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37th Annual Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools' SleepOut (Friday, Feb. 2nd)
As a reminder, the 37th Annual Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools' SleepOut will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, February 2nd. This year, we are moving the event to Kenmore West High School, where the SleepOut originated more than three decades ago. Those who choose to “sleep out” will spend the night outside in refrigerator boxes to raise awareness about the struggles faced by the homeless and the importance of helping those in need in our community. All donations will stay in Ken-Ton and go to two Ken-Ton organizations that serve the needs of children and families:
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Family Support Center: Provides individual and family counseling and connections to local mental health service providers for hundreds of families annually at the former Longfellow Building on Myron Avenue behind Kenmore Middle School
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Ken-Ton Closet: Provides new and gently used clothing and other everyday necessities for hundreds of families annually at its site in the former Jefferson Elementary building
The SleepOut is organized by Educators Totally Committed (E.T.C.), a group of retired Ken-Ton School District teachers dedicated to inspiring students to help those in need. It is named in honor of one of its founders, the late Jerry Starr, who was always known for putting others before himself. Since the first SleepOut in 1988, the SleepOut has resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars raised along with countless donations for people in need in our community.
Here is how you can support the SleepOut:
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Donate directly online via GoFundMe
- Cash/checks made payable to “Ken-Ton Schools – E.T.C." sent to Ken-Ton Schools’ SleepOut, c/o Kenmore West High School, 33 Highland Pkwy., Buffalo, NY 14223
- Donations dropped off in person the day of the SleepOut (monetary donations, food, personal care items, new/gently used clothing and small furniture items will be accepted)
- Organize a donation or collection drive
If you have any questions, please contact event organizer Steve Ash at 716-694-4492 or allhelpall@yahoo.com or visit www.ktufsd.org/sleepout for additional information.
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SCHOOL CLOSING UPDATE
As you know, the lake effect snowstorm which impacted the entire Western New York region last week necessitated the use of three emergency days for us here in Ken-Ton. We began this year with four emergency days in our calendar. Under normal circumstances, we would only have one emergency day remaining. Because of the State of Emergency declared by Gov. Kathy Hochul, we are exploring whether these days will count against area school districts for the purpose of reaching the minimum 180 days of attendance. If this is the case, we will still have four emergency days remaining. I will continue to update the community as more information becomes available.
The decision to close school is one of the most challenging decisions a school district has to make. Factors in our decision making include total snow accumulations, road conditions, wind chill, and anticipated daytime snowfall especially during arrival and dismissal times. Another factor is the unpredictability of Western New York weather conditions, which can vary significantly in a small area, change abruptly, and contradict forecasts. All school districts must also consider the regional impact of weather events. For example, there may be adverse conditions or driving bans that prevent our buses from transporting students to out-of-district locations and may have a detrimental impact on the ability of our staff to be at our schools.
In situations like we faced last week, a great deal of communication takes place between area superintendents, weather forecasters, as well as town, village, and county officials in order to make the best decision possible. As always, the safety of our students, staff, and families is paramount and will always be the driving factor in this determination.
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Last week, staff at multiple school districts were impacted by a scam in which someone claimed to be their employer and requested their assistance in acquiring gift cards. This is a very common scam which has been reported throughout the country and it is a reminder that anyone can be targeted at any time. It is important for everyone to be keenly aware that scammers are clever and skilled and can take advantage of even the most astute individual. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), there are four things that most scams have in common:
1) Scammers pretend to be from an organization you know and trust. This could be a government agency, bank, utility company, or even your employer. They can also use various methods to disguise their phone number or email address to make it appear legitimate.
2) Scammers say there’s a problem or a prize. This comes in many forms. A scammer might say you are in trouble or owe money. They might say you have a problem with your computer, a package that can’t be delivered, or a serious issue with one of your accounts. They may try to convince you there is a work-related issue they need your help with. They may also say you have won money or a prize and that you need to act in order to receive it.
3) Scammers pressure you to act immediately. Scammers want you to act before you have time to think. If you are on the phone, they might insist that you not hang up. They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, or take away your driver’s license. They might try to convince you that there are imminent consequences (such as your computer is about to be corrupted or you will owe large sums of money). If it’s a prize, they might say you will not be able to get it unless you act immediately.
4) Scammers need you to pay in a specific way. This might mean wiring them money, using a payment app, or putting money on a gift card then providing them with the numbers. They may even mail you a check (which turns out to be fake) and tell you to deposit it and send them money right away before the check has a chance to be fully processed and rejected by the bank.
You can read more about scams on the FTC website. To avoid being impacted by scams, the FTC recommends taking some very simple steps:
- Block unwanted calls/text messages
- Never provide personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn't expect
- Always resist the urge to act immediately
- Recognize the ways in which scammers need you to pay
The best thing you and your family can do to protect yourself is to understand how scammers operate. If you ever have any doubts, talk to someone you trust and reach out to whatever organization they say they represent.
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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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Kenmore East & Kenmore West to Perform in Tomorrow’s Winter Youth Jazz Festival
Students from the Kenmore East Bulldog Big Band and Kenmore West Blue Devil Big Band will both perform in the Winter Youth Jazz Festival tomorrow (Saturday, January 27th). The event, which is organized by Music is Art, will take place at Asbury Hall at Babeville (341 Delaware Ave., Buffalo) beginning at 6:15 p.m. The goal of the festival is to inspire and ignite a love for music while building relationships among students and professionals. Click here to learn more and for ticket information.
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Kenmore East & Kenmore West Students Perform Exceptionally at WNY Physics Olympics | |
We are extremely proud of the many Kenmore East High School and Kenmore West High School students who competed in the recent Physics Olympics at Buffalo State University. More than 30 teams from 10 different schools with approximately 160 students took part in the competition. During the competition, students were challenged to complete three engineering and physics challenges performed on site. Kenmore East finished second overall and had four students finish in the top 10 in the day's three events. Kenmore West had another two students finish in the top 10 as well. Read more about the competition on our website. | |
Franklin Middle Student Shares Special Moment with Taylor Swift | |
When Franklin Middle School student Madie Jackson learned that she would be attending the Buffalo Bills playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs on January 21st, she never imagined she'd be sharing a quick yet special moment with famous singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Madie and her family were in the crowd when Ms. Swift arrived at the stadium and Madie was holding a large-scale print-out of a comical well-known image that depicts Swift with Chiefs player Travis Kelce and the Buffalo Bills’ own Josh Allen. Madie caught Ms. Swift’s attention as she passed by and the moment was caught on camera by Madie’s father. The photographs were posted to the district Facebook page and the post has been seen by nearly 15,000 people in just 24 hours. Click here to read the story. | |
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Students Compete in First All-Girls Dual Wrestling Meet Hosted by Kenmore West
Female members of the combined Kenmore East and Kenmore West Wrestling Team recently took part in the district’s first-ever all-girls dual wrestling meet as Ken-Ton hosted Clarence on January 11th. Several Ken-Ton wrestlers came away with victories in what will hopefully be one of many all-girl dual wrestling meets to come. Female wrestling continues to grow across Erie County and New York State and we are excited and proud that our wrestlers will be eligible to compete in the statewide invitational at the end of the season!
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Kenmore East Class Gives Back to the Community While Learning Real Life Workplace Skills
Students in Kathleen Struckmann’s classroom at Kenmore East High School are busier than ever learning life skills, getting out into the community, and serving up delicious soups and popcorn for students and staff to enjoy. As part of their curriculum, students in Room 163 spend a few hours each day leaving the classroom to complete the community aspect portion of their program. They shop and make food, work on everyday tasks like managing money, and get real workplace experience at businesses such as Just Pizza, the Teacher’s Desk, Paula’s Donuts, the Kenmore Teachers Federal Credit Union, and Outback Steakhouse. Click here to read the story.
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FBI Representative Teaches Hoover Middle Students About Internet Safety
On January 12th, we were grateful for the assistance of Kimberly Smith, Community Outreach Specialist for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Buffalo, who provided Gr. 5-7 students at Hoover Middle School with a special presentation about the importance of internet safety. She discussed online predators and extortion tactics, social media apps and privacy settings, and even shared some real-life cases she's covered both locally and nationally. "I don't want you to become a file folder on a predator's computer,” she told the students assembled. “I want you guys to use the tips and tricks I'm going to talk about to make good online choices."
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Kenmore East Students Celebrate Winter Sports Teams at Pep Rally | |
Kenmore East High School students had a great time coming together on January 12th and enjoying a fun winter assembly and pep rally. The afternoon included a special performance by the Kenmore East varsity and JV cheerleaders, a cheerleader/staff member dance line, trivia, and games. Students also rooted on and celebrated the members of all the Kenmore East winter sports teams. | |
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Lindbergh Students Learn About Coding With Marty the Robot
Marty the Robot is back in action at Lindbergh Elementary! After being introduced to Marty, students in Karen Burns' second-grade class were given time to learn and explore how to make him move using the corresponding iPad application for block coding. Once students were comfortable with block coding, they were given a challenge course to guide their robot through using coding. Special thanks go out to instructional technology coach Kerry Smith for working with our students and giving them a fun new challenge.
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Kenmore East Social Club Donates Handmade Fleece Blankets to Local Nursing Home
Kenmore East High School students and staff have found a creative and fun way to give back to the community. Students in Kenmore East’s Social Club recently made fleece blankets to donate to a local nursing home. The students and staff did an amazing job with this project and we know their gift was warmly appreciated. The Social Club is a student organization which meets every month to give students the opportunity to make memories, build connections, and have fun together.
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The entire region was impacted by last week’s lake effect snowstorm and we saw countless examples of people in the community coming together to help and support one another. Whether it’s lending a hand to help a nearby homeowner snow blow or shovel their sidewalk or driveway, checking in on elderly neighbors, or connecting people with needed resources and assistance on social media, it’s always wonderful to see the many ways people in our community go out of their way to help one another.
I would also like to recognize everyone who always works so hard to keep the community safe when we face weather events like this. This includes town, village, and county highway crews who keep the roads clear and salted and emergency responders who are always prepared to respond no matter what the conditions are like. I would also like to thank our families for your patience and cooperation last week.
The best thing about Ken-Ton is the way everyone always comes together in the face of adversity and last week was no exception. Thank you as always for looking out for one another.
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Saturday, January 27th
- Ken-Ton Wrestling Tournament
Wednesday, January 31st
- Elementary & Middle School Early Release (Gr. K-7 only)
Friday, February 2nd
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37th Annual Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools' SleepOut (www.ktufsd.org/sleepout)
- Gr. 5-12 Report Cards Posted in Parent Portal
Monday, February 5th
- 1st Day of School Counseling Week
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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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