Kenston School News
As the 2019-20 school year begins, Kenston wishes its 2019 graduates well as they embrace the future.
Good Luck, Graduates
As the 2019-20 school year begins, Kenston wishes its 2019 graduates well as they embrace the future. Of the class of 2019, 87 percent will be entering a four-year college, specialty or technical school and 13 percent will enter the military or workforce.
Community Survey
Kenston values the community’s input and wants to hear from everyone.
Last year, over 700 parents, community members and staff responded to the district’s survey and shared their communication preferences and perceptions of the district. From the input, Kenston has increased its social media profile and redesigned the district’s webpage.
Because time is precious, this year’s survey can be completed in under three minutes and the answers are anonymous. To take the survey, visit the kenstonlocal.org/survey.
Back to School Bus Safety
Bus safety is the responsibility of the entire community. Kenston Schools follow strict procedures and safety guidelines. The Ohio State Highway Patrol inspects all buses and vans before they hit the road to transport students.
Children are safer traveling in school buses than in any other type of motor vehicle. The highest risk to children comes while approaching or leaving the bus.
When sharing the road with school buses, remember these rules: do not pass a school bus until the red lights and signals are turned off; always stop when traveling in the same direction as the bus; and never pass on the right side of the bus. Besides being illegal, this is where children enter and exit.
Review safe bus riding tips at kenstonlocal.org.
Kenston Kick-Off Classic
Kenston Athletic Boosters, Musical Arts at Kenston and PTO Council invite the Kenston and Chagrin communities to attend the Taste of Kenston Kick-Off Classic Tailgate on Sept. 6 before the football game against Chagrin Falls.
Pregame activities and food sales begin at 5:30 p.m. Blazin’ Bills, Cowboy Food & Drink, Coyote Mexican Grill, Gionino’s, Jersey Mike’s and Smooth Rider will be onsite with a variety of food priced between $5 and $10.
The Kenston community will recognize area first responders; wear red, white and blue to support and thank them for their dedication.
Gibas Cross Country Invitational
Kenston High School will host the seventh annual Frank Gibas Cross Country Invitational on Aug. 31, with races beginning at 8:30 a.m. A youth fun run at 9:45 a.m. as been added for athletes in first through sixth grades.
Coach Frank Gibas began coaching in 1974 and started the girls cross country program in 1976. He had winning seasons for 27 consecutive years and advanced to regionals for 21 consecutive years. His team qualified for the state meet 11 times.
In 1983, his team had the “perfect season” going undefeated in invitationals. His team won the CVC Championship, district championship, regional championship and state meet. In 1998, he was elected into the Ohio Association of Track & Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame.
This year, Kenston anticipates that over 50 teams will compete on a course through the campus and on the wooded Kenston trails. Admission is $5 per car, benefitting Kenston Athletic Boosters.
Lunch Menus
The Kenston lunch menus contain exciting new items for the 2019-20 school year. Lunch menus for each building are available at kenstonlocal.org.
Again this year, parents can utilize the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to view and pay lunch balances and set limits for students. Check and cash payments can be made at the building.
Vision and Hearing Screening
Kenston Schools provides vision and hearing screenings as mandated by the state of Ohio. Students in kindergarten, grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 and students new to the district not tested within the past 12 months will be tested for distant visual acuity. Students in first grade will also be tested for ocular muscle balance. Kindergartners and first graders will also be tested for stereopsis, depth perception, while boys in these grades will also be tested for color perception.
If a student fails a vision screening, a vision referral will be sent home with a recommendation for follow-up with a vision specialist.
Hearing screenings are also required for students in kindergarten, grades 1, 3, 5 and 9 and children new to the district, but not tested within the past 12 months. Additional grade levels may be screened.
If a student fails a screening, they will be re-screened after six weeks. When a student fails a second screen, a hearing referral will be sent home suggesting that he/she be checked by a hearing specialist.
Because of a change in the law, students with known hearing loss, hearing aids or cochlear implants should not be screened at school. If your child does suffer from hearing loss, please provide the school nurse with documentation for his or her health file.
Screenings will take place at all schools during the first semester of school. Please call the school nurse at your child’s school if you have any additional questions or concerns or do not want your child to be screened.
Gold Cards Available
All residents of Bainbridge and Auburn who are 60 years of age or older may obtain a free, lifetime “gold card,” which admits 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 (PTO, Booster groups, etc.) as a fundraiser. Cards cannot be used for conference, regional or state playoff athletic events.
Gold card membership can be obtained at the Kenston Board Office, 17419 Snyder Road.
The Bomber Hangar
Kenston fans now have two ways to shop for Bomber spirit wear.
The Bomber Hangar retail store is located within Kenston Middle School and takes residence at the stadium during football season. Store hours will be Tuesdays from 6:30-8 p.m. and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Bomber Hangar “pop-up shop” will travel throughout the district for events such as orientations, open houses, Silver Bells Holiday Boutique and the Bainbridge Civic Club pancake breakfasts.
Additionally, the Bomber Hangar now has an online store – bomberhangar.itemorder.com – that offers different merchandise from the retail store and full customization.
Contact Shelly McDonough, 440-591-4200, with questions, to volunteer or schedule an appointment to shop.
Back to School Bus Safety
Bus safety is the responsibility of the entire community. Kenston Schools follow strict procedures and safety guidelines. The Ohio State Highway Patrol inspects all buses and vans before they hit the road to transport students.
Children are safer traveling in school buses than in any other type of motor vehicle. The highest risk to children comes while approaching or leaving the bus.
Before your child goes back to school or starts school for the first time, you and your child need to know traffic safety rules.
Teach your child to follow these practices to make school bus transportation safer:
FOR PARENTS:
Safety Starts at the Bus Stop
Your child should arrive at the bus stop at least ten minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Visit the bus stop and show your child where to wait for the bus – at least three giant steps (six feet) away from the curb. Remind your child that the bus stop is not a place to run or play.
Get On and Off Safely
When the school bus arrives, your child should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens, and the driver signals that it is okay before approaching the bus door. Your child should use the handrails to avoid falling.
Use Caution Around the Bus
Your child should never walk behind a school bus. If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, tell him/her to walk along the side of the road to their designated place of safety. Your driver will go over this in the first few weeks of school. Your child should also make eye contact with the bus driver before crossing to make sure the driver can see him/her and wait for the driver’s hand signal indicating it is safe to cross. As your child crosses, they should be looking for traffic on their own. If they hear the bus horn, they should look to the driver for instructions. If your child drops something near the school bus, like a ball or book, the safest thing is for your child to tell the bus driver right away. Your child should not try to pick up the item because the driver might not be able to see him/her. Finally, if your child is running late, please do not follow the bus as the driver is not expecting them at any other location.
Safety and Respect
Talk to your child about safety and respect. Riding a bus is a privilege. Be thankful – show appreciation to the bus driver. Remind your children to say thank you when they exit the bus. Be quiet – remember that the bus driver needs quiet to transport students safely. Be kind – bullying is not allowed or tolerated.
FOR DRIVERS:
Make school bus transportation safer for everyone by following these practices:
- Learn and obey the school bus laws in Ohio, as well as the “flashing signal light system” that school bus drivers use to alert motorists of pending actions:
- Yellow (Amber) flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.
- Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. By law, motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is closed, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.
- DO NOT pass a school bus until the red lights and signals are turned off.
- ALWAYS stop when traveling in the same direction as the bus.
- NEVER pass on the right side of the bus. Besides being illegal, this is where children enter and exit.
- Be alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
- Watch for children playing and congregating near bus stops.
- Slow down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood.
- When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or bicycling to school.
The Bomber Hangar
Kenston fans now have two ways to shop for Bomber spirit wear.
The Bomber Hangar retail store, located within Kenston Middle School (and takes residence at the stadium during football season) will continue to offer unique Kenston gear to those that enjoy viewing the merchandise in person. Store hours will be Tuesdays from 6:30-8 p.m. and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Bomber Hangar “pop-up shop” will travel throughout the district for events such as orientations, open houses, Silver Bells Holiday Boutique and the Bainbridge Civic Club Pancake Breakfasts.
The Bomber Hangar now has an online store – bomberhangar.itemorder.com – that offers different merchandise from the retail store and full customization, including the option of adding a name on the back of sweatshirts and T-shirts. Delivery can be made to students at Timmons Elementary School and the intermediate school or through a general pick-up at the middle school and high school. Shipping is available as well for an extra fee. Gift certificates and Student-of-the-Month certificates are only redeemable in-store.
Proceeds from sales at The Bomber Hangar retail and online stores provide two $1,000 annual scholarships to graduating seniors. Merchandise donations to community organizations and Kenston schools/clubs, as well as funding to building PTOs to use toward their programs and events. The Bomber Hangar is managed by Kenston’s PTO Council and PTO volunteers.
The Bomber Hangar is also offering a new volunteer incentive this year. Volunteer hours are tracked by school building and directly result in funding for each PTO. A percentage of the proceeds (contingent on the total number of hours worked per building) will be distributed at the end of the school year to PTOs to utilize as each board sees fit.
Stay up-to-date on specials, new items, store hours/locations
and sale dates by following The Bomber Hangar on:
Twitter (@Bomber_Hangar)
Facebook (The Bomber Hangar)
www.kenstonlocal.org/pto/bomberhangar
Shop in-person at these upcoming events:
Aug. 21: KIS Parent Orientation, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Aug. 22: KHS Open House, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Aug. 27: TES Parent Orientation, 5:30-8 p.m.
Sept. 6: KHS Football vs. Chagrin Falls, 6- 9 p.m., Stadium Bomber Hangar
Sept. 13: KHS Football vs. West Geauga, 6- 9 p.m., Stadium Bomber Hangar
Sept. 20: Timmons Family Movie Night, 5:30-9 p.m.
Oct. 4: KHS Football vs. Willoughby South, 6- 9 p.m., Stadium Bomber Hangar
Oct. 18: KHS Football vs. Madison, 6- 9 p.m., Stadium Bomber Hangar
Nov. 1: KHS Football vs. Mayfield, 6- 9 p.m., Stadium Bomber Hangar
Nov. 30: Holiday Kick-off, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Stadium Bomber Hangar
Dec. 2: Holiday Kick-off: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Stadium Bomber Hangar
Dec. 7: Silver Bells Holiday Boutique, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., KHS Cafeteria
Contact Shelly McDonough, 440-591-4200, with questions, to volunteer or schedule an appointment to shop.
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