Thank you to Kenston Board of Education members for the countless hours and immeasurable energy they spend to assure that Kenston schools are providing the best education possible for the children of the community...
Thank You, Kenston BOE
Thank you to Kenston Board of Education members for the countless hours and immeasurable energy they spend to assure that Kenston schools are providing the best education possible for the children of the community. The district appreciates their vision, voice and advocacy for the students.
At the organizational meeting of the board of education, Jennifer Troutman was elected president and Neysa Gaskins was elected vice president for 2023. Board members are Dennis Bergansky, Beth Krause and Tom Manning.
The 2023 board committee representatives were unanimously named, including: Finance: Mr. Manning and Mrs. Troutman; Policy: Mrs. Gaskins and Dr. Krause; Superintendent Evaluation: Mrs. Gaskins and Mrs. Troutman; Treasurer Evaluation: Mr. Manning and Mrs. Troutman; Kenston Citizens Advisory: Mr. Bergansky and Dr. Krause; Ohio School Board Association (OSBA) Legislative Liaison: Mr. Bergansky; OSBA Student Achievement Liaison: Mr. Manning; and OSBA Boards Conference delegate: Mr. Manning and alternate: Mr. Bergansky.
Board of education regular meetings are generally held on the third Monday of the month in the Kenston High School Auburn-Bainbridge Room. The meetings begin at 7 p.m. The board members also added work sessions to their calendar on the first Monday of most months beginning at 6 p.m.
More information about the Kenston Board of Education, including meeting dates, agenda and minutes, can be found on the district’s website: www.kenstonlocal.com.
Lesson for Life
To recognize National Handwashing Awareness Week, first-graders in Mrs. Kirby Blanton’s class read “Germs vs. Soap” by Didi Dragon and “Do Not Lick This Book” by Idan Ben-Barak. After reading and discussing the books, they conducted an experiment with three pieces of bread: a control, one touched with dirty hands and one touched with clean hands. Students then wrote and illustrated their predictions on how the germs would affect the bread over the course of the month they will observe and gather data.
Kenston Conversations
Kenston residents are invited to join Superintendent Steve Sayers on Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. at Kenston Intermediate School for “Kenston Conversations.” It is an opportunity to meet Sayers, enjoy a cup of coffee and talk about Kenston in an informal setting.
KMS Presents “Matilda, Jr. the Musical”
Kenston Middle School will be presenting Roald Dahl’s “Matilda, Jr., The Musical” on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Kenston High School, Robert A. Lee Auditorium.
Rebellion is nigh in “Matilda Jr.,” a gleefully witty ode to the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination. Based on the children’s book by Roald Dahl, author of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “James and the Giant Peach,” “Matilda Jr.” tells the story of Matilda Wormwood, a young girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and special powers. She’s unloved by her cruel parents, but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Matilda’s school life isn’t completely smooth sailing; however, the school’s mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don’t abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts and could be the school pupils’ saving grace.
The cast and crew is comprised of: Brooklyn Alexander, May Bryan, Brooke Carlson, Anya DeWitt, Eleana DeWitt, Jane Eibler, Grace England, Hannah Fladger, Elyssa Gatto, Thomas Hart, Claire Heiman, Mira Jarzembek, Amelia Jenson, Skye Jerina, Brynn Johnson, Pearl Johnson, Georgia LeFeber, Zoe LeFeber, Sofia Macias, Charlie McBride, Ian McCallin, Collin Menary, Thea Ness, Sadie Petrash, Jillian Plavcan, Zach Radefeld, Colin Reed, Iva Samidan, Kiefer Schatz, Ali Schmidt, Rhys Serquina, Adelaide Sharp, Juliana Shumaker, Sam Spencer, Madeleine Stice, Charlotte Syslo, Molly Thomas, Payton Timmons, Kate Tobin, Maya Tobler, Will Turner, Daphne Uhlir, Rob Wenger, Corinne Wilson and Jack Zaranec.
General admission tickets are $10 and are available online at kenstonlocal.org – Kenston Box Office.
Kindergarten Parent Meeting
Information night for incoming kindergarten parents will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 for children entering kindergarten in August. Children must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 30, 2023.Information about kindergarten and the registration process will be shared in-person.
Timmons Zoo Crew
Timmons Elementary School third-graders who work hard and show great effort were named to the Zoo Crew. Members of the Zoo Crew are rewarded with goofy and crazy games and activities before school each week for eight weeks.
Congratulations to the second quarter Zoo Crew members: Wes Balderson, Stella Browne, Cora Caires, Gemma Campopiano, Evelyn Chapman, Trey Cono, Ledger Dalton, Simone English, Lachlyn Fitzgerald, Noah Greaves, Regan Hudak, Eli Hulme, Brooks Krupsa, Dominic Marra, J.R. McBride, Luke Munn, Piper Myers, Wylan Pol, Julie Quintana, Lachlan Reed, Henry Schonbachler, Oliver Thorne, Savannah Vasch, Connor Wolfe and Elianna Woodruff.
Emergency School Closing
In case of severe weather or calamity requiring school to be closed, an official announcement will be made via an AlertNow phone call to the homes of families with children attending the Kenston Schools.
Those uncertain about school closing may call 440-564-2134 or go to www.kenstonlocal.comfor up-to-date information. The message is updated by 5:30 a.m. when conditions warrant. If school is closed due to weather, all activities and athletic contests are cancelled whether home or away.
Gold Cards Available
All residents of Auburn and Bainbridge who are 60 years of age or older may obtain a free, lifetime “gold card,” which will admit them free of charge to any school-sponsored event in which students participate, including home athletic events, musical and dramatic performances. Gold cards are not valid when an event is sponsored by an organization other than the schools (P.T.O., Booster groups, etc.) as a fundraiser. Cards cannot be used for athletic events such as conference, regional or state playoffs.
Gold card membership can be obtained at the Kenston Board Office, 17419 Snyder Road.
Distinguished Hall of Fame
The Kenston Alumni Association is seeking outstanding individuals for induction into the 2023 Distinguished Hall of Fame. These people will be graduates or staff members of Auburn, Bainbridge or Kenston schools who have achieved success in their careers and have made significant contributions in their fields as well as to society.
To be eligible, nominees must have graduated in the class of 2013 or before or retired/resigned from the district by June 1, 2013, or before, and not currently be employed by the Kenston Schools. Visit www.kenstonlocal.org for more information.
Deadline for nominations is Feb. 28. Inductees will be recognized in the fall. Call 440-543-9677 for a nomination form.
Speech and Debate Update
Kenston’s Speech and Debate Team placed fifth out of 27 schools at the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Tournament. A special thank you goes to Dr. Poe, assistant superintendent, for coming to the tournament and judging for the team. Olivia White was the tournament champion in Dramatic Interpretation. Addie Altmann placed second and Will Radefeld placed seventh in Humorous Interpretation. Brett King placed fifth in International Extemporaneous Speaking. Eden Truax placed third in Declamation and became Kenston’s second state qualifier of the season, joining Ella Jewell, who placed third in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
In the middle school division, Kenston had two tournament champions, Zoe LeFeber in Oratory and Georgia LeFeber in Interpretation. In Congressional Debate, Brooke Carlson placed fourth and Ben Yamsek placed sixth. In Extemporaneous Debate, William Thompson and Emilynn Pemberton won two of their three debates. Rebecca Chelbezan, Lillian Chiles, Alison El-Hayek, Amelie DeBoth, Marshall Rankin and William Szarka all placed in Public Forum Debate. A big welcome goes to Callan McCoy and Norah Bozarth for participating in their first tournament.
At the Wadsworth Tournament, Brooke Carlson was the tournament champion in Congressional Debate. Sisters Rebecca and Emma Chelbezan placed second and third, respectively, in Extemporaneous Debate.
Kenston placed third at its home tournament on Dec. 17, with 22 schools in attendance. Jake Spencer was the tournament champion in Humorous Interpretation, with Addie Altmann closely behind in second place. Ella Jewell placed second in Lincoln-Douglas Debate and became Kenston’s first state qualifier of the season. In Dramatic Interpretation, Olivia White placed second and Elena Perrine placed sixth. Zach Reiser placed fourth in Extemporaneous Speaking. In Declamation, Marin Carlson placed fourth and Eden Truax placed fifth. Will Radefeld and Marin Carlson placed fourth in Duo Interpretation. Nathan Rolf and Garrett Boyette placed seventh in Public Forum Debate. Connie Ragsdale and Maddie Foerster both received a ranking of 2 in one of their rounds. Siblings Emily and Tommy Hunt did a great job competing in their first tournament of the season, while Brett King gave excellent speeches on international current event topics.
Kenston had two tournament champions in the middle school division, Kate Tobin in Interpretation and Zoe LeFeber in Oratory. Georgia LeFeber placed third in Interpretation. In Public Forum Debate, the team of Gavin and Vienne Rechtiene placed second, Amelie DeBoth and Alison El-Hayek placed fourth, Alden Peterson and Margaret Zallar placed fifth, Will Szarka and Marshall Rankin placed sixth and Rebecca Chelbezan and Lillian Chiles placed seventh. Ben Yamsek placed seventh in Congressional Debate. In Extemporaneous Debate, Reagan Carnes, Grace Voudris and Emma Chelbezan all won three out of their four debates, placing seventh through ninth. Evie Bohac and Riley O’Hare did a great job competing in their first tournament of the season, as did Maria Shindika, Eric Wachtler and Pearl Johnson who gave persuasive speeches in Congressional Debate. Will Turner defeated debaters from Chagrin Falls and Hathaway Brown, and Emilynn Pemberton defeated a debater from Vermilion.
