Weekly Update from the Office of the Superintendent
January 22, 2021
|
|
34th Annual Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools' SleepOut
This week, my focus will be giving back to the community and service to others, which is more important during this pandemic than ever before. One of the best things about the Ken-Ton community is its long tradition of supporting each other. This is the Ken-Ton way.
For today’s video update, I was joined by three colleagues: Edison Elementary School Principal David King, representing the Kenmore Administrators Association (KAA); Kenmore West High School Teacher Peter Stuhlmiller, Kenmore Teachers Association (KTA) President; and Josh Frasier, a member of our Buildings & Grounds team and First Vice President of the Kenmore-Tonawanda School Employees Association (KTSEA). They joined me to discuss this year’s Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools’ SleepOut, which will take place on Friday, February 5. Please take a few minutes to watch the video, which you can find here.
Every year at this time, we look forward to the SleepOut, which always takes place the first Friday in February. The event is named in memory of one of its founders, Jerry Starr, a Ken-Ton teacher who was known for always putting others before himself. Participants sleep outside in refrigerator boxes to raise money and collect donations for those in need. The focus is to raise awareness about the importance of giving back and helping others. The event is organized each year by Educators Totally Committed (E.T.C.), a group of staff and retired teachers whose goal is to instill in children the importance of giving and inspiring, a lifelong commitment to serving others.
Since the first SleepOut in 1988, approximately one million dollars has been raised for local charities and non-profit organizations, along with countless donations of food, clothing, and other everyday necessities. One of the things that has made this event such an enormous success is the active support of the Ken-ton School District administrators, teachers, staff, and families. Year after year, staff have supported the event by sleeping outside, donating, and encouraging others to donate.
Because of the pandemic, only a very small number of participants will be sleeping outside, and extensive safety measures will be taken to ensure everyone’s safety. I will be sleeping out this year to honor and recognize all that the staff and families have done to support the SleepOut through the years.
Even though students, staff, and families will not be able to attend like they normally would, everyone can participate by supporting the event through their donations. Due to COVID restrictions, only monetary donations will be accepted this year (no food, clothing or other items). It doesn’t matter how much; it is the simple act of giving and serving others that matters. I encourage everyone to consider donating because all proceeds will go to two outstanding organizations that do a tremendous amount of good in our community: the Ken-Ton Closet and the Family Support Center.
There are a few different ways you can donate. Cash and checks made payable to “Ken-Ton Schools – E.T.C.” can be sent to Ken-Ton Schools’ SleepOut, c/o Kenmore West High School, 33 Highland Pkwy., Buffalo, NY 14223. Donations can also be dropped off in person the day of the SleepOut on Friday, February 5 at 1500 Colvin Boulevard (drop-off procedures will be shared at www.ktufsd.org/sleepout). Donations can also be given to a KTA SleepOut representative in each building. They are:
-
Kenmore West - Nicole Harned
-
Kenmore East - Jeff Diegelman
-
Hoover Middle - Jeanette Costello
-
Franklin Middle - Mary Ricotta
-
Lindbergh Elementary - Tom LaRussa
-
Hoover Elementary - Lisa Chiavaroli
-
Franklin Elementary - Jodi Cook (Jerry Starr's daughter)
-
Holmes - Susan Aitkin
-
Edison - Lisa Carver
-
Kenmore Middle - Kathy Reiser
-
Administration Building - Teresa Crawford
This year, you can also donate online through the 34th Annual Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools’ SleepOut GoFundMe page, which you can find on our website at www.ktufsd.org/sleepout.
Thank you to Steve Ash, one of the event’s founders, who has worked tirelessly through the years to keep the spirit of the SleepOut alive. Thank you also to David King, Peter Stuhlmiller and Josh Frasier for joining me today.
|
|
RECOGNITION: ANTHONY SCIABARRASI |
|
On the topic of giving back to the community, I’d like to recognize someone who exemplified the spirit of service to others. It is one of our very own students: 16-year-old Anthony Sciabarrasi, a junior at Kenmore West High School.
We all know and remember what it’s like to be growing up. Children and young adults make mistakes and don’t always do the right thing, but if those around them - especially their families and teachers - instill in them the spirit of giving back and serving others, we can see the impact in their actions. We saw that in Anthony a couple weeks ago.
Anthony was running late for a haircut and stopped by an ATM at a local bank for cash when he found a wallet left behind by another individual. He gave the wallet to his father to turn into the police and went to get his haircut, though by then he was too late for the appointment. He returned to the bank to try to find out who the wallet belonged to and crossed paths with the wallet’s owner. He quickly called his father to come back so they could return the wallet before turning it into the police.
The owner was so grateful Anthony had returned the wallet that he insisted on giving Anthony a $200 reward. Anthony refused. He didn’t want any reward for his action. Ultimately, the wallet’s owner threw the $200 into the car as they drove away.
Anthony didn’t want to keep the money for himself, as many others might have done. Instead, he chose to use all the money to purchase Tim Horton’s gift cards. He then gave those gift cards away to strangers, bringing a little bit of joy to people he didn’t even know.
All of that is impressive, but here’s what took it to a new level. When I asked Anthony why he did it, his response was that, if he had lost his own wallet, he would have wanted the finder to do the same thing for him. In Anthony’s action, we see the influence of his family, teachers, and everyone else close to him. You can read the article on Page A-1 of the January 8, 2020 edition of the Twin Cities Sun (click here for the jump on Page A8). Anthony even referenced that he learned from his teachers in middle school that he should always do to others what he would want done to himself. For kids, that doesn't always resonate. This time for Anthony, the impression his family and teachers have made for him over the years led to him making a very mature and noble decision.
|
|
One final note on the topic of giving back and service to others: I would like to thank all of our families and staff who have supported our COVID-19 testing by signing up to participate and giving consent. We would not be able to keep our schools open for in-person instruction without meeting the state’s 20% testing requirement. This would not have been possible without the cooperation of staff and families, as well as the outstanding work of our school nurses. We are testing between 350-400 students/staff per week, and it’s all thanks to those who agreed to participate or gave their consent to test their child.
On the topic of testing, this past week we tested 379 students and staff with 0 positives:
-
Edison ES: 37 students, 6 staff (0 positives)
-
Franklin ES: 32 students, 7 staff (0 positives)
-
Holmes ES: 15 students, 5 staff (0 positives)
-
Hoover ES: 37 students, 6 staff (0 positives)
-
Lindbergh ES: 24 students, 7 staff (0 positives)
-
Franklin MS: 27 students, 8 staff (0 positives)
-
Hoover MS: 30 students, 9 staff (0 positives)
-
Kenmore East HS: 42 students, 11 staff (0 positives)
-
Kenmore West HS: 56 students, 14 staff (0 positives)
-
Big Picture Program: 4 students, 1 staff (0 positives)
-
Total: 304 students, 75 staff (0 positives)
|
|
As always, we remain Ken-Ton Proud, Ken-Ton Strong, and Ken-Ton Moving Forward. Go Bills!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
