Weekly Update from the Office of the Superintendent
Volume 2, Issue 19 (January 7, 2022)
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Only the text version of the Connection will be available this week. |
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Test to Stay Update
We have been working in partnership with the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) and area school districts to prepare for the implementation of Test to Stay in Ken-Ton. As you know, if a student is identified as a close contact, that student has to be quarantined and cannot attend school for a specified length of time. Test to Stay refers to the practice of allowing students who are identified as close contacts to remain in school if they continue to test negative for the virus and do not have symptoms. This would mean healthy students wouldn’t have to miss as many days of in-person instruction.
We have been making preparations in anticipation of launching Test to Stay in our schools. This includes exploring partnerships with agencies that would be able to assist with the implementation of the testing, where and when students would be tested, the logistics involved, securing adequate testing supplies, and meeting the requirements of a testing provider. Although our plans are in the process of being finalized, there are certain things families can expect:
- Any student who is identified as a close contact as a result of an exposure in school (except for members of their family/household) would be eligible to participate. They would be able to attend school if they continue to test negative and do not have symptoms.
- Testing will need to take place before the school day begins at a school location (students cannot be tested at home).
- Testing will likely be conducted at a central district location and families will need to provide students transportation to this location before transporting their child to school if they test negative.
- The child's parent/guardian will need to provide explicit consent for their child to be tested and be present during the testing.
- A student who tests negative would only be able to attend school. They would not be eligible to participate in extracurricular/after-school activities and sports.
- Families will need to be prepared to bring their child home if they test positive for the virus.
We will provide families with the details of our Test to Stay program as soon as they are finalized.
Mask Distribution
Early next week, we will be distributing reusable KN-95 masks as a resource for families. We will be providing one mask per child which will be sent home with students. Please note that students will not be required to wear these masks. These are only being provided as an optional resource families may utilize if they choose to.
Week of January 24th (Regents Week)
Due to the cancellation of the January 2022 Regents Exams by the New York State Education Department, high schools will operate with a modified schedule the week of January 24th (please note that no decisions have been made regarding the June and August Regents Exams and that NYSED is exploring modifications to diploma requirements as a result of the cancellation of the January Regents Exams).
The modified schedule is as follows:
- Monday, January 24th through Wednesday, January 26th will be regular days of attendance.
- Thursday, January 27th and Friday, January 28th will be exam days (exam attendance only) with transportation provided using transit stops. High schools have shared the exam schedule with families and will be providing additional details regarding the transportation schedule.
- Students who participate in the BOCES CTE programs will be able to attend their BOCES programs the entire week.
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Each week, we will highlight some of the exciting things taking place in our schools. Be sure to follow the Ken-Ton School District on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@ktufsd) for more school highlights! |
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Franklin Elementary School: A very special visitor came to Franklin Elementary School the day before winter recess on Thursday, December 23rd. Kindergarten classes have been doing such a great job and working so hard that Santa Claus decided to pay a visit to their classrooms. Great job to all the Franklin Elementary students, families and staff!
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Kenmore West High School: In the days leading up to winter recess, the Kenmore West High School Jazz Ensemble and Wind Ensemble visited Lindbergh Elementary for two amazing holiday performances for students to enjoy. It's an annual tradition for the Kenmore West Band Program led by Ken Belote to visit elementary schools for a special holiday performance and to introduce our youngest students to all the different band instruments they will be able to play. Click here for "All I Want for Christmas Is You" sung by 12th grader Sophia Holmes, a choral student of Jessica Leary's, and click here to see music teacher and District Music Coordinator Laura Anderson leading the saxophone ensemble in "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow.”
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Kenmore East High School: Kim Schildwaster's Foods I classes at Kenmore East created amazing gingerbread houses for the holidays. Students worked together to create scaled models of a classic ceramic village. Each class needed to create each element from scratch and rely on other “departments” for supplies and agreed-upon required elements. It was a tough process full of mistakes in measurement, design, supply shortages, and time management but in the end they were successful.
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Franklin Middle: Franklin Middle School teachers, staff, administrators and students did an amazing job decorating their doors for the holidays as part of this year's door decorating contest. More than 60 doors were included in the contest. Doors had to incorporate a holiday song and student participation was not only encouraged but required to win. Congratulations to Brandon Benham who won 1st place, Tara Gabel who was the runner-up and Caitlin Greiner who placed third!
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Edison Elementary: Congratulations to the Edison Elementary Garden Team led by Susan Hirsch, Linda Sternin, Nicole Zugelder and Elizabeth Kerr whose efforts have secured a $25,000 grant through the Town of Tonawanda Community Environmental Benefits Program to improve the Edison Community Garden! Edison Elementary was also awarded a grant of nearly $6,500 to replace more than 20 trees surrounding Edison that were lost due to the Emerald Ash Borer. Both projects were selected in large part due to voting by the entire Kenmore and Tonawanda area community and will have a tremendous impact on the beauty of the Edison campus.
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RECOGNITION: ANTIGEN TEST KIT DISTRIBUTION TEAM |
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While schools were closed during winter recess, New York State announced it would be distributing at-home antigen test kits for school districts to provide for students and families. The goal of the initiative was to provide a way for participating families to test their children prior to returning from winter recess. Despite only having a matter of days to arrange the distribution of these test kits, many administrators and staff came together during winter recess to make this happen for our families. Whether it was participating in daily conference calls to coordinate the distribution, working behind the scenes on the logistics, handing them out to families, or sending them home in backpacks, their efforts made it possible for more than 2,000 Ken-Ton students to be provided with a test kit.
I would like to recognize all the administrators and staff who made this possible. This includes Nicole Morasco, Jeff Richards, Tracy Spagnolo, Kelly White, Mike Muscarella, Lisa Cross, Frank Spagnolo, and Patrick Fanelli, who assisted in coordinating the initiative; Tim Ames, John Wille, Bill Guarino, Georgia Militello, Dave Porter and Marty Armbruster from our Buildings & Grounds Department, who worked to secure and distribute the testing supplies to our pick-up sites and schools; and Liza Acanfora, Brett Banker, Elizabeth DiCanio, Kia Evans, Dina Ferraraccio, Danielle Frye, Marco Galante, Denise Grandits, David King, Bree Knight, Kevin Kruger, Claire Licata-Michael, Ann Maccagnano, Anne Martell, Joe Mitrovits, Jim Nestico, Kelly Radley, Matt Raines, and Kim Roll, who assisted with the in-person pick-up opportunities that took place the morning of Sunday, January 2nd and the evening of Tuesday, January 4th. I would also like to recognize all the teachers, staff and administrators at each of our 10 schools who made it possible to send additional test kits home with students whose families had requested it the first day back from winter recess.
Distributing more than 2,000 at-home test kits with only a few days’ notice was a tremendous undertaking which wouldn’t have been possible without all their efforts.
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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!
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