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REFLECTION, HEALING & HOPE
As was communicated this week, Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of the tragedy that unfolded as 10 innocent people were shot and killed and 3 wounded at a Tops grocery store in East Buffalo. The fact that this mass shooting happened in our community and was motivated purely by racist hatred made it all the more difficult to cope with. Throughout the country, this horrific occurrence brought renewed focus on the need for everyone to come together and stand in fierce opposition to hate and bigotry.
Earlier today, we were proud to see several students from Kenmore East, Kenmore West, and the Big Picture Program taking part in an event entitled "Educational Day of Healing & Restoration" which was broadcast live on WNED's Youtube channel. Events throughout the day were tailored to individual grade levels and our students took part in the Gr. 9-12 portion which was scheduled from 12:45 to 2 p.m. This day-long event was the beginning of a weekend of remembrance throughout the City of Buffalo and Western New York. The theme for the weekend is "Reflection, Healing, and Hope" including a panel discussion, community gathering, moment of remembrance, and memorial service. Additionally, each of our schools observed a 13-second moment of silence during announcements today.
As we continue to process our grief and outrage, it is important for us all to take time this weekend to remember the victims of this horrific event. Please honor their memory by speaking to your children about the importance of opposing hate and racism in every form. We continue to stand united as one Ken-Ton, one Buffalo family.
NEW BUS SIGN-UP PROCESS
As you know, we face a shortage of drivers which continues to be an ongoing challenge that sometimes results in bus delays. One factor that has exacerbated the bus driver shortage is our long-standing procedures. We have focused on a plan that enables us to strategically route students in a more efficient manner.
Beginning this spring for next year, we are taking the following steps to achieve this efficiency:
- Eligible families will need to complete a sign-up form to indicate if morning/afternoon bus transportation will be needed for the coming school year. The sign-up form will be in Parent Portal in the Message Center (families will receive specific instructions via text, email, and robocall).
- Bus routes will be consolidated based on actual utilization after the first few weeks of school. Families can expect to receive new bus numbers and pick-up/drop-off times in early October.
- Students will be removed from bus routes if they consistently do not ride the bus. Families will be able to request transportation to resume.
We will take steps to make this a smooth transition while families become accustomed to this new procedure and we will always make sure that bus transportation is provided for eligible students who need it. In partnership with the community, these steps will ensure that only actual riders are routed on our buses which will reduce costs, maximize efficiency, and improve service for students/families. We encourage our families to utilize our transportation. We are confident that bus transportation is the safest way for students to travel to and from school. Our partnership will focus on this so that the district can restore our community confidence in being safe and timely.
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May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month and the NYS Education Department (NYSED) is taking steps to educate families about the dangers associated with ticks and tick-borne disease. According to the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH), Lyme disease is the most common disease spread by ticks in NYS, though there are other serious diseases spread by ticks as well. According to the NYSDOH, ticks live in shady, moist areas at ground level. They cling to tall grass, brush, and shrubs, usually no more than 18-24 inches off the ground. They also live in lawns and gardens, especially at the edges of woods and around old stone walls. Once a tick gets on the skin, it generally climbs upwards until it reaches a protected area. In tick-infested areas, your best protection is to avoid contact with soil, leaf litter, and vegetation. However, if you garden, hike, camp, hunt, work, or otherwise spend time in the outdoors, you can still protect yourself by taking the following precautions:
- Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.
- Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and your shirt into pants.
- Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors.
- Consider using insect repellent.
- Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Walk in the center of trails. Avoid dense woods and bushy areas.
- Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls.
- Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.
- Bathe or shower as soon as possible after going indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that may be on you.
- Do a final, full-body tick check at the end of the day (also check children and pets) and remove ticks promptly.
Click here to find other NYSED resources for protecting yourself and your children from ticks and tick-borne illnesses.
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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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Students & Staff Embrace Community Effort to Spread Random Acts of Kindness
A community effort to spread and inspire random acts of kindness is making its way into Ken-Ton School District classrooms. This effort is being initiated in memory of the late Oliver "Ollie" Boyd, who passed away in February four months shy of his second birthday. At Hoover Middle, students of English as a New Language teacher Lindsey Lapidus and sixth-grade teacher Sharon Roberts made cards for nursing facility residents. At Edison, students of second-grade teacher Maria DiStefano made cards for teachers and staff to express how much they mean to them. And Kenmore West High School teacher Jeff Martin gave his students special cookies decorated with a smile to brighten their day and also provided them each with an extra cookie to share with someone else. These are just some examples of how Ollie’s memory is making a difference and being felt in Ken-Ton Schools. He was known for his kindness, generosity, and warmth, and his family wanted to find a special way to preserve his memory after his passing. It is in the spirit of his kind nature and generosity that people from all walks of life are coming together to secure for Ollie an enduring legacy and make his impact felt throughout Ken-Ton and beyond. Click here to read the story.
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Ken-Ton Named ‘Best Community for Music Education’ for 13th Year in a Row
It's official! For the 13th year in a row, Ken-Ton has been named a "Best Community for Music Education" by the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation. Only 830 school districts, representing just 5 percent of approximately 17,000 districts nationwide, earned this prestigious distinction. We could not be prouder of our incredible music teachers who continue to define Ken-Ton as having one of the best music programs in WNY. This is an achievement we can all be proud of because it is the combined efforts and commitment of everyone including teachers, administrators, families, students, Board members, and community leaders which have made music education such an important part of our schools and curriculum. Click here to read the story.
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Ken-Ton Celebrates 3rd PBS Kids Writers Contest Winner
Another Ken-Ton student has placed in the BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media) PBS KIDS Writers Contest. Congratulations to Edison Elementary School first-grade student Aria Biddle for her story which earned her a third-place finish for her grade level! The contest encouraged 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. Congratulations Aria!
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Holmes Elementary to Host Kids Car Wash on Saturday, May 20th
Mark your calendars! Holmes Elementary will host a Kids Car Wash on Saturday May 20th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students in third and fourth grade will be taking part. Cash donations are appreciated and all proceeds will go towards the HSA to support field trips, supplies, and fun activities for students.
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Kenmore East Hosts First-Ever School-Wide Cultural Celebration
An amazing event took place yesterday at Kenmore East High School as students gathered together in the Bulldog Cafe for the school's first Cultural Celebration with many different cultures of the community represented as well as the GSA. Students, faculty and staff were invited to wear traditional clothing and bring a dish to pass, read poetry, sing a cultural song, play an instrument, or perform a cultural dance. The event was hosted by School Counselor Erin Rhoney, advisor of Kenmore East's Culture Club. Approximately 15 different dishes were provided by families and staff, allowing students to be able to try new food they've never tasted before. It was a beautiful celebration of the cultures of our community and we are so proud of everyone who attended and shared some insight into their cultural identity!
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Lindbergh Students Explore STEM With Marty the Robot
Lindbergh Elementary students have had the opportunity to learn about programming, robotics, and other STEM topics with the help of Ken-Ton School District Instructional Support Specialists and Marty the Robot. Kerry Smith, one of the district’s instructional support specialists for technology, recently visited Lindbergh Elementary second-grade teacher Dana Kates' class to teach students about algorithms and steps needed to accomplish various tasks. On Thursday, May 4th, Ms. Smith and Mary Beth Flatau, who also serves as an instructional support specialist for technology, reinforced these lessons with Marty the Robot, a product by cutting edge STEM company Robotical. Marty the Robot is specially designed for younger students and is simple to use. He can walk, make expressions, turn, kick a ball, and much more. Students had an amazing time successfully making Marty walk, dance, and kick a ping pong ball!
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Lindbergh Celebrates School-Wide Outdoor ‘Play Day’
On Tuesday, Lindbergh Elementary held a school-wide “Play Day” with all students able to spend time away from the classroom and get some physical activity outside. The weather couldn’t have been better and students enjoyed a variety of fun activities together such as hula hooping, Jenga building, jump roping, chalk drawing, running around, and much more. Great job to Lindbergh teachers, administrators, and staff who made the event such a wonderful success for our students!
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RECOGNITION: AVA VALKWITCH | |
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Congratulations to Kenmore East ninth-grade student Ava Valkwitch, a student of art teacher Matthew Sagurney, who will have her artwork recognized nationally. On May 8th, Ava was honored during a ceremony with Congressman Brian Higgins and was announced as the Congressional Art Competition winner for Congressman Higgins’ 26th District. The competition included an online voting process that included students from throughout Western New York. Her painting, which was an acrylic piece depicting Reinstein Woods, will be sent to Washington D.C. and displayed in the Capitol Building. Ava and her family will also be flown to Washington D.C. for the ribbon-cutting ceremony this June. Kenmore East students Michael Bly and Ali Qamachi also had their work displayed locally in the first phase of the contest and received certificates for their pieces. Michael’s piece was a photo titled “Vista” and Ali’s piece was a photo titled “Reflections.”
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RECOGNITION: MATTHEW CHIMERA | |
 |  | At Tuesday’s Board meeting, we were proud to honor Board President Matthew Chimera for being recognized through the NYS School Boards Association (NYSSBA) Recognition Program. This program is designed to acknowledge those school board members who strive to continually expand their governance knowledge and skills. This initiative reflects NYSSBA’s motto that “better school boards lead to better student performance.” The recognition program is comprised of different achievement levels which are reached over time by accumulating points through participation in NYSSBA trainings, workshops, events, and activities, as well as taking on board-related roles such as Board President. Mr. Chimera earned NYSSBA’s Board Member Mastery Award, which is one of the highest levels one can achieve in the NYSSBA Recognition Program. I was joined by David Lowry, Executive Director of the Erie County Association of School Boards, in presenting the award to Mr. Chimera. Please join me in congratulating Mr. Chimera for this distinction!
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RECOGNITION: SPEECH/LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS & HR STAFF | |
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Speech & Language Pathologists:
Speech and Language Pathologist Appreciation Day is celebrated annually in communities across the nation on Thursday, May 18th. These professionals play a critical role in schools. Speech and Language Pathologists (SLPs) work with students of all ages and grade levels to address speech and language impairments and related challenges. Whether it’s improving their ability to make sounds, learning how to put sounds together into words, understanding what they hear or read, learning how to use words to communicate effectively, or other key skills, SLPs work with each individual student to address his or her unique needs.
The Ken-Ton School District is served by a team of dedicated Speech and Language Pathologists who not only carry out these services in our schools but in non-public schools as well. For students who receive speech and speech-related services, our SLPs provide a foundation for their future success. They are driven by a desire to eliminate barriers to learning and help every student achieve his or her full potential. They are kind, creative, compassionate, and committed to the success of all students.
On Thursday, May 18th, please take a moment to reflect on the vital contributions of our SLPs and say “thank you” for the invaluable support they provide for so many of our students!
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Human Resources Staff:
International Human Resources Day takes place on May 20th each year. Since this day falls on a Saturday, we will be celebrating the work of our outstanding Human Resources Department on Friday, May 19th. The Ken-Ton School District has always been known for its world-class staff and the extremely important task of hiring and retaining employees is the responsibility of our HR Department led by Assistant Superintendent of HR Jeff Richards and Director of Personnel Patrick Moses. It's an enormous undertaking. Among their day-to-day responsibilities are overseeing the hiring of upwards of 50 new teachers/administrators per year and 50-100 support staff positions, anticipating/resolving staffing needs, managing employee benefits, managing relations with the district’s three labor unions as well as substitute teachers and non-represented employees, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, overseeing the evaluation process for all staff to drive continued improvement and growth, responding to personnel matters, guiding employees through the retirement process, and much more.
Our HR staff does an outstanding job fulfilling these responsibilities while maintaining excellent relationships with all employees and stakeholders. Over the past few years, Mr. Richards and his team have also spearheaded numerous improvements which have had an extremely positive impact on current and future employees. This includes streamlining various HR procedures such as the posting and notification of job opportunities, hiring and onboarding processes, time off requests, and time/attendance recording. Through their efforts, our HR team continues to make Ken-Ton a prime destination for prospective employees.
On Friday, please join me in expressing our appreciation for the entire HR team and the amazing work they do throughout the year!
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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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Saturday, May 13th
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Ken-Ton Bus Tour & Breakfast With the Board Event (click here for details)
Tuesday, May 16th
- Budget Vote & Board of Education Election (7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Hoover Middle)
Monday, May 29th
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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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