Weekly E-Newsletter from the Superintendent of Schools

Volume 3, Issue 21 (February 3, 2023)

Video Update: https://youtu.be/dQFKYSFQIeY

UPDATE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

36TH ANNUAL JERRY STARR SLEEPOUT

Tonight, we celebrate the 36th annual Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools’ SleepOut, which kicks off at 6 p.m. at Hoover Middle School. It’s amazing to think that this is the 36th time this event has taken place. It has withstood the test of time because this event embodies what is so prevalent in our school district community: the Ken-Ton spirit of giving back, making a difference, and helping those in need. The SleepOut is just one example of the countless ways our students and staff personify the spirit of Jerry Starr, who was always known for putting the needs of others before himself. That is what the SleepOut represents.

Please consider supporting this wonderful initiative. All donations will stay in the Ken-Ton community and go to two homegrown Ken-Ton organizations that serve the needs of families: the Family Support Center and the Ken-Ton Closet. Here is how you can support the SleepOut:

• Donate online via GoFundMe
• Cash/checks made payable to “Ken-Ton Schools – E.T.C." sent via U.S. Mail to Ken-Ton Schools’ SleepOut, c/o Kenmore West High School, 33 Highland Pkwy., Buffalo, NY 14223
• Dropped off in person the day of the SleepOut (monetary donations, food, personal care items, new/gently used clothing and small furniture items will be accepted)

INTRODUCING OUR SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICERS

We are excited to welcome the members of our new Safety & Engagement Team (SET), who are scheduled to begin this Monday, February 6th through our partnership with Vista Security Group. Through this partnership, we will have a School Safety Officer stationed at Kenmore Middle School, the Franklin Complex, the Hoover Complex, and on a rotating basis at Edison, Holmes, and Lindbergh. This group will focus on enhancing school culture, forging relationships with students/staff, and maximizing safety and security. There will be a total of seven individuals hired in these positions and our priority will be to have two individuals working at each location to forge deeper relationships. The following individuals will begin their new responsibilities next week:

Adam Cavarello

Kenmore Middle School & Safety & Engagement Team Supervisor

Mr. Cavarello worked for the Town of Tonawanda Police Department for 21 years, retiring in January. He served as a DARE Instructor from 2006 to 2015, Truancy Officer from 2005 to 2023, School Liaison Officer from 2016 to 2023, and Detective with the Juvenile Bureau in 2018. He also completed his training as a School Resource Officer. Mr. Cavarello is married with two children ages 11 and 13. He grew up on Henderson Avenue in the Town of Tonawanda and attended Hoover and Kenmore West.

Patrick Rizzo

Hoover Complex

Mr. Rizzo worked for 23 years with the Orchard Park Police Department. For seven of those years, he served as a Lieutenant. He was also a Field Training Officer and Drug Recognition Expert and has also completed Crisis Intervention Training and Active Shooter Training. He has also worked as a safety officer in the Sweet Home Central School District.

Matt Seelbach

Hoover Complex

Mr. Seelbach recently retired from the Town of Tonawanda Police Department after serving for 24 years. His last assignment was as the full-time front desk officer. Prior to his career with the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, he worked for one year as a New York State Park Police Officer in Niagara Falls, as well as 18 months as a police officer at SUNY Purchase in Westchester County. Mr. Seelbach grew up in the town and still resides here with his wife and children.

Mark Lepczyk

Franklin Complex

Mr. Lepczyk served as a New York State Trooper from 1994 to 2020. During his career, he rose to the rank of Zone Sergeant. He has also worked at Sweet Home High School as a Security Officer, a role he very much enjoyed. Mr. Lepczyk has a son who is a junior at the University of Michigan and a daughter who is a senior at Depew High School.

Ken Muhlenbeck

Franklin Complex

Mr. Muhlenbeck retired from the New York State Police following 20 years of service. During this time, he served as a Patrol Trooper, Crime Scene Technician, and Investigator in the Gun Investigation Unit. Prior to his career with the New York State Police, he served in the U.S. Army. For the past 15 years, Mr. Muhlenbeck has resided in Williamsville with his family.

Todd Ciehomski

Edison, Holmes & Lindbergh Elementary

Mr. Ciehomski recently retired as a Detective from the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, where he served for 30 years. He worked in many different specialized areas of law enforcement such as narcotics, juvenile victims, firearms instruction, and police candidate background investigations. During the last decade of his career, he served on a federal human trafficking task force with the Department of Homeland Security. In his spare time, Mr. Ciehomski is a semi-professional musician and enjoys sailing and golf.

Joe Vilardo

Edison, Holmes & Lindbergh Elementary

Mr. Vilardo is a lifelong resident of the Town of Tonawanda. He is a 20-year veteran of the Town of Tonawanda Police Department. Mr. Vilardo is married with two children. He has been actively involved in extracurricular functions over the years such as participating at high school basketball games. He enjoys playing hockey and is an avid Sabres fan.

As was presented in Friday’s Weekly Connection, next week will be devoted to getting to know the students, staff, and district community, working with principals, and familiarizing themselves with the schools, etc. You should also be on the lookout for additional information from your principal. Please join me in welcoming these individuals to our Ken-Ton family!

CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY’S HISTORY

On Saturday, our Board of Education and I were joined by many community members for a special event which included a tour of the Ken-Ton School District. The 90-minute tour included dozens of locations of historical significance in areas such as Kenmore, Deerhurst Park, Lincoln Park, Brighton, Ellicott Creek, Sheridan Park, Riverview, Old Town, and the Niagara River waterfront. Click here to access the two-page map which was provided to tour participants, which includes locations of interest and some of the information covered during the tour.

Participants then joined myself and our Board of Education (President Matthew Chimera, Vice President Lesley Battaglia, Trustee Todd Marquardt, Trustee Jennifer Morrow, and Trustee Paul Spors) for a breakfast inside Kenmore Middle School. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the history of Ken-Ton and engage in conversations with members of our community.

Ken-Ton has a very rich history going all the way back to the early 19th Century. You can learn more about the history of our district at www.ktufsd.org/OurStory.

SAFETY TIPS FOR FAMILIES

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and it’s a great opportunity for families to refresh themselves on the best ways to promote good oral health. Children’s Dental Health provides the following tips:

• Schedule routine check-ups. If it’s been more than six months since your child has seen a dentist, schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
• Get children used to brushing twice each day for two minutes. Children ages 2-6 should use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Always supervise kids younger than six years old while brushing, as they are more likely to swallow toothpaste.
• Children should begin flossing as soon as they are able to.
• Enjoy healthy snacks which promote oral health. Unhealthy options such as fruit juice, sports drinks, fruit snacks, and sticky candies all pose threats to your child’s teeth. Give kids calcium-rich snacks like cheese or low-sugar yogurt. If you have to resort to candy – a chocolate bar is preferable to gummy or sticky sweets that can get lodged in between the teeth, even after brushing.
• Keep them hydrated. Avoid sugary drinks and stick to water, which helps to rinse away any sugar or particles that can lead to cavities. Many municipal water sources also contain fluoride, which is recommended as an efficient way to prevent tooth decay.
• Replace your child’s toothbrush every three to four months.

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!

Hoover Middle School Will Proudly Present ‘Peter Pan Jr.’

Beginning yesterday, students at Hoover Middle School will be presenting their musical "Peter Pan Jr." which will continue through tomorrow. Showtimes for “Peter Pan Jr.” are today (Friday, February 3rd) at 7 p.m. and tomorrow (Saturday, February 4th) at 1 p.m. Yesterday, the cast and crew members put on a very special performance for fourth-graders who arrived from Holmes, Hoover, and Lindbergh Elementary Schools. All of the students in the audience will be attending Hoover Middle next year.

Franklin Middle Delights Audiences with Production of ‘Cinderella’

Last weekend, Franklin Middle School did an amazing job presenting their musical, “Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella Youth Edition.” The cast and crew worked extremely hard in the weeks preceding the performances. Their classmates at Franklin Middle and younger students at Edison and Franklin Elementary were also able to enjoy the show.

Students Educated on Dangers of Marijuana & Cannabis Use

This week, the Ken-Ton School District and Kids Escaping Drugs teamed up for an important conversation with students at both Kenmore West and Kenmore East. Over the course of 40-minute presentations, students were educated on cannabis and marijuana use, including both the health and mental health side effects. The presenter focused on new items of concern such as edibles and vapes which are becoming easier for young people to obtain. WKBW Channel 7 was on hand to highlight one of the sessions at Kenmore East. You can watch their story here.

Adult & Community Education Programs Highlighted During Tour

On Thursday, Board President Matt Chimera represented the Board of Education on a visit to the Adult & Community Education Department at Kenmore Middle School. Chimera and I along with other members of our administrative team met and talked with team members and heard success stories from some of our amazing students in these programs. Our Adult & Community Education team provides educational programs and lifelong learning for people of all ages in the Kenmore, Tonawanda, and Buffalo communities. Some of the things they offer include comprehensive resources for those seeking a High School Equivalency diploma (formerly GED), college and workplace skill development, English as a Second Language instruction, and dozens of community education classes in all different areas.

Edison Students Band Together to Give Back to Families in Need

Students at Edison Elementary are learning the power of love and giving back to those in need. During the week of January 30th, students took part in the school’s Links4Love initiative. The project, which began in 2017, began as a simple way for students to participate in the Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools’ SleepOut without having to sleep out in the cold. Throughout the week, students and staff could buy a “link” for $.25 each. The links are strips of paper that are color coded for each grade level (K-4). Students took their purchased links back to their classroom, wrote their name on them, and then the links were joined together with others in the classroom. At the end of the week, the chains are brought down to the front lobby and are strung together along the hallways, creating an amazing visual representation of what the students accomplished. Click here to read the story.

KE & KW Staff Take Part in Special Restorative Practices Training

Last week, the Ken-Ton School District welcomed several staff members from Kenmore East and Kenmore West to a special training put on by “Partners in Restorative Initiatives” (PIRI), an organization that’s considered a leader in restorative practices across the state. The district has been working with PIRI since July and the training is part of the district’s plan to get all staff trained on Tier 1 Community Building Circles. This type of training centers around offering a safe space where people can communicate openly and honestly, listen deeply, and build a sense of community. The training teaches participants the importance of storytelling and ways to build trust among circle participants. We’re so excited to see how this transpires into our classrooms.

Visually Impaired Department Finds Creative Ways to Educate Students

If you walk into Alicia Schwock’s classroom at Edison Elementary, you’ll often see her working with fourth-grader Madison McCombs. Madison is one of the many visually impaired students in the Ken-Ton School District, but thanks to teachers like Alicia, she’s continuing to thrive and grow. Schwock, along with teachers Sheila Ewing and April Kress, and visual aide Deborah Fose, make up Ken-Ton’s Visually Impaired Department. They cover all 10 district buildings and work hard to educate and bring opportunities to the 60 students they serve. Every student has different needs depending on how their brain is interpreting information. Some students’ eyes don’t work together, while others, like Madison, are legally blind. In a constantly evolving field, Schwock and the rest of the department are in awe of what their students continue to achieve. Whether it be the lessons in the classroom or the new technology that continues to assist them in everyday life, they’ve seen their students overcome hurdles and thrive in the real world. Click here to read the story.

Franklin Middle School Students Enjoy New Breakfast Cart

A new breakfast kiosk cart now sits in the hallway of Franklin Middle School, giving students the chance to grab breakfast items on the go. The breakfast cart is part of an equipment package that aims to enhance breakfast meal service. The package also included insulated food delivery bags. Back in November, Franklin Middle won second prize in a contest through the "New York State Thursdays" program operated by the American Dairy Association North East. Schools were able to enter the contest by showing videos in class which educated students about where their fresh dairy foods and milk comes from and how it gets from the farm to their school. Click here to read the story.

KW Girls Basketball Team Pays Special Visit to Hoover Elementary

On Friday, January 27th, the 11 members of the Kenmore West Girls Varsity Basketball Team took time out of their afternoon to visit students at Hoover Elementary. Players first stopped by the gymnasium where several physical education classes were treated to a Q&A session and basketball drills with the players. The players also handed out "Lady Devils" T-shirts to two lucky students who embody what it means to be a standup and kind Hoover Hoot. After gym class, the players then visited Ms. Murdie's classroom where students were able to ask the players questions about life in high school and their favorite part about being an athlete. They then were able to mingle and walk around the classroom to engage with the students and answer any more questions they may had. Click here to read the story.

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CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

February is Black History Month and we are continuing our tradition of celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans throughout history. Today, we focus on Baseball legend Jackie Robinson, the very first African American to play in Major League Baseball.

Mr. Robinson was born on January 31, 1919. He was excluded from many recreational opportunities as a child because of his skin color, but his older brothers recognized his athletic abilities and encouraged him to get involved in sports. He became an accomplished four-sport athlete while in high school and college. He began working as a youth athletic director and then entered a segregated cavalry unit in the U.S. Army during World War II. He never saw combat action, however, as he was court martialed following an incident in which he refused an order by an Army bus driver to sit in the back of a bus. Although he was ultimately acquitted, this incident derailed his military career.

Mr. Robinson began his baseball career in 1945 with the Kansas City Monarchs, a team in baseball's African American leagues. The following year, he was recruited by the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers and signed to Brooklyn’s minor league affiliate, the Montreal Royals. Robinson was called up to the major leagues the following season and he debuted with the Dodgers on April 11, 1947. It heralded the end of racial segregation in professional baseball and Robinson went on to win the inaugural Rookie of the Year Award in 1947. During his 10-year baseball career, he was an All-Star for six consecutive seasons, played in six World Series, and was named the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1949.

Mr. Robinson also has ties to our area. In 1946, as a second-baseman for the Royals, he played nine games against the Buffalo Bisons. Additionally, a few years following his retirement, Mr. Robinson spoke to a crowd of nearly 1,000 people at a Franklin PTA meeting (a fact which was highlighted during Saturday's Ken-Ton School District tour). Mr. Robinson's character and talents were extremely influential and contributed significantly to the civil rights movement.

RECOGNITION: SCHOOL COUNSELORS

Next week (February 6-11) is National School Counseling Week, an opportunity to recognize the outstanding work of our dedicated school counselors. This year's theme is "Helping Students Dream Big." School counselors play an extremely important role in the lives of our students from kindergarten to graduation. At all grade levels, our school counselors guide students in making good decisions, achieving academic success, and promoting social-emotional health and wellness. They are also instrumental in helping students build the foundation for the rest of their lives by planning for college and careers.

School counselors interact with students on a daily basis and help them understand their abilities, strengths, interests, and talents. They work in partnership with students and their families as they navigate the unique challenges of today. They help students foster healthy, realistic, and optimistic aspirations and attitudes. They also work with teachers and administrators to forge an educational framework that helps all students succeed.

All of our school counselors do an outstanding job guiding students and putting them on a path toward future success. Please join me in recognizing our school counselors for all they do to help all students succeed.

UPCOMING DATES

Visit www.ktufsd.org/calendar to access website calendars and Google calendars with

up-to-date event information for the district and each of its schools.

• Friday, February 3rd:
• 36th Annual Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools' SleepOut
• Gr. 5-12 Report Cards Posted to Infinite Campus
• Thursday, February 9th:
• Middle School Early Release & Parent/Teacher Conferences (12 p.m. dismissal)
• Monday, February 13th:
• Board of Education Meeting (Budget Work Session begins at 5 p.m.; Regular Board Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.)

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