Weekly Update from the Office of the Superintendent
Volume 2, Issue 28 (March 18, 2022)
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There Will Be No Video Update This Week |
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District Launches New Learning Recovery Program
The Ken-Ton School District has launched an exciting new initiative to address some of the instructional and social-emotional challenges caused by the pandemic. The Learning Recovery Program (LRP) is a new student support structure that takes place before and after school. Our mission is to help students develop the skills and confidence needed to accelerate learning and be successful in school beyond the realm of the traditional school day.
Students who are eligible for this program are identified and assigned a Learning Recovery Teacher. Learning Recovery Sessions aim to be both enjoyable and engaging, ensuring that students continue to develop their love for learning. Activities depend on the unique needs of students and may include:
- Tutoring
- Credit Recovery
- Social-Emotional Learning Groups
- Lab Make Ups
- Physical Activity/Sports
- Sensory (Occupational Therapy)
- Executive Functioning (e.g. Organization, Task Completion)
The Learning Recovery Program is supported by funding we received through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021. This law set aside funding for school districts to assist with the return to in-person instruction and services, help students recover from lost instructional time, support their social-emotional needs, and address other challenges related to the pandemic.
We are excited about the potential for this program and to be able to offer this opportunity for students and families. This is just one part of a multi-pronged approach to helping students meet their full potential. You will learn about other initiatives in the coming months.
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Each week, we will highlight some of the exciting things taking place in our schools. Be sure to follow the Ken-Ton School District on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@ktufsd) for more school highlights! |
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KENMORE EAST: The Kenmore East High School Dance Club did a phenomenal job performing at a recent Kenmore East Boys Varsity Basketball game during halftime then following it up with a special after-school performance for families and staff. The Kenmore East Dance Club, led by Angela Stranahan and Corrie Louth, was founded in 2017 to provide a way for students of all abilities to learn new dances, get active, make friends and have fun. Since then, the Kenmore East Dance Club continues to grow, giving students the ability to showcase their talents at a range of events including public performances and visits to schools.
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ALL SCHOOLS: On Friday, March 25th, schools across the U.S. will observe Purple Day to support epilepsy awareness. Each year, students, staff and community members across the country wear purple to raise awareness about epilepsy. Here in Ken-Ton, Purple Day began as a Holmes Elementary School initiative and continues to grow each year through the efforts of a dedicated core group of staff spearheaded by special education teacher Tracy Caruana. Purple Day is normally celebrated on March 26th. Since that’s a Saturday this year, it will be observed in schools the previous day. Please consider showing your support by wearing purple on Friday, March 25th!
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KENMORE WEST: If you or someone you know is looking to replace a bed in your home, now is the time. The Kenmore West High School Baseball Program is excited to announce that they will once again be hosting the one-day Mattress Fundraiser on Saturday, April 2nd from 10am to 4pm. There will be more than 20 different styles of beds on display in the Kenmore West High School Gymnasium for customers to try. The brand name mattresses are made to order, have full factory warranties, are available in all sizes, and are priced below retail. In addition to beds, there will also be premium pillows, luxury sheets, adjustable power bases, and more on display. Delivery and financing are available. Please consider helping to spread the word to support out Kenmore West Baseball Program. You can find the Facebook event here.
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KENMORE EAST: We congratulate Kenmore East High School science teacher Alison Bozek who was part of the New York State Master Teacher Program 2022 cohort. At a ceremony on March 15th at Buffalo State College, Ms. Bozek was one of only 30 teachers from throughout the greater Western New York region to be distinguished as New York State’s newest master teacher. It is one of the highest honors a teacher can receive in New York State. Master Teachers are regarded as STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) leaders. To become a Master Teacher, educators must demonstrate outstanding knowledge of STEM curriculum content and a deep understanding of effective teaching practices and their students and community. Master Teachers are committed to continued professional growth and enhancing STEM education and we congratulate Ms. Bozek on earning this distinction.
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ALL SCHOOLS: Last week was Wellness Week, a week-long observance in Ken-Ton Schools that emphasizes the importance of health and wellness for students and staff. This year's focus was "Taking a Moment," and each day had a different theme, dress style, and challenge related to that central focus. Themes included self-care, being mindful, the environment, connecting with others, and improving physical health. All across the district, an assortment of different activities and initiatives were planned by school wellness teams to help students and staff on their own wellness journey. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Wellness Week such a success.
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EDISON ELEMENTARY: Edison Elementary held its first Invention Convention since 2019 on March 3rd. The convention was modeled after the National Invention Convention and students were tasked with solving an everyday problem. A total of 28 students in grades K-4 participated with prototypes and posters to present their ideas. There were inventions that would help us brush our hair in a painless way, ensure we wash our hands for 20 seconds, recycle in a more convenient way, remember to place our dishes in the sink, not overflow our toilet, reach our shower heads to adjust them, pick up our spilled water with a sponge water bottle, provide a smokeless kitchen and aide handicapped, or elderly people to easily get the everyday things they need around their homes. Other inventions such as a Lego sorter, adjustable hockey stick, ball collector, phone speaker, pet entertainment center, and marble spinner were created to enhance our entertainment. There was even a smart pen that would edit spelling and punctuation to ease the writing process. Students invited their teachers and family members to share their presentations. Everyone in attendance was impressed and delighted by these creative minds!
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ALL SCHOOLS: This month, Ken-Ton School District libraries are helping to improve students’ social-emotional wellness by focusing on identity, agency, and regulating emotions. Libraries in schools across the district have a wide assortment of books ready to help students explore their feelings and learn strategies to manage their emotions. Examples can be found here on the library’s website. Students can visit their school library or contact their school librarian for more information.
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RECOGNITION: JACOB WILLARD |
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We are extremely proud of Kenmore East High School 11th-grader Jacob Willard who earned the individual title at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Bowling Championships on Saturday. With Jacob’s help, the combined Kenmore East and Kenmore West Boys Bowling Team has had a great deal of success in recent years, including the Section VI Championship in 2020. This year, Jacob was one of only a handful of students in the region selected to compete at states as part of the Section VI team, which placed third overall. Jacob was the top individual finisher among all bowlers competing in the championships with a score of 1,469 overall including a perfect 300 game. Jacob also had a perfect game in this year’s sectional championships. Check out the video below which captures the dramatic final moments of his latest perfect game at the NYS championships:
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We are also extremely proud of Kenmore West High School 11th-grader Emma Kresge, who will represent Kenmore West at the National Shakespeare Competition Semi-Finals next month. It is a tremendous achievement for a student to earn a place at the competition, which normally takes place at the Lincoln Center in New York City. She earned this distinction based on her performance in the first round of the competition, in which she placed among the top 40 students in the country. This year’s competition was planned to take place virtually and the top 10 students will go on to compete in the national championships. Emma, a student in Kenmore West’s International Baccalaureate Program, performed both a monologue from Othello portraying Emilia as well as Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116.
The event was sponsored by the Niagara/Frontier Buffalo branch of the English-Speaking Union of the United States, an organization dedicated to promoting debating and public speaking skills, student exchange, and the effective use of the English language. The competition encourages students to develop their communication skills and appreciation of the power of language and literature while also supporting educators in their English language arts and Shakespeare instruction and curricula.
First place earns a scholarship to the Midsummer Conservatory at the British American Drama Academy in Oxford, U.K.; second place earns a scholarship to the American Shakespeare Center’s Theatre Camp in Staunton, VA; and third place as well as the “People’s Choice” selection, which is determined by voting, earns $1,000.
Good luck Emma!
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CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH |
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This week, we celebrate the legacy of a social work pioneer and philanthropist who had a major impact on generations of children and families in Western New York: Maria Love. Ms. Love was born in Clarence in 1840, the daughter of a wealthy attorney and War of 1812 hero. The family was one of Buffalo’s most prominent and Ms. Love was dedicated to philanthropy throughout her life.
In 1881, at the age of 41, Ms. Love opened the nation’s first childcare center to care for children while their mothers worked. With her father’s help, she got the idea after visiting France and it was modeled after similar French institutions called Crèches or "cradle schools." She called it Fitch Creche after Benjamin Fitch, a merchant who donated the building, which was located at 159 Swan St. two blocks away from what is now Sahlen Field.
It was the first institution of its kind, not just in Buffalo but in the entire U.S. Working mothers could pay 5 cents per day or 10 cents per family for Ms. Love and her staff to care for their children while they worked, which was a badly needed service at the time. Ms. Love and her colleagues also visited their clients’ homes to support their caretaking abilities. Fitch Creche received international recognition at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and 1901 Pan American Exposition and was duplicated across the globe. It was also the City of Buffalo's first kindergarten program.
Ms. Love was involved in a great deal of other work to help the community. To this day, the Maria M. Love Convalescent Fund, which she founded, provides approximately $100,000 in financial assistance annually to support Erie County residents with medical conditions to promote independence and enhance their quality of life. She also developed an ambitious church outreach plan to provide services for the working poor of Buffalo which became a model for outreach programs across the U.S.
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- Wednesday, March 23: Elementary School Parent/Teacher Conferences (Evening Only)
- Monday, March 28: Elementary School Parent/Teacher Conferences & Early Release Day (12:40 p.m. Dismissal)
- Tuesday, April 5: Board of Education Meeting
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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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