March 2018 | Superintendent News
"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." ~ Winston Churchill
Dear Kenston Family,

Although we welcomed Spring in with a bit of SNOW, we are certainly looking forward to a Spring filled with new growth, the blossoming of minds, and a bright outlook toward the future.

I hope that you will relax and enjoy time with family and friends during next week's Spring break.

We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday, April 3rd.

Best Wishes,
Nancy R. Santilli
Superintendent
RIGHT TO READ WEEK
This week we enjoyed "stop, drop and read" activities in the district as part of Right to Read Week. Here are some ways to encourage reading at home.

Your child picks up your habits, absorbing everything that you do. They talk like you. They eat like you. Maybe they even roll their eyes like you. Do you share your reading habits with your child?

  • Surround yourself with reading material
  • Share things that you like to read
  • Borrow or buy books together
  • Read together
  • Read for pleasure
  • Read what your child reads
  • Emphasize the importance of reading
  • Start a conversation about reading
  • Share your favorite age-appropriate book and explain why it was your favorite.
  • Share your favorite picture book - What do the illustrations add to the story?
  • Ask them to predict what will happen next in the book they are reading.
  • Ask non-book report questions? Dig a little deeper.
TORNADO DRILL
On Wednesday, March 21st, as part of Ohio's Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week, Kenston participated in a nationwide tornado drill. The National Weather Service sent test warnings to every state. Each of our buildings took part in the drill.
INTERNET SAFETY - FOLLOW-UP FROM JESSE WEINBERGER
In case you weren't able to attend the Internet Safety presentation by Jesse Weinberger, here is the handout provided to parents.

General Rules
  1. Understand that this is your new part- time job. Either accept that, or your kid doesn't get the device.
  2. Parents: Create scenarios where waiting is inherent and the failure potential is high.
  3. Parents & Children: Oversharing (TMI) and posting "gonna be" content.
  4. PARENTS: Don't speed up the natural pace of childhood.
  5. No smartphone under 14 years old.
  6. No unsupervised, unrestricted web access.
  7. No Device use one (1) hour before bed- delays natural melatonin effects. No devices in bedrooms.
  8. Download OPENDNS.com.
  9. Install device level blocks according to the age of the child.
  10. Use/Buy Qustodio.com - 20% Discount code: BigMamaKMS.
  11. Login AS your child - anything else is a waste.
  12. Set the standard consequence - and actually give it.
  13. Make sure your child sets a screen lock.
  14. Adhere to the ONE (1) HOUR RULE - #7.
  15. Cover Cameras.
  16. Be aware of the shows, video, and other content your child is consuming. Take every opportunity you have to "find the lie" in media messages.

What to look for...
  1. No real names for usernames.
  2. No city, school name, profile pic of child's face. No suggestive usernames.
  3. Review browser history a few times per week - on each device.
  4. Sit with the phone and app store open at the same time. Compare each icon to the description of that app.
  5. Go through lists of followers and following - do YOU personally know each one of the people IRL (in real life)?
  6. NO teachers/coaches or other adults following children on social media - same for gaming.
  7. Go into private messaging modules and read messages.
  8. No open chat on gaming, no video conferencing for gaming.
  9. Check games for sexualized content - like Grand Theft Auto (GTA5).
  10. Absolutely ZERO live streaming - check for the apps and check in the browser history.

LINK to Jesse's website
SEEKING CITIZEN ADVISORY MEMBERS
The Kenston Board of Education is currently seeking two (2) interested community members to fill positions currently vacant on the district’s Citizens Advisory Committee.

The Kenston Board of Education created the Kenston Citizens Advisory Committee (KCAC) at its November 2006 meeting. The purpose of KCAC is to serve as a conduit between the Kenston Board of Education and the Kenston Community by communicating, researching and providing education on strategic matters, reinforcing the district’s vision statement that “an exemplary school district is committed to establishing and maintaining effective partnerships with its community.”

For more information please click here
UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS
Regular Meeting - Monday, April 16 - TES - 7pm
Worksession - Monday, April 30 - BOE - 6pm

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