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Weekly E-Newsletter from the Superintendent of Schools
Volume 3, Issue 24 (March 3, 2023)
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UPDATE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT | |
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‘FREE HUGS PROJECT’ COMING TO KEN-TON
The Ken-Ton School District and the Town of Tonawanda Youth, Parks & Recreation Department are teaming up to bring the Free Hugs Project to our community. Free Hugs founder Ken E. Nwadike Jr., whose videos have been seen by millions, will bring his inspirational message to Ken-Ton on Wednesday, March 8th for students, families, and community members. With support from the Ken-Ton Closet, Ken-Ton Friends of Youth Foundation, Kenmore West Home School Association, and Kenmore East Parent/Teacher/Student Association, Mr. Nwadike will speak to high school students during the day followed by a public presentation beginning at 7 p.m. on March 8th in the Franklin Middle School auditorium. The evening event will be open to everyone in our community.
Mr. Nwadike is a peace activist, motivational speaker, and video journalist known as the Free Hugs Guy. In 2014, Mr. Nwadike launched the Free Hugs Project to spread love in response to the bombing of the Boston Marathon. The Free Hugs Project gained popularity in 2016, as Mr. Nwadike made national news headlines for his peace-keeping efforts and initiatives to de-escalate violence during protests, riots, and political rallies. Mr. Nwadike was featured in Google’s 2016 Year in Search video as a highlight of some of the year’s most defining moments. His “Free Hugs” videos have reached hundreds of millions of views on Facebook and YouTube and he has appeared on news programs and radio broadcasts worldwide including CNN, USA Today, Good Morning Britain, and BBC News.
Once a homeless athlete, Mr. Nwadike exemplifies resilience and the power to pivot, creating a personal protective equipment (PPE) company during the pandemic to protect his loved ones and those at risk who could not find protective items. He began the Black and Blue Podcast in 2020 with Sheriff Chris Swanson to promote unity and engage students in the civil discourse necessary to move forward.
In these times, we see a great need to build strong relationships with our students in order for them to feel safe and ready to learn. We are extremely excited to partner with the Town of Tonawanda Youth, Parks & Recreation Department to bring Mr. Nwadike to Ken-Ton. His motivational and inspirational message can benefit students and community members alike.
You can learn more about Mr. Nwadike and the Free Hugs Project at www.freehugsproject.com.
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Our highest priority as a district is maintaining a safe environment in schools. Families play an integral role in achieving this. Families often wonder what they can do to help maintain a safe environment in schools. Don Shomette, a nationally recognized violence prevention expert who has assisted our district in enhancing safety and security measures, has provided a very simple tip for families on what they can do at home to help make schools more safe.
"Tell someone immediately if your child is afraid for their safety or the safety of someone else. That’s it," Mr. Shomette wrote in a recent article, which you can access here. “The task is relevant, realistic, and will produce enormous results. If every parent did just this one thing, we would greatly reduce violence in our schools and therefore make them safer - a lot safer.” According to Shomette, in most cases involving violence in schools, someone had knowledge of what was about to occur but didn't come forward.
By talking to your children and listening to concerns about potential safety risks, you are taking the most important step toward keeping our schools safe. If they share a concern, there are many people you can communicate with: a teacher, counselor, social worker, assistant principal, principal, or district administrator. If you are unsure who to talk to, you can always call the school main office or our Director of School Culture, Dina Ferraraccio, who oversees safety and security initiatives in Ken-Ton. She can be reached at dferraraccio@ktufsd.org or 716-874-8400 ext. 20450.
Always remember that it doesn't matter how small an issue might seem. If there is even the slightest chance that someone might be harmed, it is vital to let someone know. If you see something, say something.
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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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Lindbergh Elementary Celebrates ‘Love of Literacy’ Week
All this week, students and staff at Lindbergh Elementary School have been inspiring a love of reading through the annual Love of Literacy Week. The week included different activities such as a school-wide reading of the book "Change Sings" by Amanda Gorman sponsored by the PTA, special guest readers including several district administrators, a day for older students to visit younger students to share a book and make a bookmark together, a school-wide book swap, and a special "I Love to Read" assembly. Click here to read the story.
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Kenmore East High School to Present ‘Xanadu: The Musical’ March 9-11
Kenmore East High School will proudly present "Xanadu: The Musical” at 7:30 p.m. on March 9th, 10th, and 11th in the Kenmore East Auditorium. This hilarious, Tony Award-nominated, roller skating/musical adventure (based on the cult classic movie “Xanadu”) is about following your dreams despite the limitations others set for you and rolls along to the original hit score composed by pop-rock legends Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. Tickets are $12 presale and $15 at the door.
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Spring Sports Season Begins March 13th
The spring sports season begins Monday, March 13th! Sports include Baseball (Modified, JV and Varsity), Softball (Modified, JV and Varsity), Boys & Girls Track & Field (JV and Varsity), Boys Tennis (Varsity), Boys Lacrosse (Varsity), and Girls Lacrosse (JV and Varsity). Families can contact the Athletic Office at 716-871-3082 with questions. You can visit Final Forms to sign up at the following link: kenmore-ny.finalforms.com.
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Franklin Elementary School Hosts Black History Month Celebration
On Monday, Franklin Elementary students and families had a wonderful time at the school's special Black History Month celebration. The event included stories, crafts, snacks, music, and a special appearance by Dynamic Drum Arts of WNY. Special thanks to the Franklin Elementary PTA for making this opportunity possible for our students!
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Students Enjoy Color-Themed Activities at Edison Elementary ‘Color Carnival’
Edison Elementary School recently found a very fun and creative way to celebrate the last day prior to Mid-Winter Recess: the Color Carnival. A wide variety of different activities took place throughout the day. Students were encouraged to wear colors based on their class and were treated to popcorn, Boggle, BINGO, a laser light show, a disco gym class, sensory activities, crafts, guessing jars, and more. Each class rotated through the different stations so that all students had the chance to enjoy all the fun activities made possible by teachers and staff.
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Franklin Middle School Focuses on Social Media Safety
Last week, students at Franklin Middle School learned all about social media safety during a special presentation made possible by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is extremely important to educate students and spread awareness about the facts, risks, and dangers of social media and the apps many of them utilize daily. This was one of many ways schools are embracing digital citizenship. Special thanks go out to Kimberly Smith of the FBI for speaking to our students and answering any questions they may have had.
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Holmes Students Learn the Sport of Lacrosse From Buffalo Bandits Players
Earlier this week, members of the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team visited Holmes Elementary School to teach students about the sport of lacrosse. The players met with students during physical education class to demonstrate and educate them about the basics of lacrosse. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to get to know a new sport. A special thank you goes out to the Buffalo Bandits organization for making this opportunity possible for our students.
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Franklin Elementary PTA Expresses Appreciation for Bus Drivers & Aides
The Ken-Ton School District observed School Bus Driver & Transportation Staff Appreciation Day the week of February 13th and the Franklin Elementary School PTA wanted to make sure bus drivers, transportation aides, and crossing guards know how much they are appreciated for the amazing work they do every day. Thanks to the PTA’s support, students and staff presented drivers with a cookie and gift card to thank them for keeping our students safe.
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KW Business Club Members Volunteer With Hearts for the Homeless
During Mid-Winter Recess, members of the Kenmore West High School Business Club got together to volunteer their time for Hearts for the Homeless. Students helped set up and stock the pick-up area for shoppers with groceries and other necessities. According to business teacher Nicholas Warchocki, the students were impactful in their efforts and allowed the other volunteer groups to be more prepared for when the shoppers came in during the day.
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IB Students Make the World a Better Place Through CAS Projects
With 52 students enrolled, Ken-Ton is proud to be one of only two districts in the eight counties of Western New York to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, which includes some of the most rigorous high school coursework in the world. A major focus of the IB program is growth and reflection and a large part of achieving that is through the CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service) Project. CAS is a component of the IB Program that all students are required to complete at some point during their junior or senior year. Since CAS projects center around something students are passionate about, Ken-Ton has seen a variety of ideas that aim to help others like food drives, fundraisers, and delivering holiday cards to veterans. Other projects aim to inspire, like introducing younger students to jazz music. Click here to read the story.
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7th Grade Families Can Sign Up for Free Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Kit
The Farm to School Program is continuing to make new opportunities available for our students. This month, seventh-grade families are able to sign up to receive an apple cinnamon oatmeal take-home kit. The deadline to sign up is March 8th at 8:30 a.m. with kits being sent home with students on March 15th. To sign up, click here.
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CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH | |
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As we observe Women's History Month throughout the month of March, we will once again focus on important women throughout history, especially those significant to our area. This week, we focus on Jane Addams, the namesake of one of our former elementary school locations. Thousands of students attended Jane Addams Elementary, located on Cortland Avenue near Lincoln Park. The school closed in 1978 and was later torn down to make way for a new residential development. It was one of many elementary school buildings constructed during the early 1950s during a period of extremely high growth in enrollment. New homes were being built and young families were moving to the area, prompting the new school to be constructed. When deciding on a name for the school, our community chose Jane Addams, who had a tremendous impact on civic responsibility and social reform in the early decades of the 20th Century.
Ms. Addams was born in 1860. She originally intended to study medicine but left the field because of recurring health issues. Without a clear idea of what she would do with her life, she ended up traveling and studying in Europe. While in London, she visited Toynbee Hall, a settlement house and the first institution of its kind in the world. She was inspired by the organization’s efforts to help children and adults in need. In 1889, she co-founded the Hull House, a settlement house just like Toynbee Hall, but in Chicago. Extensive social services for the poor were provided through Hull House which became a model for hundreds of other locations like it across the U.S. including several located in Buffalo. Jane Addams’ legacy could be seen right here in Western New York at places like the Westminster Community House, founded in 1893, and the Neighborhood House Association, founded in 1894, which continue to serve the community as the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers.
Through her work and tireless devotion to helping the less fortunate, Ms. Addams became more well known throughout the country, becoming a champion of civic responsibility and women’s suffrage. She is widely acknowledged as one of the most important reformers of the early 20th Century and is known as the "Mother of Social Work." She was also a cofounder of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Ms. Addams became the very first woman to earn the Nobel Peace Prize for her lifelong work as a proponent for peace and social justice. When she died in 1935, she was the most well-known female figure in the U.S.
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RECOGNITION: SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS | |
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Monday marks the first day of National School Social Work Week, which is observed the first full week in March. This is a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the contributions of our school social workers, who play a very important role in our schools and are a key component of our social-emotional support framework for students. Their work helps remove non-academic barriers to learning, enhancing students’ ability to succeed in school while cultivating a positive learning environment. They also help students develop social and emotional skills which they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
The job of a school social worker has never been more difficult and important due to the changing social-emotional needs of our students. School social workers collaborate with students, families, classroom teachers, administrators, school counselors, school psychologists, and other professionals to enhance students’ social-emotional well being. They assist students in coping with stress, grief, trauma, medical issues, mental health challenges, peer pressure, struggles at home, and other factors which may impact their social-emotional health and wellness. They also provide a valuable connection with the child’s family and link them to additional supports and resources.
Our schools are served by a team of 10 dedicated social workers: Michelle Bailey, Nadine Brown, Patricia Busch, Stacey Farrauto, Kristine Pieczonka, Susan Sperrazza, Michele Taberski, Julie Vinkle, Emily West, and Brittany Zucco. Please join me this week in recognizing these outstanding individuals for their amazing work. They are constantly helping students who are struggling, facing difficult situations, or experiencing trauma. They listen, understand, support, and share hope.
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RECOGNITION: STATE
CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS
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This week, we recognize five outstanding Ken-Ton School District student athletes who will be competing at states over the next two weeks. Three students from the Kenmore East High School Indoor Indoor Track & Field Team qualified for the New York State Championships: Sidney Morris (1st place in the 1000m), Daniel Reinhart (3rd place in the Pole Vault), and Henry Morris (3rd place in the 600m). The event will take place this weekend in Staten Island.
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Additionally, two bowlers have earned a place at the NYS Bowling Championships which will take place next weekend in Syracuse: Kenmore East senior Jake Willard from the Boys Bowling Team, who will represent Section VI, and Kenmore East senior Kaelynn Weber from the Girls Bowling Team, who earned a place on the All-Section team. Please join me in congratulating these athletes on their outstanding achievements.
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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, March 13th - Thursday, March 16th
Tuesday, March 14th
- Budget Work Session (5 p.m.) & Board of Education Meeting (6:30 p.m.) at Kenmore Middle
Thursday, March 16th
- End of 2nd Trimester (Gr. K-4 & Big Picture)
Friday, March 17th
- Superintendent Conference Day (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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