Kent Elementary School

Latest KES Headlines

• Thankful for Senior Citizens

  The Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon sponsored by The Carmel Teachers’ Association was a big success with the guests praising the traditional turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables and, of course, pumpkin pie.  

  Most of all, however, the senior citizens who came to Carmel High School, George Fischer Middle School and Matthew Paterson Elementary School were glad to return to schools that many of their children (and some of them) attended and to see friends from the throughout the community. 

  “We love our seniors,” said Alice Holzmann, the Family and Consumer Science teacher at George Fischer Middle School. “And they love this event.” 

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  District News

• White Cane Awareness Day

  It’s not a day that is celebrated annually in many Carmel classrooms, but this year White Cane Awareness Day drew a lot of interest and a big crowd to Raquel Patterson’s class at Kent Elementary School.  

  That’s because 5-year-old Mackenzie, who started kindergarten at Kent Elementary in September, uses a white cane to help guide her through her day and she was happy to tell the other children in her class just how it works.  

  “It helps me to feel around rather than seeing around,” said Mackenzie, who is blind. “I can fold it up, too.”  

  Mackenzie is teaching the other children in her class a lot about what it’s like to live with a visual impairment. 

  “The kids are very responsive and helpful,” Patterson said. “The students are always making sure that Mackenzie is ok. They are truly the Carmel 6Cs personified.”   

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  Kent Elementary School News

• Parents Help Out at the KES Book Fair

  At the Kent Elementary School Book Fair there was something for everyone. There were picture books for new readers and chapter books for more advanced readers. There were books written in Spanish and even books written in braille.

  “This is a great book,” said Mackenzie, a kindergartner who picked up an Usborne Touchy-Feely Book entitled “That’s Not My Pumpkin, It’s Teeth Are Too Bumpy.”

  “I can feel the pumpkin,” she said. The book also included braille on every page.

  A large group of parent volunteers helped at the fair, leading children to books they might like and helping them figure out the costs and how many books they could afford to buy.

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  Kent Elementary School News

• A Thank You to the Board of Education

  The week of October 14 is School Board Recognition Week, but Superintendent of Schools Dr. Erin Meehan-Fairben thanked the Board of Education for their service a few days early, during the Board of Ed meeting on Octobert 8th. 

  "I know we are a little early, but I just wanted to take the chance to thank you for all you do," Dr. Fairben said. 

  Then she showed a surprise video that was created by students in Tim Raney’s Video Production class at Carmel High School, who included children from all five school buildings.    

  CHS Senior Kasey Carboy led the project. She wrote the outline, filmed and edited the video, which was her first project as lead.

  Seniors Ivy Kolovik and Dan Fanceschi assisted Kasey with filming at the various school buildings. 

   

  District News

• KES Principal John Fratto is a Friend to All

  If you happen to swing by Kent Elementary School this year, do not be surprised if Principal John Fratto calls out to greet you. Fratto, who was named principal of the elementary school in July, says the best part of being in a school building is talking with students, teachers and families.  

  “I always lead with relationships,” Fratto said. “It is my number one trait. Walking around the building, saying hi to the students and the staff, to me that is a shot of life for the day.” 

  Getting to know students allows Fratto to identify their strengths and help them succeed, even if they make mistakes.   

  An educator for 12 years, Fratto started his career teaching social studies at Beacon High School but soon realized he wanted to be an administrator.  

  “I loved teaching, but I was always taking the lead, so I thought ‘Why not go into administration?’” Fratto said. “My goal was to be a principal and to have the chance to implement my own vision in a school. I feel so lucky that this opportunity allowed me to stay in Carmel. The kids in this district are impressive and there is a lot of great community involvement.” 

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  Kent Elementary School News

• A Carmel Graduate Gives Back

  Come October, Chris DeChent will have worked in the Carmel Schools for 20 years. But that anniversary does not even include the time he worked in the district before graduating from Carmel High School in 2004.  

  DeChent, the Information Systems Technician, started helping out with district technology when he was in Carmel High School. By tenth grade he had a summer internship in the IT department and, later, an after-school job.  

  “In high school I was always the student ready to jump in and help the teacher if the computer had a problem or the projector wasn’t working,” DeChent said. “I enjoyed building computers, understanding how they worked, and figuring out how to repair them. My name became known to the IT department and they let me help out. I started here full time after graduation.” 

  DeChent credits his teachers with encouraging his interests and talents.  

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  District News