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Weekly E-Newsletter from the Superintendent of Schools
Volume 3, Issue 30 (April 21, 2023)
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UPDATE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT | |
Students participated in Thursday's Etiquette Luncheon at SUNY Erie. Top left photo, from left, Kenmore West students Courtney Gregoretti, Christian Leone, Ian Wirth, Ava Orcholski, Delia Lake, and Sophia Neubert. Top right photo, from left, Kenmore East students Angelina Muir and Angelina Avino, Academies Coordinator Nancy Pray, and Kenmore East students Antonio Gullo, Ryan Haynes, and Danny Sikorski. Bottom left photo, from left, Kenmore East students Cameron Ciffa, Timothy Chatmon, and Destinie Smith, NFIEC Executive Director Kelly Oldenburg, and Kenmore East students Carrie Adamski, Alexia Camalleri, and Kevin Ryder. Bottom right photo, from left, Kenmore West Business Teacher Sharon Stoll and Kenmore West students Ella Rieman, Lal Mawi, Mia Wright, and Hoi Mawi. | |
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ETIQUETTE LUNCHEON
On Thursday, approximately two dozen students from Kenmore East and Kenmore West had the opportunity to participate in a unique event spearheaded by the Niagara Frontier Industry Education Council (NFIEC) that focused on manners and professionalism. The students traveled to SUNY Erie for the NFIEC Etiquette Luncheon, which included guidance on how to act in a professional manner and properly navigate a formal dining experience.
The event began with an icebreaker and networking activity followed by a career assessment to help students investigate their interests. Students then learned to successfully navigate a four-course meal which consisted of soup, salad, a main course (chicken, rice, and vegetables), and cake for dessert. They began by discussing how to make a great first impression by understanding things like how to enter/exit their seats and proper napkin/utensil placement. They learned basic dining skills such as how to survey a formal table setting and utilize proper utensils. The first course taught them how to properly eat soup/crackers, season food, and pass items to others during a meal. Over the salad course, they discussed how to handle tough-to-eat food, the difference between American vs. Continental style of using a fork/knife, and what to do about unfavorable items. During the main course and dessert, the presenters discussed how to answer tough interview questions, the importance of being kind to service staff, showing gratitude, and other tips on carrying themselves in a professional manner.
The students were accompanied by Nancy Pray, coordinator of the Ken-Ton School District Career Academies and Kenmore East Business Department, and Kenmore West business teacher Sharon Stoll. I had the pleasure of joining the team for this event and I was amazed at the professionalism and courtesy demonstrated by our Kenmore East and Kenmore West participants. The presenters, Katie Marshall, Director of Career Services at SUNY Erie, and Denise Harris, Director of the Career Development Center and a Certified Etiquette Expert at Buffalo State University, also did an outstanding job leading the day’s activities.
This was the Ken-Ton School District's first year taking part in the NFIEC Etiquette Luncheon, which was one of many activities they organize throughout the year. The NFIEC is dedicated to connecting business with education and preparing high school students for success no matter what their future plans are. This organization has developed and presented a variety of different programs, courses, and community services all aimed at helping students become educated, well-adjusted, and contributing employees.
Special thanks go out to Kelly Oldenburg, Executive Director of the NFIEC, who worked extremely hard to facilitate Thursday’s event and made this opportunity possible for our students. They had a wonderful time and what they learned will be of immense benefit to them later in life. This will be a memory that will last me a lifetime.
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARP) UPDATE
As a reminder, we are continuing to share detailed information on our website regarding the district’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) allocations. This law was enacted on March 11, 2021, providing money to assist schools following the COVID-19 pandemic. You can access this information at www.ktufsd.org/ARP. On this page, you will find all documentation and resources related to the district’s ARP planning.
We have posted an FS-10-A form for our ARP funding. An FS-10 is a NYS Education Department form for grants which includes a list of dollar amounts and descriptions of planned expenditures and an FS-10-A is an amendment to that form, so this document details proposed changes to planned ARP allocations. All stakeholders are invited to submit feedback regarding these proposed changes no later than Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023. To submit feedback, please email ARPfeedback@ktufsd.org.
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With warmer weather finally upon us, this is the time of year where children of all ages are enjoying the outdoors on their bicycles. This is also the time of year to reinforce how to make sure your children stay safe when riding their bikes. Safe Kids Worldwide provides the following tips for families:
- Most importantly, make sure your child wears a properly-fitted helmet. It is the best way to prevent head injuries and death. Properly-fitted helmets can reduce the risk of head injuries by at least 45 percent, yet less than half of children 14 and under usually wear a bike helmet.
- Have your child ride on the sidewalk when you can. If not, they should ride in the same direction as traffic as far on the right-hand side as possible.
- Encourage your child to use hand signals and follow the rules of the road. They should also be predictable by making sure they ride in a straight line and don’t swerve between cars.
- They should wear bright colors and use lights, especially when riding at night and in the morning. Reflectors on their clothes and bike will also help them be seen.
- Ride with your children. Stick together until you trust your child and are confident that they are ready to ride safely on their own.
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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! | |
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Registration Begins for Ken-Ton Summer Music Program
The Ken-Ton School District Music Department is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2023 Ken-Ton Summer Music Program which includes Gr. 5-12 band, orchestra and jazz camps as well as beginner music lessons. Students from throughout Western New York are invited to participate. Visit the summer music website at www.ktufsd.org/SummerMusic to learn more and for information about registering.
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Academy of Transition Provides Students With Workplace Experience
Students in the Ken-Ton School District’s special education program are getting an incredible opportunity to get real-world work experience thanks to a partnership with Aspire of WNY. The Kenmore Academy of Transition Program is in its second year here in the Ken-Ton School District. While individual students have received workplace opportunities in the past, the program has kicked into high gear over the last two school years with six students in the Aspire of WNY-run program. Students work at community placements throughout the entire school year, switching locations/businesses halfway through. Over the past two years, Ken-Ton has seen their students excel at Aspire’s partners like Tops, Wegmans, JoAnn Fabrics, and Savers. Click here to read the story.
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Hoover Elementary Student Wins 2nd Place in WNY Writing Contest
Autumn Collins, a second-grade student at Hoover Elementary, is having her creative writing talent recognized in a big way. Autumn recently won second place for her grade level in the BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media) PBS KIDS Writers Contest, a contest that encourages young writers to use their imagination to write and illustrate an original story. The contest was open to Gr. K-3 students in Western New York and entrants were required to create a story (fact or fiction), a prose, or a piece of poetry that included at least five original illustrations. Judges based the winning entries on creativity and originality of plot, story structure and use of literary devices, relevance and originality of illustration, and adherence to the contest rules and structure. Autumn will receive an Amazon Kindle, T-shirt, and her story published on wned.org and the organization’s social media platforms. She’ll be recognized along with the other contest winners in a reading ceremony in downtown Buffalo on May 18th. Congratulations Autumn! Click here to read the story.
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Andy Parker’s Weather Machine Visits Franklin Elementary
With the help of his famous Weather Machine, meteorologist Andy Parker unlocked the secrets of the atmosphere for Franklin Elementary School students during an assembly on Friday, April 14th. The Weather Machine is capable of producing all types of weather elements including tornadoes, lightning, and snowstorms and students were on the edge of their seat as different elements were demonstrated with the help of student volunteers.
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KE Students Recognized at World Languages Honors Society Induction
On March 23rd, the World Languages Honors Societies Induction Ceremony took place at Kenmore East High School to honor students for their achievements in French, German and Spanish. Juniors were inducted into the honors societies while seniors received their honor cords. In order to be eligible for membership in the World Languages Honor Societies, students must meet the following criteria: study their language of choice for at least three semesters in high school; have a 90% average in their world language and an 85% average in all subjects; and a keen interest and passion for learning language and culture. Being a member is a significant advantage when applying to colleges and universities as strong language skills and this recognition may open many doors of opportunity in future careers and lives. Click here for the full list of students who were recognized.
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Kenmore West Holds 2nd Annual Career Expo With 20+ Employers
The second annual Kenmore West High School Career Expo on April 13th was a tremendous success. Tables were set up similar to a college fair with representatives from more than 20 different organizations, companies, and careers throughout Western New York who took time out of their day to speak to our students about their future. This included Delaware North, Ellwood Volunteer Fire Department, GCR Audio Recording Studios, Hodgson Russ LLP, unions representing electrical workers, engineers, plumbers, and steamfitters, National Fuel, New York State Police, the Town of Tonawanda Youth Parks & Recreation Department, and many more. Click here to read the story and to see the full list of participating companies.
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Poets Inspire Hoover Middle Students at Poetry Slam Assembly
On Friday, April 14th, Hoover Middle School was excited to welcome Buffalo poet Brandon Williamson and other local poets for a school-wide assembly aimed to inspire and get kids excited about writing. Since April is National Poetry Month, this assembly and poetry slam was the perfect way to celebrate the creativity of our minds. Mr. Williamson, the founder of Pure Ink Poetry, brought along other local poets to speak and perform their work which centered on the theme of “identity." Special thanks to Jheanelle Kerr, Johnette Warren-Askew, and Benjamin Brindise for inspiring our students!
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Explore America Club Visits Washington D.C. & Colonial Virginia
A large group of Ken-Ton students spent part of their Spring Recess in Washington D.C. and colonial Virginia, exploring new places and learning about our country’s history. The group at Kenmore West High School is called the Explore America Club, which is a club devoted to exploring places that students otherwise may never see in person. They visited multiple national monuments, three different Smithsonian Museums, Mt. Vernon, the Holocaust Museum, the National Zoo, the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial, Colonial Williamsburg, and much more. Click here to read the story.
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Buffalo Bandits Players Visit Franklin Middle to Teach the Sport of Lacrosse
Franklin Middle students had the opportunity to learn lacrosse skills from members of the Buffalo Bandits, Western New York's professional lacrosse team. They recently spent the day with students at Franklin Middle teaching them the basics of the game and different skills. For many, it was their first time playing the sport of lacrosse and some may continue playing it in high school.
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Big Picture Students Give Back Through Senior Projects
In the Big Picture Program at Kenmore Middle School, 401 (senior) students engage in large-scale projects which are expected to contribute and give back to the community in some way. There were two wonderful examples this trimester. Shauntelle Doerr created a meditation and mindfulness area that students and staff can use every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with School Counselor Joseph Lorentz. Additionally, Madison Barone created a food pantry to aid any Big Picture students who may be experiencing food insecurity with the help of School Monitor Francine Pritchard. These two students are prime examples of how Big Picture students are working to make the community a better place.
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RECOGNITION: ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS | |
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On Wednesday, we will celebrate Administrative Professionals Day to recognize the vital work these support staff do on a daily basis. Administrative professionals play a critical role in every aspect of school and district operations.
At the school level, administrative professionals ensure the buildings are always running smoothly. They support all the work taking place in school including classroom instruction, health/safety, counseling, event planning, record keeping, purchasing, food service, arrival/dismissal, etc. They provide invaluable support for the school leadership team. They are constantly interacting with parents/guardians and are instrumental in maintaining close relationships with families. They are often the first point of contact for the community, providing excellent customer service. At the district level, our administrative professionals ensure that our students, schools, and staff have everything they need to thrive. In all areas, our administrative professionals keep our district running like clockwork.
We thank our administrative professionals for everything they do to ensure our students are provided with the very best educational experience. Everything that takes place in our schools and classrooms on a daily basis depends upon your hard work and dedication. Thank you for all that you do!
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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.
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Friday, April 21st
- Gr. 5-12 Report Cards Posted on IC Parent Portal
Tuesday, May 9th
- Board of Education Meeting & Budget Hearing (6:30 p.m. Kenmore Middle School)
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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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