October 2015










National Merit Semi-Finalists
The National Merit Scholarship Corp. has announced Kenston seniors, Bailey Mulhern and Mara Cass, were named semifinalists in the National Merit Achievement and National Merit Scholarship academic competitions.  Approximately 16,000 semifinalists were named in the 61st annual National Merit Program.  Kenston's Commended Scholars are Alexis Biggin-Thurman, Natalie Kusner and Hannah Richardson.

High school seniors across the country entered the National Merit Program by taking the 2014 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as an initial screening for 1.5 million applicants.  The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, including the highest scoring entrants in each state.

The National Merit semifinalist will compete for 7,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered in the spring.
PLANTING TRADITIONS
Our Kindergarteners are our newest "Bombers" to become a part of the Kenston Community of Learners. The event symbolizes their place at Timmons by taking root in our gardens. Each student planted a bulb that will produce a yellow flower in the spring.

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SAFER SCHOOLS 24/7 
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Candidates Night Forum
Political Action Committee of Kenston and the Geauga County League of Women Voters will host a Candidates Night Forum on Wednesday, October 21 at 7 p.m. in the Kenston High School, Robert A. Lee Auditorium, 9500 Bainbridge Road.  
Alumni Leadership Board
To further the Kenston spirit, we are in the process of establishing an Alumni Association.  Our goal is to build loyalty and support among students and graduates of Auburn/Bainbridge/
Kenston, to promote a positive image, sponsor programs and activities and provide opportunities to give back to the Kenston community.  We are seeking individuals interested in being part of the Alumni Leadership Board.   Application
Wizard Basketball Returns the high flying and interactive team will compete against Kenston students and staff on Wed., Oct. 28 at 7pm
in the KHS Gym.  Tickets
WHY DO SCHOOLS GIVE STATE TESTS?
While no testing mechanism is perfect, the required state assessments provide school districts, parents and communities with one important measure on the overall success of a district's performance. They reflect a set of shared expectations of what students should be able to know or do and ensure that schools are held accountable for providing high-quality education for the children in their community. State test results are included as one component of measurement on the annual District Report Card prepared by the Ohio Department of Education.

There are other diagnostic and summative assessment activities that teachers expertly use throughout a school year to measure and monitor student progress in a standards-based curriculum, as well as a tool to guide their instruction. The state tests, however, provide different, yet important information to a teacher, school or district. The data provided through State Assessments allows for consistent annual measurements of success, comparison with surrounding schools and districts and overall strengths and weakness for instructional improvement and school accountability. 

FINANCE: MAKING CENTS
Schools are service organizations.  Kenston's main function is to meet the educational needs of our students.  Over 80% of our expenses in 2014/15 were the salaries and benefits of our employees.  

Other General Fund expenditures are Purchased Services, Supplies and Materials, Capital Outlay and other/transfer items.
GREEN ENERGY OHIO TOUR
Kenston Schools' will be featured as part of the 13th annual statewide Green Energy Ohio Tour on Saturday, October 3.  At Kenston, the self guided tour will feature the district's 750 kW Aeronautica wind turbine, 33.12 kilowatt solar PV (photovoltaic) array, with a fixed array, tracker and reference array along with a solar thermal array. All major renewable energy equipment is American made. Kilowatts for Education
GLAD YOU ASKED
The Board of Education and district personnel have been working on upgrades and improvements to the district's facilities using funds from the $10 million bond issue.
 
One of the plans being explored is utilizing Gardiner School for the upgrade of the Bus Garage and Transportation Department.  An independent traffic survey and additional soil boring studies are in progress to determine the validity of this scenario.
 
At the September 21 Board of Education Meeting, it was asked if the traffic survey is a service that the Geauga County Engineer Office would provide at no cost to public institutions.  While the County Engineers' Office does collect data on county roads it does not provide analysis.  Environmental Design Group will utilize the county data as part of their process of gathering and measuring information for the traffic study.
PTO PHONE DIRECTORY
PTO Directory Information verification was sent to your primary email addresses on October 1st. Please review your information and follow the directions to make any changes or be omitted from the directory.  If you don't have an email address or it is not current, you will be receiving a copy of your families' information through the US Mail by the beginning of next week.

Please respond by Friday, October 9.

Kenston's Parent Teacher Organizations provide the Directory to your family at no cost to you.
CANDIDATES NIGHT FORUM
Political Action Committee of Kenston and the Geauga County League of Women Voters will host a Candidates' Night Forum on Wednesday, October 21 at 7 p.m. in the Kenston High School, Robert A. Lee Auditorium, 9500 Bainbridge Road.  

Candidates and Issue Representatives will present, followed by a question and answer from the audience.  Campaign materials will also be available.  Flyer
Tickets available at KCE
WIZARDS RETURN TO KENSTON
Don't miss the fun-filled, high-flying and interactive community event featuring the world-famous Harlem Wizards basketball team, as they take on a team of Kenston High School students joined by teachers and administrators from all the Kenston school buildings on Wed., Oct. 28, at 7 p.m., in the KHS Main Gym.  There are a limited number of tickets available and Wizards games sell out fast!  Get tickets in the KCE office or on-line.  

This event is a fundraiser for Kenston High School PTO.

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