KSB Weekly Wildcat
March 7, 2014
This publication highlights the weekly activities and events that take place on campus and features some of the activities conducted by KSB Outreach across the state.
Principal Matters
By: Debi Phillips, Principal
What an exciting day on the KSB campus! Teachers, parents and volunteers are scurrying around in a most cool aqua T-shirt celebrating this important day…KENTUCKY REGIONAL BRAILLE CHALLENGE DAY! Next week the newsletter will share the results of this important activity, but today I am taking the opportunity to say thank you to our huge family and the support that makes Braille Challenge a possibility for our kids. So, THANK YOU to all who has made today a great day for the kids at our school. And, I would like to give a special shout-out to Meg Stone for the work she has done to get us ready for BRAILLE CHALLENGE ’14. Kudos to Meg and a sincere thanks to all!
At right is the "Cream of the Crop" from the 2014 Kentucky Braille Challenge. A list of the winners will be included in the next newsletter.
Counselor's Corner
By: Elaine Hall, School Counselor
Operation Preparation (OP) Month is here!
Once again, KSB has great plans to participate in the state wide college and/or career readiness advising month. As stated on the KDE Operation Preparation website.
“One of the goals of Operation Preparation is to engage parents, students and the community in the college/career-readiness agenda, so schools are strongly encouraged to partner with a business or an organization in your community.”
This year we are excited to have several partnerships that expose students to a variety of careers that cover several career clusters. We take Operation Prep month as a time to give all our K – 12 students college and career training away from campus. Students will divide into a variety of groups and travel to several sites.
Many of our students will travel to the Humana tower in downtown Louisville on Wed., Mar. 19. There are careers within Humana that cover all career clusters. Students will be paired with individual Humana volunteers to focus on advising related to student interests. Humana volunteers will offer real world advising related to career clusters in such areas as Information Technology, Health Service, Human Services, Marketing, Business management, and food service. Students will be given a tour of Humana and be given a basic understanding of the insurance industry. They will also participate in lunch in the Humana Hub.
Many of our younger students will participate in Career Clusters that focus on public safety, government, and Communication. They will travel to Metro Louisville’s 911 Metro Call Center on Thurs., Mar. 27 to learn of services offered through Metro Louisville Government related to public safety. They will also travel to a fire station to see a fire house in action. While they have had fire safety presentations at school, we will pair this with real world experiences and the jobs within those fields.
Others of our students will travel to the Center for Accessible Living in downtown Louisville to participate in presentations called “Build Your Future” workshops that focus on job applications and resumes, as well as training skills needed to prepare for job sites. They will also participate in the Office for the Blind Transition Fair, “Beyond All Limits”, in April. Many of these same students have weekly real world job experiences. With KSB teacher, Connie Hill’s coordination, we so greatly appreciate our partnerships with Ronald McDonald House, Beargrass Christian Church, Sproutlings Pediatric Day Care, Nancy’s Bagels, Sacred Heart Village Nursing Home, St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church, and American Printing House for the Blind.
Our 8th and 10th grade students will participate in individual advising sessions with volunteers. Advisors will again share real life experience about the importance of doing well in school, and early planning to think about, “What’s Next?” Career and or college planning can’t just start in high school – but needs to take place across all grade levels.
At KSB we plan early and plan often for ALL our students to reach their full potential. We plan for all our students to have a plan for “What’s Next?” We could not have successful real world experiences and Operation Preparation without our wonderful real world partners of those mentioned above. Thank you Humana, Louisville Metro, Center for Accessibility, and OFB, and all our other partners! We look forward to our March activities!
See the Kentucky Department of Education website for more details about OP. http://education.ky.gov/educational/CCadv/op/Pages/OP_ForParents.aspx
502-897-1583, ext. 0203
Doctors at VIPS
By Kathy Mullen, VIPS Director of Education
Please join the education team of Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS) at “Meet the Doctors Night” on Wed., Mar. 19, 6:30-8:00 PM. Ophthalmologists specializing in vision care for young children, adolescents, and children with special needs will be coming to Kids Town at VIPS to share information about the services they provide. The event will be presented in an information fair format where families can move from table to table to learn more about the doctors practicing in the Louisville area. Refreshments will be provided. Children are welcome! Questions? Call Kathy Mullen, Director of Education (502) 498-2927or (502) 498-2927.
KSB Celebrates "Read Across America"
Many wild and wacky activities were going at KSB throughout the week (Mar. 3-7) to show our love of reading! Students and staff were encouraged to participate in the fun activities to celebrate “Read Across America” and the birthday of Dr. Seuss.
Elementary student Eric Echeverria (seated) strategized with his partner Cory Wallace during Story Time to get ten apples to stay on top of their head. This activity was a supplement to the book, Ten Apples Up On Top!, written by Dr. Seuss.
Low Vision Clinic Travels to Pike Co.
By: Verna Howell, KSB Outreach Consultant for Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative
KSB provided the first traveling Low Vision Clinic (LVC) in Southeastern KY on Feb. 26-27. Pike Co. Director of Special Education Sharon Moore and Margie Lowe, Teacher of the Visually Impaired, quickly located the perfect place to host the LVC for the students and families of the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative Region. Pike Co. Central High School proved to be the perfect location. KSB outreach staff were warmly greeted and felt right at home.
In spite of snow, schools not in session and frigid temperatures, parents brought their children to the clinic. While parents and students were waiting for their appointments, outreach staff was able to share information about KSB opportunities such as the Short Term Program, Summer Enrichment and Career Work Program, weekend retreats and upcoming events.
Pike Co. first grade student Briella Slone checks out Dr. Guadalupe Mejia's examining device during the LVC.
Twelve students and families, six teachers of the blind and visually impaired and six school districts (Johnson, Pike, Pikeville Independent, Letcher and Breathitt) were served through the LVC.
Dr. Mejia shows Jenna Thacker, a fifth grader from Pike County how to use the Visiobook while Jenna's mom Aaron Thacker looks over their shoulder. Teacher of the Visually Impaired Margie Lowe is observing from the back row.
“If you have not had the opportunity to view a low vision evaluation, or to have a part in sponsoring a clinic, you truly have missed out. Each exam is very detailed taking an hour or more to complete. But, when you see a student's face light up when they see something for the first time from a distance, or if a student can hold print material at an almost normal range to read, it is truly amazing. The conformation that the right tool in the hands of the right student makes all the difference to that student,” said Verna Howell, KSB Outreach Consultant for the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative.
“I have already been asked if we can do this again next year since the need is so great in this region,” added Howell.
Special thanks are extended to Pike Co. staff for hosting the LVC, Dr. Guadalupe Mejia for conducting the low vision exams and to Meg Stone for her role in coordinating the LVC and taking it on the road.
Repeat ~ Don't Forget the Trash Can Basketball Tournament
By: Donna Meyer, Physical Therapist
It's time once again to sign up for the Fourth Annual KSB Trash Can Basketball Tournament. The tournament is for middle and high school students who can choose either another student or staff member to partner with to compete for bragging rights as the 2014 champion. Parents and staff are encouraged to ask students who they might want to participate with. Sign-ups continue through the end of February. The first week of March will be a practice time to determine seeds, then teams will play once per week till a champion is named. Each round lasts only a minute and we can work with your schedules to fit it in. We had 34 teams last year. Let's top that this year!! Any questions, ask Ms. Meyer.
Upcoming Workshops and Conferences
The second “Build Your Future Workshop” is “Applying for Jobs 101”. Attendees will learn the basics of job applications and resumes and what employers are looking for. This will be held on March 20 from 10 – 11:40 AM. If you would be interested in attending either of these workshops RSVP with Amy Jones at 502-589-6620 or .
The Kentucky Office for the Blind will host a transition conference “Beyond All Limits”. This conference will take place at the Louisville East Marriott Hotel off of Hurstbourne Lane at 1903 Embassy Square Boulevard in Louisville. The conference will be April 14-15. To register or more information for the conference, go to the Office for the Blind website at www.blind.ky.gov or call 1-800-321-6668.
Upcoming March Events
12 Wed. JV Goalball, Wrestling, Cheerleading and Swim Meet, KSB, 9:30 AM-4 PM
18 Tue. Indiana Day Swim Meet, Indiana School f/t Blind
21-23 Fri.-Sun. Short Term Weekend Retreat
24 Mon. KSB Advisory Board Meeting, 1 PM
News Contributors:
Elaine Hall, Counselor
Heather Davis, Library
Verna Howell, Outreach Consultant
Donna Meyer, Physical Therapist
Kathy Mullen, VIPS
Debi Phillips, Principal
Kentucky School for the Blind
1867 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206