NASA MOON TREE DEDICATION | |
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The Franklin Elementary and Middle School Complex is now home to a NASA Moon Tree thanks to the great work of seventh-grade science teacher Lisa Valle and her students. The American sycamore sapling, which was planted Wednesday, May 15th, was grown from a seed that was sent to the Moon and back. It is one of only 50 such trees distributed nationwide through NASA and the U.S. Forest Service. The sapling has been planted and secured in a metal enclosure near the Franklin playground behind the school with special precautions taken to protect it as it grows.
“From the tiny seed that traveled to the moon and back, let this Moon Tree remind us that even the smallest beginnings can lead to extraordinary growth,” said Mrs. Valle, who was joined by dozens of Franklin students and staff for the planting. “I hope that, just like this Moon Tree reaching for the stars, may all of my students continue to grow strong and resilient, while shining brightly and making our Earth a better place.”
Tree seeds from five different species were flown aboard the Orion spacecraft during NASA’s unmanned Artemis I mission, which launched on November 16th, 2022 and returned 25 days later. The seeds traveled hundreds of thousands of miles through space and orbited the moon several times as the Orion spacecraft traveled farther away from Earth than any surface-returning human-rated spacecraft in history.
NASA provided educational organizations such as museums, universities, and school districts the opportunity to apply to receive one of the newest generation of Moon Trees and approximately 1,300 institutions and organizations applied for one of the first 50 saplings. Mrs. Valle took it upon herself to apply for one of the trees and was successful in large part thanks to the great job she and her students did through NASA’s GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) Program. This was a set of instructional activities through which Mrs. Valle and her students experienced tremendous success. She then worked in partnership with Lowes, which donated materials for the construction of a metal fence to enclose the sapling, as well as the Ken-Ton School District Buildings & Grounds Department led by Director of Facilities Tim Ames and Assistant Director David Celotto, which constructed the fence, prepared the site, and planted the tree. Mr. Ames also consulted with Davey Tree, which provided guidance in planting and protecting the tree, while U&S Services donated a security camera as a precaution.
You can view Mrs. Valle’s remarks on our Facebook page. Ken-Ton is extremely fortunate to have been selected for this prestigious honor and we are proud of Mrs. Valle and her students for this amazing achievement. Thanks to her work, our Ken-Ton community will be able to watch this special tree grow through the years and draw inspiration from it and what it symbolizes: the enduring spirit of exploration and our capacity to turn dreams into reality.
REMINDER: BUDGET VOTE & BOARD ELECTION
As a reminder, the annual Budget Vote and Board of Education Election will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. this Tuesday, May 21st at Hoover Middle School (use the Sheridan Drive entrance). Residents will vote on the proposed 2024-25 budget, a proposed supplemental capital project funded entirely through the capital reserve (no tax impact), a proposal to rename the Kenmore East pool, and candidates for Board of Education. You can find detailed information regarding the proposed budget and propositions on our website at www.ktufsd.org/budget. We encourage everyone to learn about the budget and vote. As always, thank you for your support!
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SAFETY TIPS FOR FAMILIES:
STAYING SAFE ON PROM NIGHT
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Senior prom is right around the corner and it's important for families of high school seniors to think ahead to being safe on this special and exciting day. Every year, we hear about tragedies that occur in communities across the nation on prom night. There are many factors that make this the most dangerous time for teenagers to drive. This includes the relative inexperience of teen drivers, distractions from the excitement of the evening, driving late at night, the presence of other teenagers in the car (which doubles the risk of a crash), the temptation to text while driving to discuss the night’s events, and the potential for alcohol to have been consumed or for students to be driving while tired.
There are things parents and caregivers can do to protect your children and have conversations with them on staying safe on prom night. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides these tips:
- Hire a Ride: Talk to other parents about springing for a chauffeur. Knowing they’re in the hands of a capable driver will bring you peace of mind and help keep the roads safe.
- Set the Rules: If your teen is planning to drive to prom, talk to him or her about safe driving habits and what behavior is expected when he or she is behind the wheel.
- Open Your Home: Prom night is a late night. Encourage your teen to ask friends to spend the night to keep them off the roads. Provide plenty of snacks and non-alcoholic beverages to facilitate a sober night of fun.
- Be the Example: Your kids are paying attention, so model good habits every time you drive. Practice what you preach and put down your cell phone, buckle your seat belt, and always obey traffic laws.
It’s important to note that Kenmore East and Kenmore West both offer post-prom parties to provide safe, fun activities for students to enjoy. We encourage students to take advantage of these opportunities.
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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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Board of Education Visits Family Support Center
Thank you to Kari Schultz, Director of our Family Support Center, who provided a tour of the building for our Board of Education on Friday, May 10th. Ken-Ton is extremely fortunate to have such an incredible program operating right here in our former Longfellow Elementary building behind Kenmore Junior/Senior High. The center offers free family counseling as well as other support services for all Ken-Ton School District students/staff and their families. The center typically serves hundreds of families each year helping to address a wide range of challenges to help students succeed in school.
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NYSUT Executive Board Member Visits Ken-Ton | |
On Tuesday, we were excited to welcome Jaime Ciffone, President of New York State United Teachers, to Kenmore West High School and Kenmore Junior/Senior High School to explore some of our amazing and innovative programs. During her visit, Ms. Ciffone was able to see our Kenmore West technology students in action and learn about some of the state-of-the-art equipment they utilize on a daily basis. At KJS, Ms. Ciffone was introduced to the new Crossroads Academy program and met with staff members of the Ken-Ton Big Picture Program. She also had the opportunity to stop by our extremely successful Ken-Ton Staff Development Center. | |
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Holmes Elementary Hosts Wellness Night for Families
Families had a wonderful time at a very special event which took place earlier this month at Holmes Elementary School. The school hosted a Wellness Night which featured many different wellness-themed activities for students and families to enjoy. Some of the activities included a smoothie bike, an obstacle course, and even Tae Kwon Do. There were also representatives present from organizations such as the Town of Tonawanda Youth, Parks & Recreation Department and the Sheridan Park Fire Company. Student-athletes from the Kenmore East JV and Varsity softball teams also provided assistance.
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Franklin Kindergarten Classes Host Mother’s Day Activities | |
The kindergarten hallway at Franklin Elementary School was filled with excitement as mothers and mother figures were invited to the school for snacks and activities in celebration of Mother’s Day. Students made the special moms in their lives a fun party hat and other homemade gifts, and even got to pose with their loved ones at the photo booth. Students and guests alike had an amazing time enjoying this special event. | |
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Lindbergh Elementary Class Hosts Mother’s Day Tea Event
A tradition that began more than 20 years ago is still running strong in Lindbergh Elementary School kindergarten teacher Thomas Perryman's classroom. On Friday, May 10th, Mr. Perryman's class hosted the annual Mother's Day Tea for mothers and mother figures in their students' lives. The students put on a special performance of the famous book "Love You Forever" written by Robert Munsch and illustrated by Sheila McGraw followed by a fun game where the guests got to see just how well their children know them. They also enjoyed treats, drinks, and a homemade Mother's Day crown.
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Schools Find Unique Ways to Celebrate & Appreciate Staff | |
School administrators and parent/teacher organizations across the district have been finding unique ways to show their appreciation for teachers and staff. In celebration of Teacher’s Appreciation Week, which took place last week, administrators and school PTAs/HSAs organized various activities to show support and appreciation for teachers and the amazing work they do, such as snack carts, catered lunches, and giveaways. | |
RECOGNITION: HUMAN RESOURCES STAFF | |
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International Human Resources Day takes place on Monday, May 20th, and it's an opportunity to recognize the outstanding professionals of our Human Resources Department led by Assistant Superintendent for HR Jeff Richards.
Their efforts have helped our district foster the world-class staff that we have. There are many different critical tasks they are responsible for including the hiring of dozens of new employees per year, anticipating/resolving staffing challenges, managing employee benefits, managing relations with our bargaining units, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, overseeing the evaluation process for all staff to drive continued improvement and growth, responding to personnel matters, guiding employees through the retirement process, and more. This team does an outstanding job fulfilling these responsibilities while maintaining excellent relationships with staff and stakeholders. Their efforts have been key in making Ken-Ton a prime destination for prospective employees.
On Monday, please take a moment to reflect on the important role they play and to say "thank you" to members of our HR staff for all that they do!
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Monday, May 20th
- International HR Appreciation Day
Tuesday, May 21st
- Budget Vote & Board of Education Election (7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Hoover Middle School; use Sheridan Drive entrance)
Friday, May 24th - Monday, May 27th
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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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