December 2017 | Superintendent News
"Love is the greatest gift we can give to one another." ~ Lailah Gifty Akita
Dear Kenston Family,

The Kenston Community is a very special one. As Winter Break approaches, we would like to sincerely thank each of you for the contribution you make to the success of the Kenston Schools. Together we are making a difference in learning experiences and opportunities for our students.

Our schools will be closed for Winter Break from December 21 through January 1st with teachers returning January 2nd and students on January 3rd. I hope that each of you enjoy the holiday season and the opportunities that this time of year provides for us to join together with family and friends.

On behalf of the Board of Education and the Administration of the Kenston School District, we wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday season and a wonderful new year.

Best Wishes,
Nancy R. Santilli
Superintendent
CREATING A CULTURE OF INCLUSIVITY
The value of a culture of inclusivity and safety for all students is invaluable for student success. Tolerance and respect are non-negotiable tenets of our district environment and high expectations are established for students and faculty interactions and behaviors. Therefore, Kenston has placed high priority on our long-standing Peaceful Environment at Kenston, (PEAK) program. 

Many PEAK-related initiatives are embedded into our district practices and activities. In addition to our anti-harassment Board Policy and our new faculty induction program, familiar PEAK commitments such as International Day of Peace, the Timmons HERO program, the KIS SOAR program, the KMS STAND committee, PEAK ambassadors, Mix it Up Days in the lunchroom, Student of the Month Breakfasts, and Lunch Bunch recognition for good citizenship, monthly character traits, World Kindness Day and Service Learning projects have been in place for many years. More recently, collaboration with the Geauga County Juvenile Court systems, have resulted in internet safety assemblies and the "Start with Hello" anti-isolation commitment. 

Monthly district meetings and building PEAK teams work to ensure that respect and tolerance are reflected in day to day school operations. Administrators started the school year with professional development on culturally responsive leadership and inclusive school environments. 

Kenston has been fortunate to access external organizations including NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation, The Geauga Court system, our Business Advisory (Kenston, Inc.) membership, and the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio to support our PEAK efforts, both in professional development and student programs. In our continued relationship with the Diversity Center, a team of teachers, parents and administrators have met to discuss plans and actions to further develop our district culture of inclusivity.  
SCHLECHTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The most recent Schlechty Superintendent Leadership Team meeting was held on December 7 th . This leadership team has been meeting together since Fall of 2016 with focused work on leadership strategies to support teachers in designing engaging work for our students. This recent meeting was our first “on-site” network-sharing session. The first portion of the day was spent at Maple Heights High School, followed by the afternoon at Kenston. The agenda for the day reflected Phil Schlechty’s belief of “learning from” the work of others. Both school districts presented on how their respective school districts have implemented the Schlechty framework and strategies we have developed for enhancing the work we offer our students. In our afternoon presentation, Kenston administrators and teacher leaders were on hand to share our design team experiences and answer questions posed by leaders from other districts.
8th GRADE CAREER AWARENESS DAY
Kenston Middle School is working with the Geauga Growth Partnership Youth Workforce Development Program to help students create an awareness about diverse job/career options and preparation needed to select an educational path required for particular occupations.

On December 8th our second group of 8th grade students visited University Hospitals, Fairmount Santrol, Highway Garage Inc, and Raw Iron Choppers to learn about these respective areas of occupation.
WINTER SAFETY TIPS
The safety of children on the school bus depends not only on the bus driver, but others on the road as well. Here are some helpful safety tips for you.

Students and Parents
  1. Don't Rush to Catch the Bus. When roads and walkways are slippery, rushing to catch the bus or driving faster to make it to your destination can have disastrous results. Children need extra time to get to the bus stop in the cold, windy or snowy conditions. Encouraging them to leave a few minutes early and take their time can reduce the number of falls on slick pavement.
  2. Don't Bundle Up like Randy from "A Christmas Story". Students need to keep warm at the bus stop, but they also must still be able to see and hear what's going on around them. When bundling up your child in the morning, make sure he or she still has an adequate line of sight and can hear traffic and other noises. And make sure your student can put his arms down.
  3. Put Down The Phone. As highlighted by the "Pokemon Go" craze, not looking where you are walking can have disastrous results. When walking on snow or ice covered surfaces, watch where you are walking, take shorter, more deliberate steps or do the "penguin shuffle".
  4. Get a Grip. Wear footwear appropriate for conditions. Avoid footwear with slick (no-tread) soles when walking on wet surfaces, snow or ice.
  5. Just a Little Patience. School bus drivers are very well trained to drive in inclement weather; however, snow and icy roads can slow down even the most experienced driver. Safety is each driver's top priority and extra time may be needed to get from stop to stop.
  6. The Last Step. The seemingly simple task of getting on and off the bus can be taken for granted. Always use the handrails!
  7. Pay Attention to Weather Alerts and School Messages. As hectic as mornings can be, parents should be aware of weather alerts and school cancellations or delays. Bad weather also can lead to early dismissals or a change in bus routes. Make sure the school has your contact information to receive late breaking alerts, and to be sure to check your school website or local media when inclement weather is expected.

Courtesy of: First Student
DID YOU KNOW...
Ohio parents and educators have a new resource to help little learners age 3-5 prepare for school and their future with the INFOhio Early Learning Portal. The easy-to-navigate site contains more than 50 websites and apps chosen and evaluated by educators and librarians with expertise in early learning and literacy.

The INFOhio Early Learning Portal helps preschool children:

  • Learn letters, numbers and basic knowledge
  • Interact with other children and adults
  • Engage in meaningful play
  • Develop focus and problem-solving skills

Each resource supports Ohio's Early Learning and Development Standards for school readiness. Parents and educators also will find tips on appropriately integrating technology into a preschool child's learning.

UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS
Organizational Meeting - Monday, January 8 - TES - 6:30pm
Regular Meeting - Monday, January 8 - TES - 7pm

Kenston Local Schools | www.kenstonlocal.org l e-communications@kenstonapps.org
17419 Snyder Rd, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 l 440-543-9677