Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope that you have been enjoying your summer. On campus, it has been a busy time of moving, preparing, and ensuring everything is ready for students to return on August 15th. This email is to inform you of all the information needed to help you prepare for the start of school.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Board of Education Office (440-543-9677) at any time or you can call the buildings directly starting Wednesday, July 31.

Building Numbers:

Timmons Elementary School: 440-543-9380

Kenston Middle School: 440-543-8241

Kenston High School: 440-543-9821

Transportation Office: 440-543-9567

To help the community stay informed of the progress on the Bomber Rightsizing plan, we would like to share the following updates.

At Kenston Middle School (KMS), furniture, classroom materials, and boxes were moved from Kenston Intermediate School to the Middle School last week. The new phone system is now active and phones are being installed in all classrooms at KMS. The gymnasium floor has been refinished and is ready for another year of physical education classes and sporting events.

At Kenston High School (KHS), the custodial services and administration have been working hard this summer preparing the building to welcome the 8th through 12th grade students and teachers for the 2024-2025 school year. Logistically, 8th grade core classrooms have been placed in the content department wings and are ready to be moved in. The 8th grade encore classrooms are shared spaces throughout the high school, including the gymnasiums, health classrooms, computer labs, art rooms, and world language areas. All KHS lockers have been reassigned by their homeroom teacher. The 8th grade lockers have been assigned in close proximity to their first-period class. This will allow 8th graders to report to their lockers in the morning and have a short walk to begin their day. More details of the building logistics as well as class scheduling will be shared during 8th and 9th grade orientation.

The Technology Department has been working hard in their preparations as well. The internet capacity has been increased for the upcoming school year. Technology is being moved into the correct rooms and setup has begun in some classrooms and will continue over the next few weeks in preparation for school to start. All new Chromebooks have been assigned and are ready to be handed out to the students for the beginning of school.

Additionally this summer, repairs were also completed at Timmons Elementary School with the replacement of the gymnasium roof. The custodial staff has worked countless hours to make sure the school is ready for students on August 15.

We know this will be the start of a great year and wish all our students a good transition back to school. To help students become familiar with their building and schedule, various walk-throughs and building visitation days are planned. To see a complete list of those events, please visit the website for a list of back-to-school dates.

All students must have a parent or guardian complete the REQUIRED annual Census Verification including Emergency Medical Authorization for their child(ren) to receive their 20240/25 schedule or classroom assignment. Any requests for transportation (shared parenting or daycare) will be completed there.

Census Verification is done ONLINE through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and must be done by August 5, 2024.

What is the Infinite Campus Parent Portal?

Infinite Campus is the database used to manage all student and staff data. The Parent Portal portion is an easy-to-use online resource for parents (class schedules, transportation information, paying for lunch and fees, seeing in-progress grades and Report Cards, verifying contact information, etc.). 

OVERVIEW

• New families and current households without Infinite Campus Parent Portal accounts have received directions to create their accounts.

• Completing the Census Verification should only take a few minutes for each student. Links to relevant documents are available to view or print within the verification. Parents can also access all health documents and Handbooks through District Forms on our website.

• If you do not have internet access, computers/devices are available at the Board Office, 17419 Snyder Road, or the Bainbridge Public Library. Please contact Jamie Hudak at 440-543-9677 x1505 with any questions.

Free and Reduced Application - We encourage all families that meet the qualifications for free or reduced-price meals to complete the 2024-25 Free and Reduced Lunch Application in order to receive instructional and activity fee waivers and other services. Filling out this year’s application will also ensure continued services for the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.

There is no need to complete an application if you have already received a letter regarding 'Direct Certification Approval for Benefits' from our EMIS coordinator, Jamie Hudak. To complete a Free & Reduced Application online:

• Log in to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal
• Click on the More link (left side)
• Click on the blue link "Click here to start the application process"
• Create a PIN and enter the portal password
• Complete the application by following the instructions on each tab
• You will be notified of your eligibility by mail
• Paper applications will still be accepted. They are available at the Board Office, school buildings, and via this link.

Student Fees - Fee payments will be accepted at the school buildings via check and also by credit cards through Infinite Campus online payments (in the Parent Portal). High School student fees will be posted after all scheduling has been confirmed. Please contact the building directly with any specific fee questions. 

Please complete the Annual Census Verification by Monday, August 5.

1. Must complete from a PC or laptop (not available through the mobile app).
2. Should be completed by the "Primary" household if your child has more than one residence.
3. Click this link to begin the process.
4. Log in to the portal - if you do not have a portal account you received an email from Jamie Hudak.
5. Once logged in, click on More on the left and then Census Verification on the right.
6. Select "Click here to go to Existing Student Registration". (This includes all students currently registered for the 2024/25 school year - including new kindergartners.)
7. Confirm the information and Click Begin Registration.
8. Type your name in the box - use the mouse to sign your name on the line below the box. Click Submit.
9. Click Begin.
10. Review the information and change/add information at each prompt, clicking Next to page through. When done, click Save/Continue.
11. If any of your information is highlighted in yellow, select it and update/complete the information. Once you have edited, click Next until it gives you the prompt to Save/Continue.
12. Complete Emergency Contacts and Save/Continue.
13. Complete/update Student Information.
14. Health Services Section - Continue clicking Next and update or add information until completed. Then click Save/Continue. This will need to be done for EACH ENROLLED CHILD. Medical forms for the school can also be found in this section.
15. Way to go! You are done. Click Submit. There is an option to print the registration on this page.
16. You will receive an email confirmation after registration is submitted.

If you have updates and changes that need to be made during the year, please contact your building office. We appreciate you taking the time to provide us with accurate information to better serve Kenston's families.

If you need assistance, please contact:

Jamie Hudak at 440-543-9677 x1505

or email: jamie.hudak@kenstonapps.org

Monday through Friday 7 am - 3:30 pm.

• Safe & Secure - We use the highest level of data encryption available, meaning that your information is safe and guarded.
• Go Green - No paper applications to complete and return to the office! Applying online is convenient and good for the environment as well!

The Kenston Nutrition Services Department is excited to inform you about new options for students this school year. These new options will enhance our students' experience and provide more choices.

Kenston Middle School:

The nutrition services department received USDA approval to serve the Middle School nutrition guidelines to the incoming students from the Intermediate School. The Middle School offers one main entree every day in addition to several other alternatives ranging from chicken sandwiches, burgers, pizza, yogurt parfaits, salads, and wraps. Gluten free entrees are available and more vegetarian options are coming soon. The lunch price will remain the same for Middle School offerings and portion sizes at $3.75. Please note, that similar to the Intermediate School, KMS will be offering the opportunity for students to purchase snacks during lunchtime. At the Intermediate School, our cashiers worked to limit students to only one snack per day, and 1 a la carte beverage if they did not want a milk option that is included in the lunch. 

Kenston High School:

Breakfast is available for all 8th to 12th grade students from 7:15 am to 7:45 am with breakfast menus available online. A full breakfast meal or a la carte menu items are available. At lunch, students can purchase a main entree along with the option to purchase items a la carte. The lunch price will remain the same for the High School at $3.75

Timmons Elementary School

Students can purchase lunch daily in the cafeteria. Staff will be present during lunch times to help our youngest learners with the lunchroom process. The lunch price will remain the same for Timmons Elementary School at $3.50.

To help create a successful school year, here are a few helpful reminders:

• If you would like to add money to your child’s lunch account, you can do that through Infinite Campus in the food services section. 
• Our goal is to help young minds make mindful choices about what they eat. Cashiers will work to help facilitate this at checkout. We understand that every family has different preferences and dietary considerations. Our Infinite Campus Portal has implemented a system that allows parents and guardians to add specific restrictions to their child's account. Please reach out to our Nutrition Services Department to assist in adding any limitations to the student’s accounts. 
• The 2024/25 lunch menus will be available starting August 12, 2024. Please visit www.kenstonlocal.org and visit the nutrition services department.

It is our pleasure to feed your students both nutrition and delicious meals each and every school day! If you have any questions regarding lunches with next year's transition to a new building, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at 440-543-3121.

Andrew Mendez, RDN

Director of Nutrition Services

As we finalize transportation routes for our upcoming return to school, we ask for your help in completing the transportation section of the census verification to the best of your ability at this time. To complete a request for childcare and/or shared parenting, please see below. These requests need to be completed by August 9, for those requests to be accommodated prior to the start of school.

Shared Parenting Request Form

Childcare Request Form

If you have any questions, please contact the Transportation Office at 440-543-9567 or transportation@kenstonapps.org

Cris Illner

Director of Transportation