on Nov. 1

From 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, contestants in the first-ever Ken-Ton School District will present their proposals in front of panel which will select one for implementation. The event is open to the public and will take place at the Kenmore Middle School Building, 155 Delaware Road, in the Community Room. Contestants will be given 10 minutes to present on their proposal followed by 5 minutes for questions from the panel. Click here to learn more about the Innovation Contest .

2017-18 Annual Reports

Schools and departments in the Ken-Ton School District each provide an annual report which will be available online for viewing and download. This is intended to give all members of the school district community an opportunity to get a closer look at the work that staff is engaged in throughout the year. Click here to see the 2017-18 annual reports .

Shared Services Athletic Complex Proposal Information

All files, presentations, and information related to the athletic complex shared services proposal currently being explored by the Town of Tonawanda and Ken-Ton School District will be posted to the school district website. Click here to visit the Shared Services Proposal Page.

Megan's Law Notifications

Megan's Law notifications that the district receives from law enforcement can be found at www.ktufsd.org/MegansLaw . A new Megan's Law notification was posted on October 3, 2018.
Pre-Engineering Program Earns NYS 'Model Program' Status

The Career and Technical Education Technical Assistance Center (CTE TAC) of NY has named the Pre-Engineering Academy in the Ken-Ton School District in Buffalo as a New York State Career and Technical Education Model Program. This recognition program honors high quality CTE programs at the middle and secondary levels. The characteristics that make this program a model will be shared with other schools and BOCES across the state. Click here to read the story .
Speaker Shows Effective Ways to Respond to Bullying & Conflict
Brooks Gibbs, a nationally known author, speaker, and educator whose anti-bullying videos have been viewed by millions of people, spoke to middle/high school students at three consecutive assemblies on Sept. 20. Gibbs engaged and energized students through his unique style and personality, using humor and improvisational activities with volunteers from the audience to demonstrate effective ways to respond to bullying and conflict. Click here to read the story .
Ken-Ton Wins Communication Awards
The Ken-Ton School District was once again distinguished in the annual NYS Public Relations Association (NYSPRA) Communication Awards. In the Electronic Newsletter Category, Ken-Ton was one of two districts in NYS to earn an Award of Excellence, the highest distinction possible, for the "SchoolGram." In the Strategic Campaign Category, Ken-Ton was also distinguished for the "125 Years of Distinction" campaign last fall which celebrated the district's history.
Board Recognitions: Franklin Middle School

Congratulations to Deb Lavell, Franklin Middle School teacher aide; Anna Weinert, Franklin Middle School student; and Denise Grandits, Franklin Middle School teacher, who were each recognized by Superintendent Stephen Bovino and the Board of Education in October. You can read more about these outstanding individuals and all others who have been recognized by the Board on the Board Recognitions Page .
Ken-Ton School District Staff Highlights

Robert O'Connor Named NYS Master Teacher: Congratulations to Robert O'Connor from Kenmore East High School who was named a New York State Master Teacher. It is a tremendous honor and a well-deserved achievement, which is also shared by Hoover Middle teacher Melisa Dettbarn who was named a Master Teacher in 2014. Click here for the article by the "Ken-Ton Bee." .

Matthew Chimera Inducted Into WNY Softball Hall of Fame: The Ken-Ton School District is proud of Kenmore West High School softball coach and Big Picture Program teacher Matthew Chimera who was recently inducted into the Western New York Softball Hall of Fame. Click here to read the story .

Art Teacher's Extraordinary Mural On Display at Children's Hospital: An extraordinary 30-foot-by-five-foot mural, painted by artists Rob Lynch and Matt Sagurney, is now on display in the Pathway To Healing on the second floor of Oishei Children’s Hospital. The two artists collaborated on the work as part of the 2018 Music is Art Festival and donated it to the hospital. Sagurney is an art teacher at Kenmore East High School. Click here for the article by "Buffalo Rising." .

Teacher William Conrad Speaks at Just Transition Midwest Convening: William Conrad, a Ken-Ton School District teacher and Town of Tonawanda councilman, joined Rebecca Newberry, executive director of the Clean Air Coalition as featured speakers at the Just Transition Funds’ Midwest Convening on Tuesday, September 18 at the Joyce Foundation in Chicago. Click here to read the story .
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS
Kenmore East High School Hall of Fame Inductees

Congratulations to the Kenmore East High School Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2018. The incoming class of Hall of Famers was inducted Friday, Oct. 12 at Banchetti by Rizzo’s in Amherst, and introduced at the Kenmore East High School Homecoming varsity football game against Kenmore West which took place at Adams Field the following day. Click here for more information on each of this year's inductees .
Kenmore West Student Competes at U.S. Figure Skating Solo Dance Final

Sydney Sikorski, an 11th grade student at Kenmore West High School and member of the 2018 Kenmore West Tennis team, is a three-time U.S. Figure Skating Solo Dance national finalist. This year, she placed 11th overall in the Pre-Silver Pattern Dance event at the 2018 National Solo Dance Final in Hyannis, MA. Sydney, who has been skating since she was 4 years old, competes with the Amherst Skating Club.
Franklin Middle PTA Fun Fest to Take Place Friday, October 19
The Franklin Family Fun Fest sponsored by the Franklin Middle PTA will take place Friday, Oct. 19, consisting of a basket raffle (3:30 to 8 p.m.), Chiavetta chicken dinner (4 to 7 p.m.), and special "Zombie Run" (6:45 to 7:15 p.m.) at Franklin Middle School, located at 540 Parkhurst Blvd. Click here for more information .
FMS Students Learn About Sept. 11 from First-Hand Witness of Attacks
Only a couple of weeks after the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, seventh graders at Franklin Middle had the opportunity to hear from a first-hand witness of the day’s tragic events: Dale Goodrich, who was a pilot for United Airlines and a colonel in the Air Force Reserve working at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Click here to read the story .
2 From Ken-West Named National Merit Scholarship Commended Students
Kenmore West students Amanda Buettner and Ryan Henneberger have been named Commended Students as part of the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers out of more than 1.6 million who entered the 2018-19 competition by taking the 2017 Preliminary SAT (PSAT)/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Click here to read the story .
Edison Teachers Get Creative With Flexible Seating Options
Flexible seating is not a new concept in the educational field, but many teachers at Edison Elementary School are getting creative with spaces to maximize student learning while providing them with opportunities to be comfortable and choose an environment that is conducive to his/her learning style. Click here to learn the story .
New Recess Carts Deployed at Hoover
Thanks to grant funding through the NFL’s Fuel Up for 60 program and the American Dairy Council, the Hoover Elementary School Wellness Team was able to create recess carts for the students to use at Hoover Elementary. With 20-minute mandatory recess time during the school day, the carts provide age-appropriate equipment for students to utilize inside and out during this time.
Franklin Elementary Students Complete Escape Room Challenge
Hannah Dean's fourth-grade class at Franklin Elementary School completed an Escape Room challenge the first week of school. Students had to work as a team to problem solve different challenges in reading and math in order to be the team that escaped from "Camp Emoji." The students had a great time completing it while making new friends.
Kenmore West Alumnus Joins the San Francisco Symphony
Congratulations to Kenmore West alumnus Aaron Schuman who, at the age of 23, has won a prestigious position as associate principal trumpet of the San Francisco Symphony. After graduating from Kenmore West in 2013, Aaron went on to study music performance at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and then at Rice University in Houston. Click here to read the story .
Students Enjoy Educational Trip to 'Michigan's Little Bavaria'
Last June, a total of 16 Ken-Ton German language students enjoyed an educational trip to Frankenmuth, MI, also known as "Michigan's Little Bavaria," which enabled them to learn about the rich German heritage and architecture of Frankenmuth and the history and life of German immigrants in the U.S. Click here to read the story and for information on the June 2019 trip .
Holmes Elementary Neighbors Donate School Supplies
Photographed here are Holmes Elementary School nurse Maryanne Aquino and her friend, Terry Bonner. Terry dropped off school supplies that she and others in the community had donated to their neighborhood school, Holmes Elementary. Holmes Elementary is very grateful to have such a giving community.
Congratulations to Kenmore East Musician AJ Neubert

Congratulations to Kenmore East High School student and bassoon player AJ Neubert, who spent a good deal of time this summer at the prestigious Boston University Tanglewood Institute music camp, then was invited to audition for the national radio show "From the Top," and recently received official notice that he has made the NYS Conference All-State Orchestra which represents some of the best student musicians in New York State.
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Erik Lindbergh, grandson of Charles Lindbergh, and Mercy Flight visit Lindbergh Elementary
Photographs from the Kenmore West High School Homecoming pep rally
Franklin Elementary School students enjoy 'Fun Friday' challenges
KEN-TON IN THE NEWS