May 23, 2026


Dear Kenston families and community, 

It has been a great month to be a Bomber! Our students are wrapping up the school year with exciting, hands-on learning experiences. Recent highlights include a trip to Washington, D.C., a field trip to Lake Farmpark, the "I Wonder" Festival, a Royal Party, and a week at 7th Grade Camp, along with many other daily activities that reinforce and celebrate the academic journey.

For our seniors, this month marks a significant milestone. From submitting final papers and taking last exams to preparing for Senior Interviews and walking across the stage at commencement, the entire Kenston Local School District is proud of your accomplishments. At commencement, I shared the following with the class of 2026:

"Surround yourself with people who will challenge and also support you simultaneously. Be leaders who know how to have fun, but who never lose sight of doing what is right. Show up for people, and give them the excellence they deserve, especially during the trying times."

On behalf of the Kenston Board of Education and the Kenston Local Schools, congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2026. 

Reflecting on this past year, I want to thank our dedicated faculty and staff for providing our students with the guidance they need. I appreciate your enthusiasm and desire to lead our students to excellence. To our families, thank you for supporting your students throughout this academic journey; we truly value your partnership in helping them grow and learn. To our community, thank you for attending events, cheering on our students, and encouraging them to soar.

As we finish the school year and look forward to a relaxing summer, I encourage you to spend time making memories, whether exploring a new place, diving into a good book, picking up a new hobby, or simply living in the moment. 

Take care,

Dr. Bruce Willingham, Jr.
Superintendent

Kenston Local Schools celebrated its seventy-second commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 21, 2026, graduating a class of 196 seniors.

If you were unable to attend the ceremony or would like to share the ceremony with family and friends, please visit: 2026 Kenston High School Commencement.

The Kenston Local Schools will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2026, in observance of Memorial Day.

Superintendent Dr. Bruce Willingham shared the following updates with the Board of Education members at the Monday, May 11, 2026, meeting. 

Congratulations to Mrs. Angela Sedmak, a sixth-grade science teacher at Kenston Middle School, who received the Rotary Club of Chagrin Valley Today's Teacher Award. Mrs. Tamara Cabrera-Perrine, a sixth-grade English language arts teacher at Kenston Middle School, was named runner-up. 

The Today's Teacher award recipients undergo a rigorous process that includes a resume review, recommendations from principals, and interviews with the Rotary Club of Chagrin Valley. 

We are very proud of our teachers for receiving this award. 

This year, Kenston Local Schools celebrated 18 retirees who, combined, have dedicated 423 years of service to Kenston! If you see any of these retirees, please join us in congratulating them. Jackie Akins, Deb Blatnik, Bev Buettner, Sue D'Amico, Terry DiMarco, Lorraine Embrescia, Patsy Grecar, Charlotte Gruver, Tani Hanlon, Diane Henry, Susan Koch, Donna Lazanich, Steve Miner, Eric Nelson, Lynn Rhodes, Chad Rosko, Bob Ross, and Gina Wojciechowski. Thank you all for your legacy.

Staff Appreciation Week was May 4 - 9 this year, and we would like to thank the Kenston PTO for their generous lunches to recognize and celebrate our staff all throughout the week. 

As a District, we wanted to celebrate and honor our amazing staff at Kenston! During Staff Appreciation Week, we had a fun time celebrating them with a new Kenston Bombers shirt! 

We again thank our staff for their dedication to our students! 

At the Board of Education meeting on Monday, May 11, 2026, Treasurer Seth Cales shared an update with the board. Mr. Cales shared that the Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations will be presented to the Board at the June Board of Education meeting. 

Mr. Cales also shared and extended our sincere thanks to the new Meijer store in Bainbridge for their generous donation. We look forward to partnering with them to provide professional opportunities for our students, including collaborations with our Business INCubator class.

Kenston Local Schools believes that a strong community builds a strong future, and we recognize that our local and family-owned businesses are the backbone of our community. We cordially invite our local community businesses and Kenston family-owned businesses to a special Kenston Local Schools Partnership Event on Thursday, June 4, 2026, from 11 am to 1 pm at Kenston High School. Whether you are looking to mentor the next generation, share your expertise with students in our INCubator Class, explore creative sponsorships, or collaborate on workforce development and community projects, this informational gathering is your gateway to discovering how your business can engage with Kenston schools to make a meaningful difference.

Come network with school leadership, discover the diverse ways your business can partner with Kenston, and learn how we can grow together. Your expertise and passion are exactly what our students need!

As we look towards summer, we want to make sure that all families have time to prepare for the start of the 2026/27 school year. Please review the start and end times and the school supply lists shared below. For scheduling bus routes, we ask that parents check their email in July for the Census Verification, which our transportation department uses to plan routes. 

Start and End Times: 

Timmons Elementary School - PreK through 3rd Grade
Student School Day: 9:20 am - 3:50 pm

Kenston Middle School - 4th through 7th Grades
Student School Day: 8:00 am - 2:30 pm

Kenston High School - 8th through 12th Grades 
Student School Day: 7:55 am - 2:25 pm 

20026/27 Supply Lists:

2026/27 Back to School Save the Dates

There is still time to sign up for the Kenston Kalahari Day! Click here to reserve your stay! 

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 is now available. 

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.

As the school year comes to a close, Kenston Community Education would like to thank our incredible volunteers, families, and participants for making this such a special year—our 50th! Your support and involvement continue to make a lasting impact in our community.

We’re excited to keep the celebration going all summer long, with something happening every week! From enrichment and creative programs to our popular Bomber Sports Camps, there are plenty of opportunities for kids to stay active, build skills, and have fun alongside Kenston coaches and athletes.

Be sure to explore our full lineup of summer camps and programs here: https://kenstoncommunityed.org/2026/02/summer-camps-are-open-for-2026/

Wishing you a safe, relaxing, and fun-filled summer—we look forward to seeing you soon!

The Kenston alumni family continues to grow as we proudly welcome 196 graduates from the Class of 2026 into a tradition built on pride, excellence, and community spirit. This year, we also celebrated 35 Legacy graduate families - nearly 80 family members strong - representing two, three, four and five generations of Kenston graduates.

As our newest alumni begin their next chapter, we recognize the families, friends, and educators who helped shape their Kenston journey. We are excited to see all that the Class of 2026 will accomplish and know they will continue to make our Kenston Bomber community proud.

Once a Kenston Bomber, Always a Kenston Bomber.

As we observe Memorial Day, the Kenston community proudly remembers and honors the alumni who gave their lives while serving our country. Their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to protecting our freedoms remain a lasting part of our community’s legacy.

We pay tribute to:

Pat Diehl ’64 – U.S. Army – Vietnam
• Jonathan “Jack” Edwards ’73 – U.S. Marine Corps – Persian Gulf
• Leslie V. Hurlebaus ’63 – U.S. Marine Corps – Vietnam
• Dave Lacey ’65 – U.S. Army – Vietnam
• Hal Reichle ’82 – U.S. Army – Persian Gulf
• Bob Williams ’64 – U.S. Marine Corps – Vietnam
• Wolfgang “Kyle” Weninger ’10 – U.S. Marine Corps

Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten, and we are forever grateful for their dedication to our nation.

Kenston Alumni Association and the Kenston Schools continue their effort to recognize alumni and staff members who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Community members are encouraged to submit information to help honor these individuals on behalf of our grateful community. 

Submissions may be made through the Military Wall of Honor recognition form or by emailing alumni@kenstonapps.org.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwIz0ZnTbZX5KJMcfyf5DiSoVFXcPvncIJ56r69JiWNYWF0w/viewform

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, June 29, 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