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SUMMER CONSTRUCTION OVERVIEW
We are about to kick off another busy summer of construction as we continue to implement the Capital Project. There will be a great deal of work taking place at four schools. Some of this work will be completed by the first day of school while other work will continue into the 2024-25 school year. The following is a summary of what our community can expect:
- Edison Elementary School: Construction on Edison Elementary’s new classroom addition and new bus loop is being completed and will be wrapped up by the end of the summer. The fence will be taken down once new grass is established. The portable classroom will be removed by early July.
- Hoover Elementary School: Construction on Hoover Elementary’s new classroom addition and new pick-up/drop-off loop is being completed and will be wrapped up by mid-August. The fence will be taken down once new grass is established.
- Lindbergh Elementary School: There will be limited access to Lindbergh Elementary as we continue to replace water pipes and engage in asbestos abatement in the building. Construction on the new single point of entry and reconfigured main office layout will begin in the coming months.
- Kenmore East High School: Extensive construction is taking place at Kenmore East including a new single point of entry, a new bus loop including new tennis courts and a reconfigured parking lot, and water pipe replacement. The parking lot will be inaccessible this summer and there will be limited access to the building due to asbestos abatement. The new bus loop, parking lot, and single point of entry will be completed by the end of the summer.
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NEW EDISON ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL
At the June 11th Board of Education meeting, we were extremely proud to welcome Shawn Siddall, who was appointed as the new Principal of Edison Elementary School. Mr. Siddall began his career as an elementary school teacher in the Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District and then at West Buffalo Charter School. He went on to become Assistant Principal and then Middle School House Principal at West Buffalo Charter School. He also served as the school's Athletic Director for several years. Since 2021, Mr. Siddall has done an outstanding job serving as Assistant Principal at Kenmore East.
Mr. Siddall will be taking the place of Principal David King, who is retiring at the end of the year. Please join us in congratulating Mr. Siddall and welcoming him to his new role! We also wish Mr. King the very best in this next chapter and thank him for his many years of dedicated service.
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SAFETY TIPS FOR FAMILIES:
STAYING COOL WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING
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The heat wave we experienced this week served as a reminder to always be prepared to keep children safe during periods of extreme heat. This can be especially challenging for families who do not have air conditioning at home. "Today's Homeowner," a website dedicated to assisting homeowners with home improvement and maintenance projects, provides some very helpful guidance on how to keep a house cool without air conditioning.
- Ceiling Fans: Set them to run counterclockwise at a lower speed during the summer. This stirs up a room’s air, creating a pleasant, cooling breeze that can make the temperature feel lower than it actually is.
- Window Coverings: Use shades, blinds, or curtains to cover windows in order to block out the sun, especially during peak hours.
- Light Bulbs: LEDs emit very little heat and use less electricity compared to traditional incandescent light bulbs.
- Insulation: A well-insulated home slows the transfer of heat, keeping your home cooler indoors when it’s hot outside.
- Fans: If you have several portable fans, set them up across from each other to create a crosswind. This can have a significant cooling effect. You can also place a bowl of ice in front of one of the fans — as the ice melts, the fan will blow cool, misty air around the room.
- Doors: Try shutting the doors of less-used rooms. This way, you concentrate the cool air in areas where you spend most of your time, preventing it from being wasted in seldom-occupied spaces.
- Window Screens: Installing screens on your windows lets you keep them open at night, bringing in fresh, cool air while keeping out insects.
- Dehumidifiers: High humidity levels can make hot weather feel even hotter. Dehumidifiers work by extracting excess moisture from the air, helping to create a more comfortable environment in your home.
- Natural Airflow: If your home is positioned to catch a cross-breeze, this natural airflow can help to refresh your indoor space. Simply open the windows on the side of your house that the wind is coming from, and slightly open the windows on the opposite side. This creates a cooling pressure current.
You can read more about these tips on the Today’s Homeowner website.
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SCHOOL & DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS | |
Each week, we will highlight some of the exciting things taking place in the district. Be sure to follow the Ken-Ton School District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@ktufsd) for more school highlights! | |
Kenmore West Welcomes Incoming 8th Graders During Special Orientation Event | |
On Monday, June 17th, seventh-grade students at Hoover Middle School had the opportunity to visit Kenmore West High School for a very special two-hour orientation event spearheaded by Kenmore West Assistant Principal Kelly Lambert with help from eighth grade teachers. The day began with a class-wide gathering in the gymnasium where some of the students' future teachers were there to greet them. Students were then split into 20 different groups and enjoyed lunch in the cafeteria. Afterward, the groups went on a tour of the building led by current Kenmore West student leaders and staff members. During the tour, they checked out various locations like the library, nurse's office, and also had the chance to speak with student representatives from various clubs and organizations. Through this event, they were not only able to get to know the building but were also able to learn about student life at Kenmore West. It was an amazing experience for our seventh graders which will greatly assist them in having an easier transition to high school. Special thanks to everyone who made this event possible and the Kenmore West HSA for providing every student with a T-shirt. | |
Elementary Schools Enjoy Flag Day Activities & Events | |
Flag Day is always a special day for elemenetary schools and this year was no exception. Flag Day was observed Friday, June 14th which included patriotic assemblies, outdoor celebrations, and parades through the neighborhood. At Holmes Elementary School, students had the chance to witness the changing of the flag carried out by Town of Tonawanda Police Department officer liaison Andy Thompson and Navy veteran Derek Sansone, a member of the Milton J. Brounshidle American Legion Post 205. Flag Day is observed on June 14th each year to commemorate the adoption of the "Flag Act" by the Second Continental Congress on June 14th, 1777. It was this resolution that declared the American flag to include thirteen alternating red and white stripes and one white star for each state against a blue field. It's an important day for elementary schools as students show their appreciation for the American flag and what it represents. Click here to see a wonderful video from Lindbergh Elementary. | |
Ken-West Students & Staff Come Together for 4th Annual West Fest | |
Kenmore West High School students had an amazing time at the school’s fourth annual West Fest celebration. West Fest is one of the biggest events of the year as all Kenmore West students and staff come together to celebrate their hard work all year and enjoy a fun-filled day. There is always an extraordinary assortment of activities including games, a dunk tank, slip-and-slide kickball, drum circles, face painting, lizards, bounce houses, sports, and much more. The entire Kenmore West faculty and staff came together to make sure the event was a tremendous success. Individual staff volunteered to supervise and coordinate activities, serve food, and ensure that all students stayed safe and had fun. West Fest has become an amazing tradition at Kenmore West, something students look forward to all year. | |
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English as a Second Language Classes Come Together for Cultural Celebration
On Thursday, June 6th, students and staff from English as a second language (ESL) classes operated by the Ken-Ton School District Adult & Community Education Department at Kenmore Junior/Senior High School came together to host their first-ever Family Cultural Night. Students and staff from the four morning and evening ESL classes came together for a homemade potluck-style dinner and cultural presentations to celebrate the diversity of the community. The event not only gave students, staff, and families the opportunity to mingle and enjoy a great meal, but students from each of the classes made posters that highlighted the countries where they were from, enabling guests to learn about different parts of the globe.
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Edison Elementary Students Explore & Embrace Technology
On Tuesday, June 11th, first-grade students at Edison Elementary School enjoyed a fun day of learning and exploring with technology. Students moved through six different stations to learn about concepts including coding, mapping, and descriptive language. Classroom activities such as Marty the Robot, Canva with AI, virtual reality headsets, Ozobots, and 3D printers transformed the learning environment for students who were fully engaged in their learning. Special thanks go out to Dave Rogalski, instructional support specialist for technology, who coordinated the day's activities along with several other Ken-Ton staff members and administrators who helped plan, organize, and present to our students.
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Franklin Middle ELA Classes Take Part in ‘Poetry Cafe’
On Friday, June 14th, students in Lara McDonald’s and Kimberly Murray’s English Language Arts (ELA) classes at Franklin Middle School had the opportunity to share their poetry with one another as part of a “poetry cafe.” Students began by learning different styles of poetry and then created their own poems in various styles. Classmates shared positive feedback with each student as they enjoyed a cafe atmosphere.
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Lindbergh Elementary Hosts Kick-Off Event to Promote Summer Reading
On Wednesday, June 12th, Lindbergh Elementary welcomed students and families for a special event aimed at promoting summer reading. Students were able to borrow library books to read over the summer and create their own unique bookmarks. The school also welcomed the bookmobile from the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library which gave families the chance to sign up for library cards and borrow additional books.
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Hoover Middle Class Hosts Luncheon to Express Appreciation for Special Area Teachers & Administrators
Students and staff in Room 147 at Hoover Middle School found a unique way to say “thank you” to the students’ special area teachers as well as school administrators on Friday, June 14th. The class hosted a special luncheon and invited the special area teachers and administrators to join them for a delicious meal of spaghetti, meatballs, and bread. It was a great way to come together as a class and express their appreciation for everything they do for the students.
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Business & FACS Classes Team Up for Charcuterie Board Competition
Students in Nancy Pray's business ownership class and Kim Schildwaster's Gourmet Foods class at Kenmore East High School were recently challenged to create beautiful fruit Charcuterie boards during the last week of school. Their students harnessed their creativity to cut the fruit and arrange it in an aesthetically pleasing manner to create their own unique boards. Teacher Mathieu Salazar from the Business Department served as judge. Pictured here is the winning design.
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RECOGNITION: STUDENTS SIGN INTENT TO COMPETE IN COLLEGE | |
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We were proud to recognize the following Kenmore East and Kenmore West High School student athletes who have signed their intent to compete at the college level next year.
From Kenmore East:
- Gianna Core, softball, Buffalo State University
- Tyler Dzikowski, football, Buffalo State University
- Ethan Goodband, baseball, ECC
- Vondin Henderson, tennis, Daemen University
- Zachery Isbrandt, baseball, ECC
- MyQuan Jackson, football, Buffalo State University
- David Lang, track SUNY Geneseo
- Jorja Smith, cross country/track and field, SUNY Brockport
From Kenmore West:
- Sophia Balsano, basketball, NCCC
- Aiden Bieron, cross country/track and field, Alfred University
- Shona Boehmer, track and field SUNY Fredonia
- Landon Calvert, golf, SUNY Delhi
- Julia Fabiano, soccer, Hilbert College
- Jonathan Hodges, cross country/track and field, Alfred University
- Samantha Horne, softball, SUNY Potsdam
- Emma Jones, swimming, SUNY Geneseo
- Reed Lesmeister, baseball, Hilbert College
- Hezekiah Mercado, football, East Coast Prep
- Tyler Mrozik, bowling, ECC
- Samantah Padilla, volleyball, ECC
- Shine Wunna, lacrosse, Hilbert College
These students were recognized at signing ceremonies which took place over the past couple of weeks. These students represent the elite among high school athletes who move on to compete at the college level. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, fewer than 6% of high school athletes are accepted into NCAA Divisional Programs like these.
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Monday, June 24th - Tuesday, June 25th
- Gr. 6-7 Early Release Day
Tuesday, June 25th
- Last day for Gr. 6-7 students
- Crossroads Academy Graduation (Reception: 5:30 p.m.; Ceremony: 6:30 p.m. at Kenmore Junior/Senior High)
Wednesday, June 26th
- Regents Rating Day
- Last Teacher Day
Saturday, June 29th
- Kenmore West Graduation (10 a.m. at Kleinhans)
- Kenmore East Graduation (6 p.m. at Kleinhans)
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Thank you for reviewing this information. As always, we remain Ken-Ton Proud, Ken-Ton Strong, and Ken-Ton Moving Forward!
Sabatino Cimato,
Superintendent of Schools
For previous editions of the Ken-Ton Weekly Connection, visit
www.ktufsd.org/connection
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