Ken-Ton Weekly Connection: Volume 3, Issue 18 (January 13, 2023)

Weekly E-Newsletter from the Superintendent of Schools

Volume 3, Issue 18 (January 13, 2023)

Video Link: https://youtu.be/TFCfndHPUrc

UPDATE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT

Kindergarten enrollment for the 2023-24 school year has begun and we are delighted to welcome the incoming members of our future Class of 2036. As any parent can attest, there are few milestones more momentous than the first day of kindergarten. These earliest years in a child's life are some of the most important. It is in these formative years that they will establish many of the habits, skills, and attitudes that will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Our Ken-Ton School District is proud to offer amazing kindergarten programs in each of our five elementary schools. Our kindergarten programs are unmatched. Our students have access to an exceptional curriculum (including math, ELA, science, social studies, music, art, physical education, and health), innovative technology, an iPad/Chromebook for every child, superb facilities which continue to be enhanced through the ongoing Capital Project, a caring staff, comprehensive social-emotional support, and opportunities for your child to explore and grow such as daily recess, special events, fun activities, and exciting educational field trips.

Enrollment is open for all families in the Village of Kenmore and most of the Town of Tonawanda. To be eligible for kindergarten during the 2023-24 school year, children must be five (5) years of age on or before December 1, 2023. The registration process is simple. Visit www.ktufsd.org/register, complete the online registration process, and upload photos/scans of the required documents (be sure to have your child's birth certificate/government ID, immunization and most recent physicals, parent/guardian photo ID, and two accepted forms of residency such as a mortgage statement, tax bill, lease, deed, utility bill, etc.). If you are unable to register online and would like to schedule an in-person appointment, visit www.ktufsd.org/appointment. Once you register, you will be contacted with information regarding kindergarten screening and orientation.

If you know a relative, neighbor, or friend who has a child eligible for kindergarten next year and lives in our district, please have them reach out so we can best serve them and their families next year. We can’t wait to partner with our incoming kindergarten families as they embark on their child’s educational journey!

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY: JANUARY 16th

As a reminder, there will be no school this Monday, January 16th as we celebrate the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. Legislation designating the third Monday in January as a federal holiday was first adopted in 1983 in commemoration of Dr. King's birthday, January 15th, 1929. Dr. King was only 39 years old at the time of his assassination, but his legacy lives on in communities across America like Ken-Ton today.

Dr. King's principles of peace and equality align with our district’s commitment to providing students with equitable access to opportunity and cultivating a learning environment that appreciates diversity and inclusion for all students, especially culturally diverse students who have historically faced discrimination in our nation. On Monday, I ask everyone to pause for a moment to remember and reflect on what Dr. King devoted his life to: ending persecution and ensuring equality for all. Please also take a few minutes to have conversations with your children about why it is so important to honor Dr. King and how we can all continue his work.

SAFETY TIPS FOR FAMILIES

With a new year underway, it is a great time to get into the habit of changing your smoke detector and carbon monoxide batteries once a year. That is what experts recommend to make sure they are fully functional in the event of an emergency. The death rate is more than twice as high in homes that did not have working smoke alarms. Additionally, more than 400 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning, which could be prevented with detectors. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, batteries should be replaced in alarms at least once each year to make sure they are fully functional, unless the alarms have sealed 10-year batteries. You should also replace the smoke alarm if it is more than 10 years old. To make sure you remain consistent, a great idea is to change the batteries at the same time each year, such as right after New Year's.

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!

Hoover Middle to Present “Peter Pan Jr.” Feb. 2-4

Tickets are now on sale for the Hoover Middle School production of “Peter Pan Jr.” which will take place Thursday, February 2nd at 7 p.m.; Friday, February 3rd at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, February 4th at 1 p.m. Tickets are $7 presale or $10 at the door. The musical is an updated version of the beloved classic. More than 100 students are involved in the production between on-stage performances, behind the scenes work, and costume/set design. Presale tickets can be ordered through any Peter Pan cast and crew members. Community members that wish to order presale tickets can contact Hoover Middle School teacher Miss Cartwright at scartwright@ktufsd.org.

Students Make Thank You Cards for First Responders Following Blizzard

Students at Hoover Elementary wanted to show their appreciation for our local first responders who saved lives during the blizzard. This week, students have been making thank you cards for different departments across our area who played such a significant and important role in keeping everyone safe. These cards along with treats will be delivered this weekend.

Farm to School to Focus on Spinach & Yogurt During Month of January

In January, the Farm to School Program will focus on spinach and yogurt. Spinach salads will be featured on school lunch menus while smoothie tastings will take place in high school cafeterias during the month of January. Yogurt parfaits will also be served for breakfast in the middle schools this month. Last month’s "I spy" hidden veggies theme was a success for the month of December. Students enjoyed special root vegetables in the cafeteria while several 4th grade students were able to enjoy a hidden veggie cook kit. Congratulations to Chloe Rosso from Hoover who won the prize basket from the Calendar Challenge.

Kenmore East Students Perform at Disney’s ‘Sing the World’ Event

December brought an incredible opportunity for some of our Kenmore East students as they traveled to Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL to take part in an all-new massed choir performance called “Sing the World.” The event was held December 10-13 and is described as a musical journey that celebrates different cultures through songs of inspiration, hope, and respect. The performance included more than 200 students from all over the country, including 23 from Kenmore East. They sang eight Disney songs and were joined by celebrity conductor Dr. Jeffery Redding and narrator Jordan Fisher. Students also took part in a morning workshop with Fisher and Michael Lee Brown where they learned the power of performance. Click here to read the story.

Food Service Department Brings Hot Chocolate to Franklin Middle

On Friday, January 6th, Franklin Middle School students had the opportunity to enjoy a special treat for breakfast. Earlier this school year, the Ken-Ton School District Food Service Department secured a grant through the American Dairy Association North East that allowed Ken-Ton to purchase two new hot chocolate machines. They have been traveling to different schools since then, and January 6th was Franklin Middle School students’ first opportunity to enjoy delicious hot chocolate with their breakfast.

Hoover Middle Students Enjoy ‘Minute to Win It’ Assembly

There was a lot of laughter and excitement at Hoover Middle School on January 6th as the school held its "Minute to Win It" assembly. Students were able to use “Dragon Scales” tickets they earned to win a chance to compete in games like "Nutstacker" and "Defying Gravity.” Winners of each game were able to play "Let's Make a Deal" where big-name prizes were up for grabs including a box of candy, spike ball, and $25 gift cards. All other participants spun a wheel for a chance to win things like Hoover gear, smaller-value gift cards to select restaurants/stores, and even a pizza party for eight people. The rest of the Dragon Scale entries that weren't selected were used in a drawing for three big ticket items including a Buffalo Bills backpack, a $100 Amazon gift card, and earbuds. All prizes came from the Student Council Foundation and from teacher/administrator donations.

Ken-West Students Receive Expert Instruction at NYS Theater Conference

Last week, 27 students from Kenmore West attended the 26th annual New York State Theatre Education Association (NYSTEA) student conference in Callicoon, NY. The conference was an opportunity for more than 600 high school students from across the state to come together for a full weekend of learning and peer interaction. Throughout the weekend, students were able to choose from over 100 workshop offerings given by colleges, universities, and other theater professionals. There, they received expert instruction in technical theater, acting, dance, and voice. They were also able to network with one another, which allowed them to gain self-confidence and explore new areas of learning.

Kenmore East Band & Orchestra Visit Franklin Complex & Edison

On Friday, January 6th, the Kenmore East Band and Kenmore East Orchestra visited the Franklin Complex and Edison Elementary for a post-holiday music performance. The event had to be rescheduled for after winter recess because of the December 23rd cancellation of school due to the blizzard. The goal of the event was to showcase the talents of the school's music department and inspire interest for future high school students.

RECOGNITION: LIFE-SAVING EFFORTS DURING BLIZZARD

At Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, which you can view here, we were proud to recognize 32 individuals from the Ken-Ton School District and the Town of Tonawanda for their life-saving efforts during the deadly blizzard that struck Western New York beginning December 23rd.

The storm was unprecedented in scope and intensity, with roads quickly becoming impassable and many people stranded in vehicles. Thousands of people also lost power and heat with nowhere to go as temperatures in their homes dropped. Leading up to the storm, the Town of Tonawanda initiated a plan to establish warming centers to accommodate individuals who lost power or became stranded. In addition to the Sheridan, Brighton, and Kenilworth fire halls, a warming center was established at the Hoover Complex in partnership with the Ken-Ton School District.

This warming center operated for approximately 80 hours over a four-day period beginning at 12 p.m. Friday, December 23rd as the storm settled over the Town of Tonawanda. The center provided a safe, warm refuge for 106 people, including 24 children as young as 2 weeks old along with 82 adults ranging from age 18 to 92. Throughout the duration of the storm, these individuals had access to a facility that was secure, supervised, heated, and powered, as well as a fully stocked kitchen which provided three meals a day plus snacks and drinks.

On Tuesday, we recognized individuals from the town and district who made this possible, including:

Town of Tonawanda Supervisor Joseph Emminger, who kept the district apprised on a daily basis throughout the duration of the storm while overseeing all aspects of the town’s response
Town of Tonawanda Emergency Services Coordinators James Chatham and Robert Lutz, who were instrumental in implementing the warming shelter at the Hoover Complex and who spent many hours at the shelter providing operational support, relief, and demobilization
Members of the Town of Tonawanda Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) who volunteered at the warming shelter, including Autumn Aquilina, Trisha Aquilina, Peter D’Arrigo, Lynn DiAgostino, Jennie Maggiore, Jack Sullivan, Jim Tippett
Town of Tonawanda police officers who helped during the duration of the storm, including Officers Christopher Ryan and Colin Farrell who provided assistance and security at the warming shelter
Members of the Buildings & Grounds Department who helped with planning and preparations for the Hoover warming center as well as preparing all district facilities for the blizzard, including Director of Facilities Tim Ames, Assistant Director of Facilities John Wille (who also managed operations throughout the district during the storm), Russ Carver, Tom Gominiak, Tom Green, Bill Guarino, and Andy Schneggenburger
Individuals from the Food Service and Buildings & Grounds Departments who made sure the Hoover kitchen was fully stocked with food when the storm hit, including Food Service Director Kim Roll, Erik Gademske, Natalie Meldrum, and Aimee Nice
District personnel who took time away from their families from December 23rd to December 26th and provided on-site support at the Hoover Complex and assisted with snow removal efforts, including Mr. Wille, Charles Freiert, Mr. Gominiak, Mr. Green, Cameron Lauricella, Nick Mannix, Michael Muscarella, Mike Panaro, Richard Pisa, and Jesse Schlagenhauf

Another group of individuals were recognized for their efforts on the evening of December 26th. Several feet of snow had fallen and the area had only begun the long recovery process when a fire broke out at the Safire Rehabilitation residence on Sheridan Drive. This fire could have necessitated the evacuation and relocation of residents while firefighters worked to contain and extinguish the blaze. The district received a request to assist in being prepared should residents need to be transported to another location. Thanks to the efforts of the following individuals, a path was cleared at the Transportation Department on Military Road and a school bus was ready to be used within minutes of receiving the request:

Director of Transportation Mike Klemann, Mr. Freiert, Donald Meidel, and Mr. Pisa

On behalf of the Ken-Ton School District, I would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all these individuals for their outstanding dedication and service. Their efforts were nothing short of heroic and our continued partnership very likely saved lives in our community.

UPCOMING DATES

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.

Monday, January 16th:
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)
Tuesday, January 24th-Friday, January 27th:
High School Regents & Local Exams
Wedesday, January 25th:
Special Education PTO Meeting (6:30 p.m. at US itek)
Friday, January 27th:
End of 2nd marking period/1st semester
Saturday, January 28th:
Ken-Ton Wrestling Tournament (9 a.m. Kenmore West)

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