Weekly Update from the Office of the Superintendent
Volume 2, Issue 14 (November 12, 2021)
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Age 5-11 Vaccination
Opportunity
At Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting (which you can view here), I discussed our efforts to coordinate additional vaccination clinics for students ages 5-11 now that the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for this age group. I am excited to announce that we are partnering with Rite Aid to hold a vaccination clinic on Friday, Nov. 19 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Hamilton Elementary (44 Westfall Dr., Tonawanda, NY 14150). Please note that vaccination is not mandatory and we are providing this opportunity for those who wish to take advantage of it.
This clinic is only for Ken-Ton School District students ages 5-11. Families must be signed up to participate. The sign-up link has been sent to elementary and middle school families via text message and email. If you did not receive the link or need any assistance signing up, please email web_help@ktufsd.org. The second dose will be administered three weeks later on Friday, Dec. 10. Your time will be the same for both clinics. You must sign up for one timeslot per child (if bringing multiple children, please sign up for each child separately).
Once again, COVID-19 vaccination is not mandatory. We are only providing this as an option for families who choose to have their children vaccinated. Pursuant with NYSDOH guidelines, students who are fully vaccinated are not subject to the same quarantine restrictions as unvaccinated students. Vaccinated students who are identified as a close contact will be able to continue attending school as long as they do not have symptoms. We will continue to facilitate vaccination opportunities for families who choose this option, so stay tuned for information on additional opportunities if you are unable to secure an appointment.
Other topics we discussed on Tuesday include mask breaks, which will continue to take place in our schools, and Test to Stay, which is an option currently being explored. I encourage all families to watch this presentation. You can view it here.
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Kenmore East and Kenmore West students performed at the Ken-Ton Veterans Day celebration on Thursday, November 11, 2021. |
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Honoring Our Veterans
Each year, our schools do a tremendous job educating our students about the importance and meaning of Veterans Day. It is wonderful to see all the different ways our community members come together to honor veterans for their sacrifice and service. Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to all the current and retired members of the Armed Forces. We also give a special recognition to those current and retired Armed Forces members visit our schools to share their stories and help our students understand what it means to be a veteran. It is an important lesson they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
This Veterans Day was made all the more special as we learned that one of our own alumni, retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Wayne Baumgartner, was inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame after being nominated by State Sen. Sean Ryan. Staff Sgt. Baumgartner graduated from Kenmore East High School in 1961 and served his country for nearly 8 years in Vietnam. For his service, he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Medal. Locally, he has served in multiple leadership positions in the American Legion Milton J. Broundshidle Post 205 in Kenmore and was the marshal for both the Ken-Ton Memorial Day Parade and Erie County Fair Veterans Day Parade for many years. You can read more about Staff Sgt. Baumgartner here.
To Staff Sgt. Baumgartner and to all those in our community who have served their country in the Armed Forces, we honor and thank you for your sacrifice and service!
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RECOGNITION: CASSIDY PIERCE &
SOPHIA HOLMES
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Today we recognize two seniors in the Kenmore West High School International Baccalaureate (IB) Program: Cassidy Pierce and Sophia Holmes. For their community service project, which is an important component of the IB curriculum, they worked together to organize a very special event on Tuesday to raise awareness about ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
They called their event the Mike Pierce Memorial Showcase. It was held in memory of Cassidy’s father, Mike Pierce, who lost his life after a long battle with ALS in March 2021. Cassidy and Sophia did far more than honor Mr. Pierce’s memory. They set out to educate people about ALS, a fatal disease in which patients lose the mobility of their muscles and body. They also raised money for ALS treatment and research.
The event featured performances by Kenmore West students, basket raffles, and more. It was a tremendous undertaking and they did an amazing job. They truly epitomize the qualities we strive to teach and see in all of our students.
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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!
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