March 20, 2026


Happy Spring, Kenston Families! 


As we welcome the first day of spring and the start of spring break, we look forward to the sights and sounds of spring returning on campus. From students learning and playing outdoors to the excitement of spring athletics, this is always a special time at Kenston.

I encourage families to review the information shared below, as there are many upcoming opportunities to support our students, who remain at the heart of everything we do. Remember that school will be closed from Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27, and will resume on Monday, March 30. Additionally, there will be no school on Friday, April 3, with students returning on Monday, April 6.

I hope everyone finds time to rest and refresh over spring break as we prepare for a busy fourth quarter. 

Take care,

Dr. Bruce Willingham, Jr.
Superintendent

At the March 16, 2026, Board of Education Meeting, Kenston High School Athletic Director Reid Guarnieri presented an update about middle school and high school winter athletics.

Seventh- and eighth-grade students participate in the winter sports season in basketball and wrestling through OHSAA Sports. This year, the seventh-grade girls' basketball team finished with a perfect 13-0 record and won both the WRC and Tournament Championships. The wrestling program also had an impressive season, with five WRC Champions: Tyson Ehrenbeit, Jacob Fox, Kaleb Hartfelder, Magnus Hasty, and Jameson McArdle. 

At the ninth through twelfth grade level, students participated in winter sports including basketball, bowling, gymnastics, hockey, swimming, and wrestling. Many athletes achieved personal bests in their respective sports, highlighting a bright future for our student-athletes. We would like to congratulate Sofia Macias on winning the Gymnastics All-Around State Championship for the second consecutive year.

Click here to view the full presentation highlighting all winter sports. 

On Monday, March 16, 2026, John Molnar, the Technology Director, provided an update to the Board and the community about the District's technology initiatives, plans, and goals.

The technology department has focused on network security and cybersecurity awareness this year, offering monthly staff training and implementing enhanced protections that have blocked over 13,000 malicious emails and restricted logins from outside the United States. The team continues to follow best practices while aligning procedures with HB 96 guidelines, including updating documentation to ensure readiness for potential outages or cyber incidents. Daily operations remain a priority, with more than 1,600 support tickets addressed this school year through prompt and thorough service.

Looking ahead, planned upgrades include new staff devices, the replacement of approximately 900 Chromebooks, and improvements to communication and sound systems, all aimed at increasing security and enhancing the overall functionality of our schools.

Nutrition Services Director Andrew Mendez shared on Monday, March 16, an update to the Board of Education highlighting the Kenston Cooks competition, which was held prior to the start of the Board of Education Meeting, Eat the Rainbow week, and the Nutrition Services Department.

Kenston Cooks is a student-centered culinary competition for grades 2 through 6 that promotes nutrition through creativity, culminating in a live event where finalists prepared pizza-themed recipes and two winners were selected. Beyond the competition, the program emphasizes cooking as an essential life skill that supports nutritional awareness and healthy habits.

Mr. Mendez also shared that the department has grown this year with the addition of 10 new team members and continues to invest in staff development, particularly in food safety and hospitality. Ongoing efforts also include refining menus based on student preferences while maintaining efficient and fiscally responsible operations.

To learn more about the Nutrition Services Department, please visit their webpage (click here). 

The Kenston Local Schools registration process is now completed entirely online. Registration is currently available for new students enrolling in Kenston during the remainder of the 25/26 school year and for the incoming Kindergarten Registration (students entering Kindergarten in August 2026). Registration for students enrolling for the 2026/2027 school year will open in May. 

If you know of a family with an incoming Kindergarten student, please share this with them to visit the Kindergarten Registration and Resource Center for updates and other events to sign up for.

Registration is completed online (click here), and the required documents will be uploaded during the process.

At the March 16, 2026, Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Willingham shared some educational informational about the Proposed Property Tax Reform. To view more of his presentation at the board meeing, please click here. 

For 50 years, Kenston Community Education (KCE) has been a cornerstone of the Auburn and Bainbridge Township communities, providing residents with opportunities to learn, play, and grow together.

Established on March 15, 1976, by Auburn Township, Bainbridge Township, and the Kenston Board of Education as the Auburn-Bainbridge Recreation Board, the organization was founded on the idea of utilizing shared community spaces—parks, school gyms, and classrooms—to create accessible recreational and enrichment opportunities for residents of all ages.

Today, KCE continues that mission, serving nearly 19,000 residents each year through hundreds of programs, classes, and sports leagues. From toddler programs and youth athletics to adult classes and senior activities, KCE offers opportunities for every stage of life.

Operating as a nonprofit and self-funded organization, KCE receives no direct taxpayer funding for its operations. Instead, programs are supported through registrations and community participation, allowing KCE to offer a wide range of affordable activities while supporting instructors, volunteers, and local families.

Over the decades, KCE has grown significantly. In the early 2000s, the organization expanded its role by merging with the Kenston Athletic Association to manage recreational sports programs, including football, baseball, softball, basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading, and dance.

Beyond sports and classes, KCE plays a vital role in building community connections. Many volunteers, coaches, and staff members began their journeys as participants, creating a generational cycle of involvement and support.

Since 2016, KCE has been based at the Kenston Gardiner Center, allowing it to expand daytime programming for toddlers and senior adults while continuing to partner with Kenston Local Schools to operate and coordinate community programs and events in school and township facilities.

As KCE celebrates its 50th anniversary, the organization reflects on five decades of bringing neighbors together and creating lifelong memories for families in Auburn and Bainbridge.

To commemorate this milestone, special 50th anniversary logos appear on team shirts, coaches receive commemorative swag, and a community celebration planned for the fall will kick off fundraising for a new turf field that will serve KCE participants for decades to come.

KCE invites community members—past and present—to help celebrate by sharing their favorite memories and photos from KCE programs, teams, and events over the years. Please send your photos to kcecommunityrel@gmail.com, including your name, year, a brief description, and the impact KCE has had on your life.

Kenston High School's theater department, Kenston Center Stage, proudly presents its annual spring musical, Chicago: Teen Edition, with performances on Friday, April 10 at 7:00 pm., and Saturday, April 11 at 2:00 pm. and 7:00 pm. A Senior Moment of Rockin’ Entertainment (S’MORE) performance will be on Thursday, April 9, with reservations required (visit www.kenstonlocal.org to rsvp). The production is directed by Mrs. Shannon Wirthwein, Mrs. Julie Green, Ms. Jaliyn Harris, and Mr. Jeff Link. Tickets go on sale March 30, 2026, online at kenstonlocal.org through the Box Office.

Set in the glitz and glamour of the Roaring Twenties, Chicago: Teen Edition follows ambitious chorus girl Roxie Hart as she pursues fame at any cost. A dazzling satire of celebrity culture and the justice system, the show has fascinated audiences for decades, with iconic choreography in Bob Fosse's style and a memorable score by John Kander and Fred Ebb, including “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango,” and “Roxie.”

Kenston Center Stage’s production highlights the talent and commitment of its student performers. The cast, crew, and orchestra feature: Matthew Albano, Brooklyn Alexander, Defne Ates, Maylin Bryan, Brooke Carlson, Marin Carlson, Donovan Carney, Katie Colwell, Lizzy Czernicki, Ellie Deken, Anya DeWitt, Jane Eibler, Shannon Feldman, Calla Haar, Tommy Hart, Alex Hauptman, George Huang, Tommy Hunt, Xavier Janszen, Brynn Johnson, Wilson Kentner, Josh Lanning, Jackson Larken, Daylen Lastoria, Georgia LeFeber, Zoe LeFeber, Stella Loveland, Devin Macsuga, Henry Marth, Megan Master, Ian McCallin, Collin Menary, Sarah Miller, Evie Mills, Lana Mills, Ava Moores, Alex Morin, Savannah Morris, Zoey Murtha, Thea Ness, Sienna Peterson, Moraya Piunno, Jillian Plavcan, Brooke Race, Will Radefeld, Zach Radefeld, Kiefer Schatz, Jacob Scharfenberg, Alison Schmidt, Rhys Serquina, Maria Shindika, Juliana Shumaker, Molly Thomas, Payton Timmons, Kate Tobin, Arielle Tobler, Will Turner, Reagan VanFossen, Hunter Vrudney, Rob Wenger, Sam Westervelt, Myles White, and Jack Zaranec.

We look forward to the Kenston community coming together to support these amazingly talented students.

The Chagrin Valley Chamber of Commerce is looking for a creative, original design to feature on our official Rubber Duck Race t-shirts. Whether you're a professional graphic designer, an aspiring student artist, or just a fan of rubber ducks, we want to see your vision!

Click here for the registration form and to submit your artwork.

Please take a minute to complete the 2026 Legacy Graduate Form (Click Here) to ensure all students with a parent who graduated from are recognized. The deadline to complete this form is Friday, April 3, 2026. 

We look forward to celebrating this milestone with the legacy students and families.
Bomber Fly Together! 

Download the Kenston Local Schools app to stay connected. It is your one-stop source for important updates, news, and announcements from across the District. Through the app, you can receive notifications tailored to the building your student attends. You will also find the "Live Feed," which is updated in real time with building-specific information and district-wide news. You may also find our updates and the Live Feed through our website, www.kenstonlocal.org. 

Kenston Board of Education Regular meetings are generally held on the third Monday of the month in the Kenston High School Auburn-Bainbridge Room. Please note that the start time for meetings has been changed to 6 pm.

If you would like to view additional information about the Kenston Board of Education, visit the district’s website at www.kenstonlocal.org under Board of Education. There, you will find meeting dates and agendas.

Regular Meeting - Monday, April 20, 2026, with a new start time of 6 pm
Located in the Kenston High School - Auburn Bainbridge Room (9500 Snyder Road)

Agendas/Minutes - Live Stream

Use the search feature in the upper right header. Minutes are available after approval in the following month's agenda.

Kenston Local Schools
www.kenstonlocal.org
17419 Snyder Road
Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023
Phone: 440-543-9677
Email: kenston@kenstonapps.org