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Weekly E-Newsletter from the Superintendent of Schools
Volume 3, Issue 22 (February 10, 2023)
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UPDATE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT | |
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36TH ANNUAL SLEEPOUT
On Friday, February 3rd, we were proud to celebrate the 36th Annual Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools’ SleepOut at Hoover Middle School. Board of Education President Matthew Chimera and I were joined by numerous local officials and representatives from the Ken-Ton School District and various non-profit organizations. This included:
- Assemblyman William Conrad and Peter Stuhlmiller from his legislative office
- Town Councilwoman and Ken-Ton Closet Director Jill O’Malley
- Town Councilwoman Gina Santa Maria, who also serves as Assistant to the Superintendent and District Clerk
- Cathy Piciulo, Executive Director of the Ken-Ton Chamber of Commerce
- Kari Schultz, Director of the Ken-Ton School District Family Support Center
- Kenmore Teachers Association President Jeff Orlowski
- Linda Sternin, Speech and Language Pathologist at Edison Elementary and coordinator of the Links For Love initiative, which benefited the SleepOut
- Skylar Shurr from Hearts for the Homeless
- Pastor Eric Napoli from the Sheridan Parkside Life Center
- Event coordinator Steve Ash
The dedication and commitment of all these individuals and others who supported this year's event has kept the dream of Educators Totally Committed and the Jerry Starr SleepOut alive. Mr. Starr was always known for putting the needs of others before himself. That spirit is embraced in all our schools and that is what the SleepOut represents. It’s not just the money, food, and everyday necessities that are collected through this event. It is an annual celebration of that Ken-Ton spirit of giving back, making a difference, and helping those in need.
There is still time to donate to the SleepOut, which benefits the Ken-Ton Closet and the Ken-Ton Family Support Center. You can donate online via the GoFundMe page. You can also send cash/checks made payable to “Ken-Ton Schools – E.T.C." via U.S. Mail to Ken-Ton Schools’ SleepOut, c/o Kenmore West High School, 33 Highland Pkwy., Buffalo, NY 14223. Thank you to everyone who participated and supported this year’s SleepOut!
CAPITAL PROJECT UPDATE
You may have noticed some construction activity taking place at Edison and Hoover Elementary as part of our ongoing Capital Project. The current phase of the project includes exciting upgrades at these two buildings. Edison and Hoover will both receive new additional classrooms, more secured single point of entry, new water pipes, resurfaced parking lots, and more. To address traffic/safety concerns during arrival and dismissal, Edison will receive a new bus loop and pick-up/drop-off lane and Hoover will receive a new pick-up/drop-off loop. Work on these components of the project has already begun. All of these projects are slated to be completed by summer 2024.
We have seen the benefits of the Capital Project upgrades and improvements across the district and we are extremely excited to see this work coming to fruition at Edison and Hoover.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH BUDGET WORK SESSION & BOARD MEETING
Please note that the Budget Work Session and Board of Education meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 14th has been moved to Monday, February 13th. The Budget Work Session will begin at 5 p.m. to review and discuss the preliminary 2023-24 school district budget. The regular Board meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome and invited to attend both meetings.
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As you may know, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in Syria and Turkey recently claimed the lives of an estimated 20,000 people. Even though earthquakes in Western New York have never reached this magnitude, we recently experienced our strongest one in 40 years at 6:15 a.m. on Monday, February 6th. The earthquake had a registered magnitude of 3.8 and was felt throughout the region. Although earthquakes don’t happen very often in Western New York, this is a great opportunity to review some tips provided by the American Red Cross, which emphasizes “drop, cover, and hold on” when an earthquake occurs:
- Drop where you are onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and allows you to crawl to a protected space.
- Cover your head and neck with your arms. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for protection. If you cannot find a protected space, crawl to an interior wall (away from windows). Stay on your knees and bend over to protect yourself from injury.
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Hold on until the shaking stops. If you are under a table or desk, hold onto it as things will be moving. Use an arm to protect your head and neck. If you are not under a protected space, protect your head and neck with both arms.
- If you are in bed, stay there and cover your head and neck with a pillow. Lie face down.
- If you are outdoors, drop, then crawl towards open space if you can. Stay away from buildings, power lines, and trees.
- If you are driving, stop and stay in your vehicle. Avoid stopping near buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires. Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid bridges or ramps.
The American Red Cross also recommends the following to prepare for such eventualities:
- Plan to stay connected by having a way to charge your cell phone and a battery-powered radio.
- Identify items in your home ahead of time that could fall and cause injuries during an earthquake and secure them.
- Learn emergency skills such as First Aid and CPR and keep emergency supplies on hand to be prepared for emergencies.
You can read more about earthquake preparedness here on the American Red Cross website.
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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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Food Service Acquires New Blender Bike to Inspire Healthier Habits
The Ken-Ton School District Food Service Department under the direction of Director Kim Roll has acquired a new piece of equipment to inspire healthier habits among students and staff. On Wednesday, February 8th, the department tested out its brand new Blender Bike, a stationary bicycle which powers a blender. Food Service staff made healthy and delicious smoothies with the blender bike made of vanilla yogurt, low fat milk, and fresh fruit. The department’s plan is to enhance wellness initiatives by deploying the blender bike at schools and events throughout the district to promote an active lifestyle and healthy options.
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Board Visits Edison Elementary School & Discusses Ongoing Capital Improvements
On Thursday, February 9th, Board of Education members joined me for a special visit to Edison Elementary School as part of the Board's monthly school visitations. The visit included a meet-and-greet with Edison Elementary faculty and staff followed by an in-depth conversation about the ongoing Capital Project, which includes significant improvements at Edison. This includes a six-classroom addition, new bus loop, pick-up/drop-off lane, enhanced single point of entry, interior renovations, and new water pipes. The project is scheduled to be completed by fall 2024.
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District Administrators Take Part in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Training
On Wednesday, February 8th, Ken-Ton School District administrators from all departments and operational areas took part in a half-day training on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The training was initiated by the Ken-Ton School District Office of School Culture led by Dina Ferraraccio, Director of School Culture. It was facilitated by Nicole Kerner, a Licensed Master Social Worker and Behavior Consultant for Erie 1 BOCES and co-facilitator of the Erie 1 BOCES Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consortium. Dina Ferraraccio and Anne Martell are the Ken-Ton representatives on this consortium which meets monthly with other district leaders. Thursday’s training focused on topics such as the distinction between equity and equality, what diversity truly represents, what it means to foster an inclusive environment in schools, and the importance of ensuring fair access to programs, classes, and supports. The training reflects the district's ongoing commitment to providing students with equitable access to opportunities, while cultivating and maintaining a learning environment that appreciates diversity and inclusion for all students as expressed in the Board of Education’s DEI Resolution. Additionally, the district’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team has participated in multiple training sessions this year with DEI experts from Erie 1 BOCES to begin building capacity around these topics. The goal of the Office of School Culture is to continue training our staff in order to create more welcoming, safe, and nurturing learning environments for all students.
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Orphanage in Honduras Receives Apparel Donations from Big Picture Program Students | |
Since May 2019, Big Picture has been working in partnership with a sock and apparel company called Bombas. The company’s mission is to help those in need and has donated countless clothing items to charitable organizations across the U.S. through customer purchases. Bombas has “giving partners” across the country who help strengthen their mission and Big Picture is one of them. Each year, Big Picture receives thousands of pairs of socks to donate to various organizations and one of their most recent donations went to an orphanage in Honduras. In recent days, the socks arrived along with handwritten notes and Big Picture students and staff were excited to see photographs of the children enjoying their new apparel. Click here to read the story. | |
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FMS Classes Work Together to Create Inspiring Black History Month Display
In a Franklin Middle School hallway, you will find an impressive display in honor of Black History Month, which takes place during the month of February. Franklin Middle School teachers Samantha Hahn and Katelyn Greiner’s classes did a wonderful job creating the display which features influential African Americans including Jackie Robinson, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Barack Obama, and George Washington Carver and inspiring quotes from each one.
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HMS Students & Staff Demonstrate Creativity and Buffalo Pride | |
Over the last few weeks, students and staff at Hoover Middle School were challenged to take part in a Buffalo-themed door decorating contest. Participants did a phenomenal job demonstrating their creativity and Buffalo pride. Click here to see photos of each door. | |
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH | |
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This week, in celebration of Black History Month, we recognize a key figure in the civil rights and labor movements: A. Philip Randolph, who founded the nation's first African American labor union.
Mr. Randolph was born in 1889 and grew up in Crescent City, Florida, a small community 80 miles south of Jacksonville. He excelled in school but, because of the color of his skin, did not see a future for himself in the South during the Jim Crow era. After moving to New York City in his early 20s, Mr. Randolph became actively involved in the labor movement. In 1925, he founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP), the nation's first African-American-led labor union. It represented thousands of railroad porters, who had been refused representation by other unions. At the time, being a railroad porter was an extremely important means of employment for African Americans and they were notoriously underpaid, suffered poor working conditions, and were forced to work extremely long hours (approximately 400 per month). After establishing the BSCP, Mr. Randolph and other organizers fought for 10 years to secure their first collective bargaining agreement with the Pullman company, which operated sleeping cars on most U.S. railroads. It was the first-ever agreement between an African-American union and a major U.S. company, guaranteeing large wage increases and a limit of 240 working hours per month for workers.
Mr. Randolph became a prominent voice in both the labor and civil rights movements and was instrumental in an Executive Order issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt which banned discrimination in the defense industry during World War II. He was also instrumental in subsequent orders by President Harry Truman which ended racial segregation in the Armed Forces. Mr. Randolph became a close ally of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and, in 1963, he was one of two principal organizers of the March on Washington, the culmination of his life’s work. This event attracted 250,000 people to the nation's capital to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans. The march, which included Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, is credited with paving the way for the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.
In this way, Mr. Randolph was a critical figure in guaranteeing rights for workers, ending racial segregation, and safeguarding the rights of African Americans.
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RECOGNITION: BUS DRIVERS & TRANSPORTATION STAFF | |
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National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day is celebrated on February 22nd every year. Since this day coincides with Mid-Winter Recess, we are celebrating this day in the Ken-Ton School District next week Wednesday, February 15th. We are also using this opportunity to honor and recognize all Transportation Department staff led by Director of Transportation Mike Klemann, who play such a vital role in our community.
School bus drivers and bus attendants are not just responsible for transporting students to and from our 10 school buildings, but are also responsible for transporting students to and from non-public schools and programming sites throughout Western New York. In fact, many people are surprised to learn that our buses transport Ken-Ton students to more than 100 locations throughout Western New York each day thanks to these professionals. They also transport students to and from field trips and athletic contests. In this way, they touch the lives of all our students. It is a difficult role, as they must concentrate on safely operating the bus while also supervising and engaging the students on board. School bus drivers and bus attendants are the first and last school district professionals students encounter each day, so they have a profound impact.
The crucial work our drivers and attendants do would not be possible without the work of our bus mechanics and Transportation office staff who carry out the tireless work of maintaining and repairing school buses, managing transportation operations, bus routing, communicating with families, and other essential responsibilities. It should also be noted that these professionals are often called upon to drive buses in addition to carrying out their other responsibilities when additional drivers are needed.
Please join me in recognizing all of our bus drivers, bus attendants, mechanics, and all other Transportation Department staff for the wonderful job they do. Their tireless work and dedication facilitates all the learning and growth that takes place each day for thousands of students.
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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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- Monday, February 13th:
- Board of Education Meeting (Budget Work Session begins at 5 p.m.; Regular Board Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.)
- Monday, February 20th - Friday, February 24th:
- Mid-Winter Recess (no student attendance)
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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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