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Weekly E-Newsletter from the Superintendent of Schools
Volume 3, Issue 13 (December 2, 2022)
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UPDATE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT | |
FOUNDING FATHERS AT BIG PICTURE | |
Big Picture Program students were surprised by some very special visitors as they returned from their Thanksgiving recess. Board President Matt Chimera and former Big Picture teacher Jim Keleher, who are both retired from Big Picture and known as the “Founding Fathers” of the Big Picture Program, arrived at the break of dawn in festive attire to kick off the holiday season for students. They also set up a tree and put out cookies to share. What a wonderful way to get our Big Picture students into the holiday spirit! | |
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SCHOOLS PILOT NEW PROGRAMS
We were excited to see two new programs implemented in Ken-Ton Schools this week in partnership with the Town of Tonawanda Police Department and Buffalo Sabres.
Holmes Elementary School partnered with the Town of Tonawanda Police Department Liaison Officer Andy Thompson to increase engagement between police and students. Officer Thompson held a pizza lunch party with kindergarteners earlier this week and will continue with other grade levels in the coming weeks. Students were able to get to know Officer Thompson and meet Diehl, a German shepherd who is part of the Town of Tonawanda Police Department’s canine unit. Thanks to the Ken-Ton Closet for sponsoring this event.
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Officer liaisons such as Officer Thompson play an important role in Ken-Ton Schools. They perform a multitude of roles such as assisting with drills, serving as the school’s primary point of contact with the police department, attending events, and educating students about important safety topics. We are extremely excited about this new initiative, which will provide students with the opportunity to become familiar with officers such as Officer Thompson and their role. It is important to note that the spirit behind bridging the gap between police and students was a major focus of Capt. Christine Milosich of the Town of Tonawanda Police Department. Unfortunately, Capt. Milosich lost her battle with cancer in 2021, but her spirit lives on through this partnership. | |
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This week, we also saw the beginning of a new partnership between Hoover Elementary School and the Buffalo Sabres. The program is called "Students of the Game" and brings Sabres development coaches to introduce the sport of floor hockey into each school's physical education curriculum. We were proud to see Hoover Elementary chosen to be the pilot for this new initiative, which will soon be launched in 40 schools across Western New York.
As part of this program, members of the Buffalo Sabres organization were at Hoover Elementary on Monday and Tuesday to teach second, third, and fourth graders hockey skills. Each student also received a "Students of the Game" T-shirt, a magnetic 2022-23 season calendar, and a free ticket with the purchase of another ticket to select Sabres home games. The goal is to get students interested in the sport of hockey and the Buffalo Sabres organization.
MONITORING STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PROGRESS
With the first quarter over for middle/high school students and the first elementary school trimester ending today, this is the time of year when it is important for families to help their children set goals for the months ahead. We encourage families to set "SMART" goals, which is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Based. SMART goals achieve greater results and allow students/families to monitor their progress. Families should also plan on taking advantage of the following opportunities for parent/teacher conferences (additional details will be provided by the school or teacher):
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Elementary Schools: Parent/teacher conferences will take place Wednesday, December 7th and Thursday, December 8th (December 8th will be an early release day for Gr. K-4)
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Middle Schools: Parent/teacher conferences will continue on Monday, December 5th (December 5th will be an early release day for Gr. 5-7)
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High Schools: Parent/teacher conferences will take place at Kenmore East on Tuesday, December 6th and at Kenmore West on Thursday, December 8th (these days will be regular days of attendance)
Families should also keep track of their children’s grades and progress in Parent Portal. First-quarter report cards for middle/high school students have already been posted and first-trimester report cards for elementary school students will be posted on Wednesday, December 7th. It is important to understand that, with our systems in Ken-Ton, families do not have to wait until the end of a marking period to monitor grades. You can learn how to access Parent Portal at ktufsd.org/ParentPortal.
ANNUAL NIAGARA PAL SANTA DASH
The Niagara PAL (Police Athletic League) 5th Annual Santa Dash 5K will take place Saturday, December 10th at the Sheraton Niagara Falls. Registration begins at 7 a.m. and the race begins at 9 a.m. This picturesque 5K route takes runners through downtown Niagara Falls and along the falls and rapids. All proceeds benefit PAL programs. There will be cash rewards for best costume, a raffle, long-sleeve T-shirt for the first 150 runners, a post-race party with music by Nicholas Picholas, and awards for each age division. You can register here.
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With the winter season upon us, it is important for families to talk to their children about staying safe while walking when we experience a major snow event. Sidewalks may be slippery or impassable if snow has not been removed yet. In other areas, visibility may be significantly hampered by the presence of piled snow. Experts recommend the following:
- Avoid distractions such as cell phones. Make sure you can hear the sound of vehicles (no headphones).
- Always be aware of your surroundings and know that visibility may be limited.
- Always be on the lookout for vehicles. Be especially cautious around snow banks and piles, because a car could be turning or backing up but out of view.
- Do not assume cars will stop, including when their turn signal is on.
- Be familiar with the route and walk with a trusted adult or peer.
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When walking to/from school, use intersections that have a crossing guard. You can find these locations here.
- Ensure children are dressed to be as visible as possible (wearing bright and/or light-colored outerwear and backpacks).
- Avoid the risk of slipping and falling on icy or slippery sidewalks by allowing plenty of time to reach your destination, wearing footwear with good grip, and watching out for debris.
- When it is dark, only cross the street in well-lit areas at designated crosswalks whenever possible.
- Make sure drivers can see you when you are crossing by standing away from buses, trees, parked cars, etc.
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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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Beautiful Student-Designed Farm to School T-Shirts Are On Sale
Congratulations to Franklin Middle School fifth-grader Natalie Liszka for winning the Farm the School T-shirt design contest! The contest was part of the Farm to School grant program secured by the Food Service Department and Edison Elementary physical education teacher Nicole Zugelder. The order form to purchase a T-shirt is included below and will close on December 2nd. The shirts are $21 with $1 from each shirt ordered being donated to the Ken-Ton Closet. If you have any questions, please email nzugelder@ktufsd.org. Access the form here (today is the last day to order). During the month of November, the Farm to School Program has reminded students and families to be thankful for farmers. The Food Service Department served delicious NYS produce in the cafeteria including roasted broccoli/cauliflower, butternut squash, coleslaw, fresh carrots with dip, and Dutch apple pie. More than 250 third-graders also signed up for the take-home apple cook kit.
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Kenmore East to Host ‘Polar Express” Movie/Activity Night on Dec. 9
The Kenmore East High School Class of 2023 will host a "Polar Express" Movie & Activity Night on Friday, December 9th. Fun winter-themed activities will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. with the movie to begin at 6:15 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Class of 2023! Tickets are $10 per person at the door and include the movie viewing as well as activities such as cookie decorating, holiday sing-alongs, snowman bowling, a visit by Santa, ornament making and more. Concessions will also be available to purchase. Reserve tickets here.
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Kenmore East Students/Staff Give Back to Community
Members of Kenmore East’s LEO (Leadership, Experience, Opportunity) Club have made another huge impact on the Western New York community. The club, which is involved in several community service projects a year, recently teamed up with Journey’s End Refugee Services for a “Home Again” project to assist and provide housing for a mother and her six children. Work on the Home Again project began last spring when students began putting the word out about items they’d need to fill the house. The majority of the items collected came from Kenmore East staff who contributed things like toilet paper, silverware, towels, and even furniture. On October 22nd, the LEO Club got to work and, over the course of five hours, cleaned the house, moved in the furniture, and created a living space for the family. Click here to read the story.
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Hoover Elementary Class Celebrates ‘Friendsgiving’ on Nov. 17
On November 17th, just before the winter storm hit the Buffalo area, kindergarteners in Samantha Page's class at Hoover Elementary enjoyed their “Friendsgiving” celebration! Students worked together to make muffins and butter and enjoyed the cafeteria turkey feast together in their classroom. The students helped set the tables and wore their specially made turkey hats. Ms. Page called it "a special day enjoying the friends and teachers we are thankful for."
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4 Holmes Elementary Students Win Ride Home in a Fire Truck
On November 22nd, four lucky Holmes Elementary students had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride home in a fire truck. They earned this experience by being some of Holmes' "November Upstanders"! Special thanks goes out to the Sheridan Park Fire Company for providing this opportunity for our students. The Sheridan Park Fire Company covers much of the western part of the town including Sheridan Parkside and Riverview.
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Lindbergh Elementary Hosts ‘Light Up the Holiday’ Event on Nov. 29
Lindbergh Elementary hosted its "Lindbergh Lights Up the Holiday" event on Tuesday. Families were invited to come to the school to enjoy some fun holiday activities including a visit with Santa, hot cocoa and cookies, a "reindeer dust" making table, face painting, crafts, a sing-along, and a book fair. Special thanks go out to everyone who attended and helped make the event such a success.
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East, West Future Teachers Clubs Visit Buffalo State & Holmes Elementary Classroom
Earlier this week, the "Take A Look at Teaching Clubs" from Kenmore East High School and Kenmore West High School went on their first joint field trip to Buffalo State College. Students learned more about the New Visions Educational Pathways Program, which two of our Kenmore East seniors are participating in. The clubs also visited the Buffalo State College Butler Library and helped classrooms from Holmes Elementary build space transporters for the "Nerdy Derby" activity. These were wonderful opportunities for our students who aspire to be teachers.
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RECOGNITION: SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS | |
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This week, we celebrate a dedicated group of educators who play a critical role in our schools whose contributions often go unrecognized: substitute teachers. It is inevitable that staff will need to be absent from time to time. For teachers, there is a need to have another individual take their place if they need to be absent. That's where our substitute teachers come in. Substitute teachers provide continuity in our schools, ensuring that learning will continue to take place and that students will continue to be cared for in the event of a teacher’s absence.
In Ken-Ton, we are fortunate to have a dedicated team of building-based substitute teachers who work full-time to cover positions as needed in each building. We also have countless other individuals who are ready and willing to take on a substitute role with very little notice. It’s a difficult job. Substitute teachers must assume responsibility over a group of students, a classroom environment, and instructional content which they are not familiar with. Sometimes, these professionals don’t know until the morning where they will be working that day. Despite these challenges, we have many people who serve in this critical role every day in our district. Please join me in recognizing them for their important work.
With substitute teachers in such high demand across the country, Ken-Ton has worked hard to be among the most attractive destinations for anyone interested in becoming a substitute teacher. You can read more about the benefits of becoming a substitute teacher here.
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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, December 5th:
- Middle School Early Release & P/T Conferences (12 p.m. Gr. 5-7 Dismissal)
- Tuesday, December 6th:
- Kenmore East P/T Conferences (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.)
- Wednesday, December 7th:
- Elementary School P/T Conferences (Evening Only)
- Gr. K-4 Report Cards Posted on Parent Portal
- Thursday, December 8th:
- Elementary School Early Release & P/T Conferences (12:40 p.m. Gr. K-4 Dismissal)
- Kenmore West P/T Conferences (5:30 to 8 p.m.)
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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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