Weekly E-Newsletter from the Superintendent of Schools

Volume 3, Issue 9 (October 21, 2022)

Video Update: https://youtu.be/KTNwuHbuCiE

UPDATE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

CELEBRATING STUDENT ARTISTS & OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION


Tuesday was a very special night for the Ken-Ton School District as we celebrated the amazing talents of 10 student artists, one from each of our schools, and the dedicated service of our Board of Education. The annual Student Artist Reception and Board of Education Appreciation Night is a wonderful event that highlights the importance of art education and the profound impact of our art teachers and Board of Education members. One student artist's work from each school is selected to be framed and proudly displayed in the Kenmore Middle School Community Room for the next year. Their work will then be moved to Kenmore Mercy Hospital for an additional year before returning and being added to our permanent collection on display throughout the district. The students and art teachers are:


  • Camden Mack, Edison Elementary School, "Sweet as a Strawberry" (Teacher: Wendy Yiengst)
  • Elena Paone, Franklin Elementary School, "Bright Space" (Teacher Lisa Mihelbergel)
  • Samuil Yakubovich, Franklin Middle School, "Jump" (Teacher: Lisa Mihelbergel)
  • Lilyana Whelan Mazur, Holmes Elementary School, "The Sunshine Flower" (Teacher: Diane Schaefer)
  • Rhiley Gilbert, Hoover Elementary School, "Beauty of the Jungle" (Teacher: Jennifer Lynch)
  • Ronan Swiatek, Lindbergh Elementary School, "Peaceful" (Teacher: Linsey Buchlis)
  • Jaeda Morgan, Big Picture Program, "Rosalina" (Teacher: Jennifer Leone)
  • Fiona Cross, Hoover Middle School (now at Kenmore West), "Death of Paradise" (Teacher: Gina McCartney)
  • Liliia Koliadych, Kenmore East High School, "Mushroom Fever" (Teacher: Matthew Sagurney)
  • Elda Cocaj, Kenmore West High School, "Cat" (Teacher: Amy Veltri)


As I noted last week, this week is NYS School Board Recognition Week, which is a time to recognize and appreciate the volunteers who serve on boards of education. In Ken-Ton, the school district is governed by five trustees who volunteer their time to serve the students of the district: Board President Matthew Chimera, Board Vice President Lesley Battaglia, Trustee Todd Marquardt, Trustee Jennifer Morrow, and Trustee Paul Spors. The reception is held during School Board Recognition Week to give us the chance to celebrate our Board of Education as well as our student artists and art teachers. Artwork by two students was selected to be duplicated, framed, and presented to each Board of Education member as a token of gratitude for their service. These students were Lilyana Whelan Mazur and Elda Cocaj.


Please join me in congratulating these outstanding student artists and art teachers. Please also join me in thanking our dedicated Board of Education for everything they do for our students and community.

NEW STUDENT TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAM


This year, we were extremely excited to partner with the University at Buffalo (UB) to create a new yearlong residency program. It supports education students at UB who may one day return to Ken-Ton as our next generation of teachers. Student teaching placements usually last six weeks but this partnership has allowed eight UB graduate students who are earning their certification as teachers to spend the entire school year at Kenmore East, Kenmore West, and the Big Picture Program. There, they are able to complete their student teaching requirements and serve our district in a vital role as substitute teachers, thereby further mitigating against the nationwide shortage of substitute teachers.


As part of this program, these students begin working in the classroom right away and take on a stronger teaching role as the year progresses. It is unique as they co-teach a few days a week and substitute, on their own, the other days of the week. This is giving these students the opportunity to gain real and practical experiences in the classroom, establish relationships with the students, and develop their skills as educators. Although the student teachers are only in our three high school buildings this year, planning continues to expand the program as early as next year to the middle and elementary levels. UB was recently awarded a $3.5 million grant to expand their teacher residency program, which will allow additional student teachers to be placed in the Ken-Ton School District. This program is fully aligned with our deep belief in mentoring our teachers early in their career.

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP WEEK 2022


October 17th was the start of Digital Citizenship Week, a national effort to raise awareness about the importance of digital citizenship among students, teachers, and parents. This represents the ability to navigate digital environments in a way that is safe and responsible, while also understanding how to actively and respectfully engage others in these spaces. The Ken-Ton School District has used this week to promote and celebrate ways in which technology can help transform how our students learn and interact, not just this week but year-round. While we all know the importance of technology in today’s society, we must also acknowledge the dangers and risks of technology. This is why families and teachers have an important role in promoting digital citizenship. Families can help at home by having discussions about media use and initiating conversations about digital safety. You can find helpful resources here.


A highlight of the week was "The Dark Side of Social Media," a presentation that was held on Wednesday in the Kenmore Middle School Community Room. It was a collaboration between the Ken-Ton School District and Kids Escaping Drugs to educate parents and caregivers about a side of social media that we don't often think about. They discussed how youth are using these platforms negatively and the impact it's having on society's current drugs trends, mental health, and the correlation between the two. WGRZ Channel 2 aired a story on the presentation, which you can view on the Ch. 2 website.

RED RIBBON WEEK 2022


Red Ribbon Week takes place October 23-31. According to WNY United Against Drug & Alcohol Abuse, this is the time of year to “pay attention and make sure all children are getting the information and skills they need to make safe and healthy choices when it comes to drugs and alcohol.” This is significant because data has shown that alcohol use, addiction, and overdose deaths have increased significantly over the past couple of years. The theme for Red Ribbon Week this year is “Celebrate Life; Live Drug Free.” WNY United is focusing on strategies to help everyone remain drug free such as reinforcing positive behaviors, introducing new activities, and having conversations about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. We must remember the devastating impact drug and alcohol abuse has on children and families. I encourage everyone in our community to ensure we are doing everything we can to support our children and others in our lives in making good, healthy choices. You can find Red Ribbon Week resources on the WNY United website.

Please Note: There will be no Connection next week.

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!

Kenmore East Students Compete In Empire State Games


For the 35th consecutive year, hundreds of athletes across New York State competed in the annual Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged. This year’s event, held at SUNY Brockport, featured six students from Kenmore East who made us proud as representatives of the Ken-Ton School District. They were William Lucas, Natalie Monteleone, Makaya Morris, Addison Musso, Kubrick Santercole, and Alison Wakefield. Students and staff cheered them on as they left the building the day of their departure. The Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged is a day-long event consisting of several track & field events. Each event is broken down into movement ability levels with each athlete competing against others on the same level. Our Ken-Ton athletes competed in several events, including the shot put, long jump, and distance running. William also received a special honor and was invited onto the stage for the Opening Ceremony to read the Athletes Oath.

Blue Devils Win 4th Straight Win In Homecoming Game


On Saturday, the Kenmore West High School community came together at Crosby Field to cheer on the Varsity Football Team as they took on North Tonawanda for their Homecoming game. Following the JV team's 36-6 win earlier that day, the Blue Devils beat North Tonawanda 51-8 earning them their fourth straight win. Other Homecoming events included Friday's pep rally and bonfire at Crosby Field and the annual Homecoming parade and dance.

Kenmore West & ConnectLife Host 1st Blood Drive of the Year


On Wednesday, Kenmore West High School partnered with ConnectLife to host their first blood drive of the year in the gym with dozens of students and staff participating throughout the day. Since 2010, the Ken-Ton School District has been responsible for collecting more than 1,750 units of blood through the district's partnership with ConnectLife. That's nearly 5,300 lives right here in Western New York that have been impacted by our students and staff. Kenmore East will be hosting their first ConnectLife blood drive on November 3rd.

Franklin Elementary Color Run Raises $15,000 for PTA


The entire Franklin Elementary School community came together on Saturday for the school's first-ever School-a-Thon Color Run fundraiser. For the event, students were challenged to raise money and earn the opportunity to win prizes. The campaign culminated with Saturday's Color Run. For the event, students were able to walk or run along a course and be blasted by safe, non-toxic color dust. The event was a tremendous success, raising more than $15,000 for the Franklin Elementary PTA to fund field trips and other fun, educational experiences for students.

Hoover Middle Students Experience Lake Erie Watershed


Students on Teams 6-1 and 6-5 at Hoover Middle School were able to learn about the environment in a fun and exciting way as part of the 10th annual “Day in the Life of the Niagara River/Lake Erie Watershed” Field Trip. The event was sponsored by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and Reinstein Woods. The trip featured more than 550 students and 10 lead teachers throughout the Niagara and Erie County regions. Susan Rusinski, a 6th grade special education teacher at Hoover Middle, was selected to take part in the program and chose the Burchfield Nature and Art Center in Cheektowaga as the team's field lab experience site. Students visited the Center on one of two separate days where they collected data from the Buffalo River tributary. Six stations were then set up where students were able to analyze things like water transparency, cloud cover and wind, water temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen, nitrate, and phosphate. The data collected from this year’s students will be analyzed to see the changes, if any, from last year’s collection.

Students Won Chance to Sell Their Creations at KE Craft Fair


On Saturday, October 15th, Kenmore East hosted its immensely successful Craft Fair to raise money for the Senior Celebration/Post-Prom event. The annual Craft Fair featured more than 100 vendors as well as basket raffles. Organizers Kim Schildwaster, Marissa Gee, and Stephanie Cleary thought it was important to include students and let them learn valuable skills while showcasing their hobbies and talents. Students were invited to submit videos of their crafts as part of a competition preceding the event. Natalie O'Brian from Franklin Middle and Rachele Henderson from Kenmore East were selected for the distinction and received a free table to showcase and sell their items. They were able to gain experience with sales, practice answering questions, learn about profit margins and taxes, and get advice from other crafters. Pictured here is Natalie O'Brian with Rachele Henderson's creations. 

Spanish Students Enjoy Mexican Festival to Cap Off Hispanic Heritage Month


Seventh grade students in Nohely Velez-Torres' Spanish class at Hoover Middle School celebrated the end of Hispanic Heritage Month by holding a "Mexican Festival." Students cooked recipes for show, taste, and discuss, played trivia, and competed for best authentic dish. According to Ms. Velez-Torres, the event enabled students to get an extended cultural learning experience with their families and share their experiences with their peers.

Franklin Elementary Families Enjoy Family Math Night Event


Franklin Elementary School students and families had the opportunity to get a better understanding of elementary school math instruction and how they can support their children at home at Wednesday's Family Math Night. This very special event gave families the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities related to the math instruction that students are receiving in school. Thank you to all the families who attended and thank you to everyone at Franklin Elementary who volunteered their time to make this event such a tremendous success.

RECOGNITION: VINNY GUARINO

We are extremely proud to recognize Vincent “Vinny” Guarino, a sophomore at Kenmore East High School and member of the Sons of the American Legion. On Saturday, Vinny was awarded the 2021-22 New York State Sons of the American Legion Member of the Year Award. The plaque described him as “having exemplified in his actions and accomplishments the true spirit of our organization in serving the needs of his squadron, post, and community and who has dedicated himself in a professional manner to addressing the pillars of our organization." Vinny was presented the award by Timothy Van Patten II, Commander of the Sons of the American Legion New York State Detachment. He also received a New York State Assembly Citation from Assemblyman William Conrad and a legislative proclamation from County Legislators Lisa Chimera and John Bargnesi, who represent the Ken-Ton School District in the Erie County Legislature.

Vinny first joined the Sons of the American Legion in 2017 when his brother enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces. Since then, he has become an extremely active member. He participates in all squadron meetings and volunteers his time in support of the organization. This includes managing a clothing bin, organizing basket raffles and other fundraisers, and managing food concessions at Legion events. Vinny is also an outstanding student at Kenmore East. He is on the High Honor Roll and is a starting defender on the Kenmore East JV Soccer Team. Coach Christopher Robey describes him as "one of the hardest working and most humble players on the field.” 


The most inspiring thing about Vinny is his intrinsic motivation to serve others. At the age of 13, Vinny received regional attention when he set out to open a pantry on his front lawn to provide food, toiletries, and toys for families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. He initiated this because he wanted to help others. “I just like to help,” Vinny said. “I really like when people can have an easier life. When I can give them that, it makes me happy. I honestly don’t think there’s a better feeling.”

 

We couldn’t be prouder to see one of our own earn such a prestigious distinction. Way to go Vinny!

CELEBRATING NATIONAL

PRINCIPALS MONTH

National Principals Month is observed every October and is an opportunity to celebrate our amazing principals for their outstanding leadership. In Ken-Ton, we are extremely fortunate to have visionary principals who work tirelessly to ensure the success of every child. They are the leaders of our school communities. The job of a principal is an extremely difficult one. Each and every day, our principals are responsible for managing the operation of their buildings, interacting with families, leading and inspiring their staff, cultivating a positive climate in their schools, ensuring the safety of students and staff, navigating challenging situations, overseeing academic and extracurricular programs, fostering connections with students, and so much more. They are often among the first people to arrive at their building and the last to leave. Their work never ends.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for our 10 principals and everything they do on a daily basis for our students. They are:

 

  • Trevor Brown, Kenmore East
  • Kia Evans, Franklin Elementary
  • Marco Galante, Franklin Middle
  • Michael Huff, Hoover Elementary
  • Dean Johnson, Kenmore West
  • David King, Edison Elementary
  • Kevin Kruger, Big Picture Program
  • Ann Maccagnano, Lindbergh Elementary
  • Matthew Raines, Holmes Elementary
  • Elaine Thomas, Hoover Middle

 

Please join me in recognizing and celebrating these outstanding leaders. Take a moment to say thank you to your child’s principal. They truly are the unsung heroes of our schools.

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.

  • Friday, October 21st:
  • Kenmore East vs. Kenmore West Varsity Football Game (7 p.m. at Adams Field)
  • Thursday, November 3rd - Saturday, November 5th:
  • Kenmore West Fall Play (7:30 p.m.)
  • Friday, November 4th - Saturday, November 5th:
  • Kenmore East Fall Play (7:00 p.m.)

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