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John Kennedy School

John Kennedy student gets surprise ride to school on Ladder 15

By Alecia Kaus

A surprise ride to school on Ladder 15

Madelyn Alford, the second-place winner from John Kennedy School in Group 2 (2-3rd grade) of the City Fire, Fire Prevention Coloring Contest, had a big surprise today.

Alford received a ride to school on City Ladder 15 on Thursday morning.

First-place winner, Kylie Lutey of St. Joseph's School, who had won previously,  decided to defer her ride to the second-place winner.

Photo: Lt. Bob Tedford, Madelyn Alford, and Firefighter Brian Fix. Photo by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

John Kennedy School receives donation from Crosby's

By Press Release

Press release:

Each year, ExxonMobil offers more than $2M of grant funding to its distributors to support local schools in their marketing area. 

ExxonMobil has awarded John Kennedy Intermediate a $500 Educational Alliance Math & Science Grant under this program.

Reid Petroleum, a local distributor for ExxonMobil, has also matched the $500 donation, bringing the total grant amount to $1K.

The grant is authorized for use in a number of ways, including films, speakers, or field trips to science centers; Student volunteer programs; Scholarships or awards to encourage academic or leadership excellence in math or science; Science fairs, parent/student events; Educational tools, such as computers, math or science books, calculators, software geared toward math or science.

Since 2000, ExxonMobil has donated close to $1.25B in grants for the Educational Alliance program. 

CEO of Reid Petroleum, Paul Reid, shares a vision of education and community involvement and has been involved with the program for close to 15 years, expanding it to include more schools in the past few years under the leadership of Meredith Reid Harris.

This is the second year John Kennedy Intermediate has received a grant from Reid Petroleum/Crosby's.

Submitted Photo: Superintendent Jason Smith, John Kennedy Intermediate Principal Brian Sutton, Pam Kilgore, Team Leader at Crosby’s Batavia, Mike McCarthy, VP of Sales and Marketing, Reid Petroleum, Jack McCarthy, John Kennedy Intermediate Student, John Kennedy Intermediate Assistant Principal Heather McCarthy. 

Photos: Polar Plunge at John Kennedy

By Howard B. Owens

A couple of dozen faculty and staff members at John Kennedy Intermediate School took the plunge -- the Polar Plunge -- today after school to help raise money for Special Olympics.

Through sponsorship donations from their colleagues, the participants were sprayed with water from the City of Batavia ladder truck for 60 seconds.

Last year, the school raised more than $10,000 through the event and they got close to $10,000 again this year.

Staff at John Kennedy taking extra care that doors remain closed after intruder pulled fire alarm

By Howard B. Owens

The doors at John Kennedy School are getting extra checks on a daily basis to ensure they're closing completely after a door that was left ajar was used by an unauthorized individual to gain entry and pull a fire alarm.

The man's name has not yet been released by Batavia PD. He is apparently undergoing treatment and will be charged once he has been released from care.

Det. Eric Hill confirmed the incident took place and that charges are pending.  

The incident on Jan. 28 was discussed by the Batavia City School District Board of Education during its meeting Monday night, following a school review presentation by Principal Brian Sutton.

"The first door he pulled on, it was open," Sutton said. "He entered the building. He was in the building for about less than a minute, 55, 56 seconds. He stopped, looked at a bulletin board, and on his way, walking out of the loading docks, he pulled the fire alarm. We then had a fire drill where we accounted for all the students, all the individuals.

"Mr. Smith, our head custodian, and I went and checked out the alarm and could see it had been pulled. As soon as it was deemed safe, we had a headcount on everyone, we re-entered the building. Mr. Dehm, our security aide, pulled the camera up and we got an image of the individual and contacted our SRO Officer Davis, and they then apprehended the man down the street quite a bit, a few moments later."

Superintendent Anibal Soler Jr. told the board a man matching the description of the subject at John Kennedy had been seen earlier around Batavia Middle School and police were already in the area looking for him when the call came in from JK.

"He happened to pull on a door that happened to work for him," Soler said. "It was definitely an unfortunate situation. No one was obviously impacted. And we did communicate immediately with families that day of the event."

Sutton said as a result of the incident, the school's custodian is now checking on the doors more frequently each day to ensure the doors are closing after people pass through them.

'It's one of those things where it's a good reminder to make sure we check in multiple times," Soler said. "Now we have an alarm set on them. If they don't close all the way, they'll hear an alarm go off in the main office."

Video: Trick or Treat at Jackson and John Kennedy schools

By Howard B. Owens
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First responders turned out to Jackson and John Kennedy schools today to hand out candy to the students.

John Kennedy School receives statewide recognition

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

     Amanda Cook

This week, John Kennedy Intermediate School was named a 2018-2019 Recognition School by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) for high marks in achievement and in progress.

The school will receive a Certificate of Recognition from Commissioner MaryEllen Elia.

“It’s gratifying – but not surprising – that John Kennedy earned this distinction,” says Batavia City School Dictrict Superintendent Christopher J. Dailey.

“Backed by a dedicated Board of Education, our administrators, teachers, and staff work tirelessly with students and their families to help children reach their potential.”

As NYSED aims for a more holistic approach to school and student achievement under New York’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan, 2018-19 Recognition Schools exemplify success in this mission with high academic achievement, student growth and graduation rate, and demonstrated progress during the 2017-18 school year.

The criteria used to determine the Recognition School status includes: student growth; met or exceeded either the school or state measures of interim progress for English language arts and mathematics; reduced rate of chronic absenteeism; and college-, career-, and civic-readiness; and met the federally required 95-percent participation rate in the English language arts and mathematics assessments.

Batavia’s Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Molly Corey, noting that John Kennedy is one of only 562 in the state and one of only 328 at the elementary level to be regarded as a Recognition School, said “I commend the teachers at John Kennedy and their principal, Dr. Amanda Cook, for this accomplishment. Their hard work and dedication to all students is evident.”

Expanding on that, Cook added, “Our entire team is committed to engaging students and their families in activities that build excitement for learning in ways that help children want to come to school to be a part of making memories together. We focus on creating a school learning community.”

John Kennedy students honor veterans and military members at Flag Day ceremony

By Howard B. Owens

For Flag Day on Friday, John Kennedy School honored veterans who are family members of students at the school, which including David Bellavia (top photo), who will receive the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House on June 25.

The assembly included the Batavia High School Brass Ensemble performing the National Anthem by the flagpole during the raising of the flag.

There were patriotic activities and classwork throughout the day.

The closing ceremony in the afternoon included local veterans and active military members. The assembly included patriotic songs, a reading of the names of veterans, the announcement of winners of the student costume contest.

Winners included Keyon Morris, Jonah Arroyo, Keaton Corcoran, Aristina Reidel, Blake Samuelson, Isla Wolff, Mason Bohn and Camden DeMena.

Photos and information provided by Batavia City Schools

Muddy, fun mess at John Kennedy School for annual Mothers and Sons Mud Run

By James Burns
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Friday, John Kennedy School hosted its annual Mothers and Sons Mud Run.

Photos by Jim Burns. Video by Howard Owens.

Video: Fourth-graders at JK pitch business plan ideas

By Howard B. Owens

 

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Fourth-grade students at John Kennedy School this year were given a straightforward message, "If there's not the business in Batavia that you want, make it." So they researched how to write business plans, came up with ideas for the businesses they would like to see locally, and then, today, pitched those business ideas to a group of community leaders.

The people who listened to the ideas had "Cook's Cash" (named after JK Principal Amanda Cook) to invest in their favorite business concepts. The winner will be announced at an upcoming Genesee County Business Education Alliance breakfast.

John Kennedy students promote annual pasta night fundraiser

By Steve Ognibene

Second-grade students pictured above are promoting the annual John Kennedy School Pasta Night fundraiser, which is this Friday, March 8th, in the school cafeteria, 166 Vine St., Batavia.

The money raised supports the parent group to fund future activities for students that include: Father Daughter Dance, Mother Son mud event, community night, field trips and much more. 

There are two seatings available, at 5 p.m. and 6:30. (The 5 p.m. seating is a great options for those who are attending the “Sound of Music” at Batavia High School the same evening.)

Take-outs are available.

Presale tickets can be purchased at the main office, and table reservations for eight or more must be made in advance. Costs are: $6 adults and $4 for students ages 5-12; children under 4 are free. 

Depending on seating availability tickets may be purchased at the door. Adults $7, students ages 5-12 $5 and children under 4 are free. We recommend you purchase tickets in advance.

Parent volunteers are still needed. Email Christopher Sputore at coach_sputore@yahoo.com prior to the event.

Photos: Second Annual Batavia John Kennedy Intermediate Color Run 5K

By James Burns

The John Kennedy Parent group held a fundraising color run Saturday morning. The precedes from the three mile fun run/walk go to the school.

This was the second year for the event that had close to 100 participants. The rain stopped in time for the start and the cool weather favored the runners who finished in a little over 30 minutes.

Photos: Move up day at JK

By Howard B. Owens

Students at John Kennedy Intermediate School, members of the BHS Class of 2026, were congratulated by teachers and administrators on Tuesday as they ended the school year prepare to move up to middle school.

Photos: Muddy fun for mothers and sons at John Kennedy

By Howard B. Owens

A heavy rainstorm delayed the start of the annual mother and sons Mud Run at John Kennedy School today, but once the clouds cleared, the race was on.

Jennifer Desautels, covered in mud, gives a mock hug to her uniformed father, Firefighter Tom Douglas.

27th JK Annual Pasta Dinner Fundraiser tomorrow

By Steve Ognibene

John Kennedy Intermediate School Pasta Fundraiser Community Dinner is ready to go tommorrow night. It will be held at 166 Vine St., Batavia. 

Many local businesses contribute with raffle prizes towards this event including teacher basket themes, too. Each year the chorus group sings songs during each dinner and fun for all ages. All proceeds help defray costs for field trips and other activites.

This is the 27th annual dinner that was started by former retired principal John Murray in January of 1992 after taking over for Angelo Branciforte.

Tickets are available at the door for $7 for adults, $5 students ages 5-12, children 4 and under no charge. Presale savings of $1 if purchased before 3 p.m. tomorrow (Friday) at the main office at the school. There are two seatings at 5 and at 6:30 p.m.  

Pictured from left is teacher Wendy Federico, parent group leader Jana Kesler, and chairperson Christopher Sputore.

Photos: My School Color Run for John Kennedy Intermediate School

By Howard B. Owens

On a colorful, sunny, fall day, participants from throughout the community turned out to John Kennedy School for the My School Color Run, which was an untimed run/walk over a three-mile course through the City of Batavia.

Eagle Scout projects honors those who were dedicated to John Kennedy School

By Howard B. Owens

In a ceremony at John Kennedy School yesterday, a new memorial garden was dedicated as the culmination of an Eagle Scout project by Thomas Ognibene, Troop 6006.

"I wanted to do something to give back to the community and recognize all the people who have dedicated their time to give to the school," Thomas said.

When Thomas started his project in May, there were two trees planted behind the school to honor Mike Houseknecht and George and Maria Raines, both former gym teachers at the school.

Thomas added more plants, mulch and a stone border with an elevated area in the center of the memorial.

From planning through construction, Thomas put in more than 120 hours of time into the project. He was assisted in the construction by 19 scouts and parents.

Supporting the project were Batavia City School District, Scalia’s Landscape, Home Depot, Hansen Aggregates, Joe’s Awards and Trophies, Steve Ognibene Photography, Batavia’s Original, and Pudgie's Lawn and Garden.

Members of the Houseknecht and Raines families attended the ceremony.

"We’re so grateful and overwhelmed," said Maureen Pelletier, daughter of George and Maria, and who traveled to Batavia for the ceremony. "It’s just so much more than we ever expected."

Maureen Pelletier

JK principal is a jailbird for a day

By Howard B. Owens

The students at John Kennedy School raised $555 for new library books and Principal Paul Kessler paid the price.

As a "reward" for the students, Kessler spent the day in jail.

Students, such as third-grader Anthony Nesbitt, took turns as guards to ensure he didn't escape.

The pre-lunch crowd passing the jail was pretty merciless. "You stay locked up, Mr. Kessler," more than once said as they walked in their class lines.

"The kids are having fun with it," Kessler said. "So are some of the teachers."

Photos: John Kennedy's Fourth Grade Track Meet

By Howard B. Owens

Fourth-graders from John Kennedy School were at Van Detta Stadium today for the annual Fourth Grade Track Meet. A total of 180 students competed in seven events.

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