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CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF KENMORE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
This fall, we will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of our oldest school building, Kenmore Junior/Senior High School (formerly known as Kenmore Middle). This will be a momentous occasion for our district. We are considering different ways to mark and observe this milestone, including a special event that gives the community a chance to come together, tour the building, and celebrate its legacy. We are looking for people with connections to Kenmore Junior/Senior High or knowledge of the building who are interested in taking part in the planning process. If this is something you are interested in or that you feel you could contribute to, please use this form to sign up.
Kenmore Junior/Senior High School opened in 1924 and is the oldest building owned and operated by the district. It became a junior high school when a new senior high building, now Kenmore West, opened up the street in 1940. For decades, all Ken-Ton students walked these halls for at least their 7th-through-9th-grade education. The earliest students and faculty of Kenmore Junior/Senior High gave rise to the district’s rich traditions and legacy which would be carried on at Kenmore West and, eventually, at Kenmore East as well.
In the 1980s, the building became known at Kenmore Middle School when sixth grade was added and ninth grade moved to the high schools. Kenmore Middle closed in 2016, though the building continued to house various offices and programs including the district’s innovative Big Picture Program. With the expansion of the Big Picture Program to include seventh grade and doubling in size, it became a junior/senior high school just as it was when it first opened in 1924. With the addition of other innovative secondary programming such as the Crossroads Academy, we applied to the NYS Education Department to reopen the building with the name Kenmore Junior/Senior High School, officially being approved in June 2023.
It was extremely exciting to see this building once again as an independent school of the district and we can't wait to mark its 100th anniversary this fall.
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DISTRICT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL | |
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On Wednesday, the members of the District Leadership Council (DLC) led by our student representatives on the Board of Education, Sriya Natarajan from Kenmore East High School and Maria Ramos Rua from Kenmore West High School, met for the second time of the school year. The DLC consists of approximately 30 student leaders from all five of our secondary schools: Kenmore East, Kenmore West, Kenmore Junior/Senior High, Franklin Middle, and Hoover Middle. The DLC, which was first created during the 2021-22 school year, is a unique collaboration that brings together student leaders from all middle/high schools. The goal of the DLC is to encourage student voices to be heard, foster district-wide connections, and promote a culture of leadership among our students.
The DLC meets periodically through the year with myself alongside Board President Matthew Chimera. This concept was envisioned by President Chimera and myself during the 2020-21 school year and has taken off ever since. Wednesday's meeting focused on sustaining conversations that impact Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) through community circles, which are practiced in all schools. Sriya and Maria did an amazing job facilitating our student leadership teams from each school and are to be commended for their outstanding work. Discussions ranged from what is most important to focus on during community circles to what it means to be a leader. The lessons the students learned will now be brought back to each of our secondary schools, which is what the DLC is all about.
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SAFETY TIPS FOR FAMILIES:
STRANGER DANGER
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Now that warmer weather is finally upon us, we know children will be spending a lot more time outdoors, and more students may be walking to and from school. At these times of the year, one safety topic that needs to continue to be reinforced is stranger danger. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children provides the following tips for families to keep children safe:
- Know the routes your children take, especially to and from school. Practice walking the routes with them so you can point out places they should avoid or where they can go for help.
- Make sure daycare facilities or other locations your child attends during the day follow the same stringent pick-up procedures that are followed in our schools. Be clear that no one should pick up your child without your permission. Ask to be contacted immediately if someone else tries to pick up your child.
- Use role-playing scenarios to help children learn how to recognize and respond to risky situations. For example, have children practice yelling, kicking, pulling away, or otherwise attracting attention when grabbed or approached by someone they do not know.
- Teach your child about the methods abductors use. Have your child practice responding by saying “no,” walking away, and telling a trusted adult immediately.
- Prepare children to act when you are not with them. They should know their full names, home addresses, and telephone numbers, and know how to dial 911.
- Keep a child identification kit, which includes a recent color photo of your child and descriptive details such as age, height, and weight.
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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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Spanish Language Students Take Part in Exchange Trip to Spain
A total of 24 Spanish language students from Kenmore East and Kenmore West recently spent 10 days taking part in a foreign language exchange trip to Spain. It was an incredible opportunity for the students who were accompanied by teachers Michael LaPaglia, Jennifer Hottois, and Kari Colangelo. During the trip, students were able to put their Spanish language skills to the test as they stayed with host families and explored the community. Activities included a guided walking tour of Salamanca, a Flamenco Dance lesson, and visits to historical sites as well as museums, parks, and the Royal Palace in Madrid. While in Salamanca, students and teachers were delighted to meet with Laura Robleda Fernandez, who lives in Zamora, Spain. Laura was an exchange student at Kenmore West in 2023. The group was also visited by 2017 Kenmore West graduate Sydney Smith, who has been living and working in Madrid for the last two years. Click here to read more about this amazing opportunity.
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Edison Elementary Hosts Community Outreach Night | |
Edison Elementary School recently held a Community Outreach Night which was a tremendous opportunity for families. The event was open to all school district families and provided free childcare as well as a special guest speaker, helpful information/presentations, prizes, and more. The goal of the event was to provide a way to link families and children to opportunities and organizations available in the community. It featured an extremely informative presentation led by BOCES behavior specialist Tricia Fay, who provided some tips and tricks for raising healthy students. Edison Elementary social worker Kristine Pieczonka and school psychologist Carmelina Konrad did an amazing job running this event. Thank you to everyone who made this opportunity possible for our families. | |
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Kenmore West Student Wins ‘Youth of the Year’ Award
Kenmore West student Anthony Amodeo was recently recognized by the Erie-Niagara Sunrise Exchange Club with the "Youth of the Year" award. The award is presented to a local student who has made a positive impact on others and exhibits leadership and a dedication to community service. Anthony is a member of the National Honor Society and has been on the school's honor roll throughout high school. He volunteers for many school events and has served as a tour guide during parent/teacher nights, open houses, and alumni reunion events. He also volunteers at the Ken-Ton Closet and takes part in fundraising efforts for local charities and organizations. Pictured here is Anthony and his school counselor, Nicole Zomerfeld. Click here to read more about Anthony and his achievement.
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Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Inductee Visits Kenmore East Band Program
In the days leading up to Spring Recess, students in the Kenmore East Band Program welcomed a very special guest visitor: musician Robin Grandin. Robin is a proud Kenmore East graduate who was actively involved in Kenmore East’s music program and has had enormous success since graduating. She was not only inducted into the Kenmore East High School Performing Arts Hall of Fame, but she is also a Buffalo Music Hall of Fame inductee. Robin has toured and played in several top cities and venues across the country and opened for major artists such as George Jones, Patty Loveless, and Brooks and Dunn. Click here to see video of her visit.
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Two Kenmore West Students Place in Top 3 at Regional Welding Competition
On Saturday, March 23rd, the American Welding Society Niagara Frontier Section hosted its annual Welding Competition and two juniors from Kenmore West High School placed in the top three: Sam Munro and Anthony Jefferys. In addition to their studies at Kenmore West, Sam and Anthony are students in the BOCES welding program and competed against 30 other students during the competition. Each student that placed in the top three received cash prizes and merchandise while the top four performers will be competing against other students from Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany in the first annual Thruway Cup on May 4th at the Rochester Arc and Flame.
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RECOGNITION: WNYESC AWARD OF EXCELLENCE WINNERS | |
This week, we were extremely proud to learn that several members of our Ken-Ton School District family will be honored with the WNY Educational Service Council (WNYESC) Award of Excellence. It is one of the highest honors school district staff members can earn in our region. | |
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Tim Ames, Director of Facilities, will receive the Award of Excellence in the Administrator Category. Tim oversees our Buildings & Grounds Department, which encompasses more than 100 personnel who are responsible for maintaining 98 acres of land and 17 buildings with more than 2 million square feet of building space to keep clean and safe. Tim also plays an integral role in all ongoing construction work taking place throughout the district, making sure it is always done right. Tim was celebrated for his outstanding leadership over the department and the fantastic job he and his team did during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the many large-scale projects his team has been responsible for such as the reopening of Hamilton Elementary in 2021. He was also celebrated for his willingness to take on any task, including many that would normally be carried out by outside companies, saving the district significant money.
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Kevin Day, Technology Teacher and Technology Department Chair at Kenmore West High School, will receive the Award of Excellence in the Teacher category. Mr. Day, who will be retiring at the end of this year, is an integral part of Kenmore West’s Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Pre-Engineering Program and the Pre-Engineering Academy, a NYS-certified two-year Career & Technical Education (CTE) program. Mr. Day was celebrated for his work developing the Kenmore West Technology Program into what it is today and the wide variety of projects he engages in for students and the community. He was also celebrated as an outstanding educator who excels at earning the respect of his students and for the nearly two decades he spent as an extremely successful wrestling coach, making it one of the most successful programs in WNY.
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Maria Marano, Cook Manager at Franklin Elementary and Middle School, will receive the Award of Excellence in the Support Staff Category. Maria has worked for the district for 30 years, first as a Food Service Helper and, since 2008, as a Cook Manager in charge of all food service operations in her building. She was celebrated for the outstanding job she does leading her staff and overseeing breakfast/lunch at both schools, which is an enormous undertaking. The quality of Franklin's food service operation is demonstrated by the fact that approximately 80% of students take part in the school's lunch program. Maria was also celebrated for the way she goes above and beyond giving students a fun, positive experience during lunch and working with students to offer new options which they can enjoy.
WNYESC is a non-profit organization that supports school districts throughout the region. The purpose of the Awards of Excellence program is to honor school staff and leaders who consistently demonstrate outstanding service for students. Individuals honored make a difference for students, have a track record of amazing leadership, go above and beyond in their job duties, and demonstrate excellent personal characteristics that make them a role model for students. Tim, Kevin, and Maria will be honored at the WNYESC Awards Banquet on April 24th and we could not be prouder of them for this amazing achievement.
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RECOGNITION: ECASB DIANA R. MILLER AWARD WINNERS | |
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We were also extremely proud to learn that all five members of our Board of Education (President Matthew Chimera, Vice President Todd Marquardt, Trustee Paul Spors, Trustee Karen Whitelaw, and Trustee Lee Ann Vogt) and our Superintendent will be awarded the Erie County Association of School Boards (ECASB) Diana R. Miller Service to Education Award. This is the first time an entire Board of Education and Superintendent has received the honor.
ECASB is an organization that provides direct support for school boards throughout Erie County. The Diana R. Miller Service to Education Award was established in 1981 and given in honor of the late Diana Miller, a longtime school board member in the Lancaster Central School District who also served as ECASB President. The award is given to individuals who have contributed to the betterment of education and assisted ECASB in its mission of supporting school districts and boards of education in Erie County.
To see all five of our Board of Education members recognized with this award and the fact that they are the first full Board of Education to be honored in such a way is a tremendous honor for our district. It is also a tribute to their commitment to ongoing learning, service, and advocacy. We are extremely fortunate to have such dedicated individuals serving on our Board of Education and we can all take pride in this achievement.
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Tuesday, April 16th
- Board of Education Meeting (5:30 p.m. at Kenmore Junior/Senior High School)
Friday, April 19th
- End of 3rd marking period
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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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