KJSH Family Newsletter

We have had a great start to the school year! Our faculty and staff worked through the summer to plan the opening days to help build a sense of community throughout our school. Students engaged in Advisory activities to begin forming positive relationships with others in their Advisory, large team building exercises to strengthen our communication and support of each other, and individual reflections to help students think about who they are and who they want to be.

Our innovative program allows us to explore more than just the academic subjects. This is inline with New York State Education Department as they transition to the Portrait of a Graduate criteria (see graphic below). KJSH incorporates all of these traits within our programming already which puts us in a terrific position for this transition.

Our work has begun for the 2026-2027 school year and we are thrilled to have you be a part of this work with us! You will be invited in to meet with teachers and hear more about your child's progress in school several times during the year. If you ever have questions, please contact your child's Advisor and they will be happy to answer your questions. These are exciting times for us and we believe this is the best school for your child to be at. Thank you for giving us the privilege of working with you and your child!

The Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District is committed to providing a safe environment for students, staff and visitors. In the event of an emergency, it is important for parents and guardians to be familiar with the way the District prevents and manages emergencies. This guide outlines key information and terms that are helpful to know in the event of an emergency situation.

Click the button below to access the District Emergency Information Guide as a reference for families.

The safety of our students remains a top priority. To ensure a smooth, safe, and efficient start and end to the day for everyone, we would like to remind you of our drop-off/pick-up procedures. Please take a moment to review the map below and the following guidelines:

Where to Drop Off

• Designated Zone: For the safety of our walkers and staff, please drop off students along the south side of the building (indicated by the green arrows on the map).
• Direction of Traffic: Please enter from Myron Ave and proceed toward Delaware Rd.
• Crossing Guard: A crossing guard is stationed at the corner of Delaware Rd to assist students crossing the street.

• The Bus Lane: The lane on the north side of the building (marked with a red X) is strictly reserved for school buses.
• For the safety of our students exiting buses, passenger vehicles are not permitted in this area during drop-off times of 7:30-7:50 AM.

• Stay in Sequence: Please stay in line and avoid pulling around other vehicles.
• Be Ready: Having students ready with their bags and gear helps keep the line moving quickly for everyone.
• Patience is Appreciated: The first few minutes of the drop-off/pick-up window are always the busiest. Planning to arrive a few minutes earlier can help you avoid the rush!

The health office is excited to welcome everyone back for a safe, healthy, and successful school year! We look forward to partnering with families to support the health and well being of all Big PIcture and Crossroads Academy students!

Anything after 9/1/25 is considered current.

Please make sure of the following:

• Emergency contact information is current and up to date.
• Your child’s immunizations and required physicals are completed and submitted.
• The school is informed of any new medical conditions, allergies, or health concerns.

If your child needs medication during the school day, prescription and over the counter, (even if they will be self carrying and self administering), we need a Doctor’s order!

• All medications must be brought to school by a parent or guardian.
• Prescription medications must be in the original pharmacy-labeled container.
• Over the counter medications must be in their original, unopened container.
• A completed medication authorization form signed by both the parent and healthcare provider is required before medication can be administered.

If you have any questions or need to discuss your child’s health needs, please don’t hesitate to contact the health office. Working together, we can help every student stay healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

Thank You!

Adele Turek, RN

Phone (716) 874-8403 ext 2

Fax (716) 873-1259

This school year, Big Picture Middle School is excited to launch a new initiative celebrating our core values: being Positive, Present, and Productive. Each month, we will honor one 7th grader and one 8th grader who truly embody these traits. To kick things off, our staff selected initial representatives from each grade level after our first week back:

• Be Positive: Sloane Christmann (8th) & Jaxon Bidell (7th)
• Be Present: Hayden Gumkowski (8th) & Alexondria Semrau (7th)
• Be Productive: John Pagan Gonzalez (8th) & King Bonner III (7th)

We invite you to view our September visuals linked below and discuss these core values with your child at home. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure every student has the best possible experience here at BPMS!

Clovers 🍀

September 9 - Eternal Flame Falls

September 16 - Burchfield Nature Center

September 23 - TBD

September 30 - Beaver Island Fishing

Stars ⭐

September 11 - Eternal Flame Falls

September 18 - Beaver Island Fishing

September 25 - Burchfield Nature Center

Moons 🌙

September 14 - S2L w/ Grassroots Garden

September 21 - Beaver Island Fishing

September 28 - Kenmore Municipal Building

Balloons 🎈

September 14 - Outer Harbor Nature Path

September 21 - S2L w/ Grassroots Garden

September 28 - Beaver Island Fishing

• October 1 - Early Release Day, 11:20 AM
• October 2 - Emergency Early Dismissal Drill, 2:15 PM
• October 12 - NO SCHOOL - Columbus Day
• October 19 - Picture Re-Take Day
• November 18 - 1/2 Day for BP Exhibitions and CA Parent/Teacher Conferences, 11:20 AM

Website: https://kenmore.ktufsd.org/

Location: 155 Delaware Rd. Buffalo, NY 14217

Phone: (716) 874-8403