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.
November 21, 2014
NO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK: Happy Thanksgiving! The next newsletter will be on Dec. 5.
Principal Matters
By: Ms. P (Debi Phillips)
I am happy to share some exciting news about our school’s committee membership!
These committees represent different aspects of our school’s improvement plan.
Gary Mudd, our KSB faithful friend, has joined our Communication Committee!
This committee’s charge is to lead the school in improved internal and external communications!
Adam Ruschivall has been faithfully attending our Site Base Committee Meetings and last time Adam brought a friend, Mr. Wright.
Rick Ricks has accepted the invitation to join our Student Service Committee!
VIPS is the newest member of our Outreach Committee and Jefferson Co. Public Schools (JCPS) has joined our Administration Team meetings once a month.
Finally, and not least, a UK partner will join our monthly Outreach meetings.
This is just a smidgeon of evidence demonstrating the dedicated partnerships that exist and are growing at the KY School for the Blind. Please consider joining one of our committees to support the critical work going on at our school. Our next Committee Day will be Dec 2nd and the following committees will meet at the listed times:
8:30 - 9:30 AM Technology Committee
10 -11AM Outreach Committee
11:30 AM -12:30 PM Safety/Facilities Committee
1 - 2 PM Communication Committee
Great things are happening at KSB! We look forward to seeing you there!
Counselor's Corner
By: Elaine Hall, Guidance Counselor
Happy Thanksgiving Break!
We are so thankful for the wonderful staff and students at The Kentucky School for the Blind!
As we prepare for the fall break, Parent Teacher Conferences are mostly behind us. Teachers tried to reach parents of those students that they case manage. Some of you came in for conferences. Some of talked by phone. Some of you have a fall ARC meeting. We hope that you received helpful information on the progress of your child. If there are any follow-up steps needed, please do not hesitate to call.
Thank you!
To all our fabulous PSSO members and volunteers who provided a GREAT Soup Supper before last night’s fall concert and to all who donated items for the PSSO baskets. Raffle tickets for those baskets will be sold all the way up to our Christmas program on December 19th. (See other notes in the newsletter to buy chances!)
Thank you to Mr. Bobby Falk and our wonderful KSB music staff and students who provide such wonderful percussion programs – and for their wonderful recital on Thursday night.
Thank you to all the parents of day students who came to our parent meeting for brainstorming. If you have other thoughts and needs related to after school services – and you were not able to attend our meeting, please do not hesitate to call or email some needs related to after school hours.
Have a GREAT break – and we will see all the students in December!
Welcome to Low Vision
By: Connie Hill, CLVT (Certified Low Vision Therapist)
LOW VISION CLINIC DATES:
December 12 at KSB (FULL)
January 23 and 24th at KSB (6 SPACES OPEN)
February 20 at KSB (4 SPACES OPEN)
March 20 at Eastern Kentucky University (5 SPACES OPEN)
Cooking with the Elementary Group
The Elementary Group has done several cooking lessons with the oven and microwave. They have prepared pizza rolls, hot dogs, baked chocolate chip cookies and baked cinnamon rolls. The group is learning more about placement of food on a cookie sheet and using a kitchen timer. They are becoming quite the “little chefs”!!!
PHOTO: Naomi Williams and Eric Echeverria cook with the microwave.
Transition Dorm
The Transition Dorm has been working very hard on completing their applications for the Independent Dorm and cooking. The students have been working on writing their letters on “why” they would like to be in the program along with what they hope to learn.
The cooking program is improving each week with preparing food, using time management, and cleaning afterwards. Matthew Caudill made a Sweet Potato Casserole following a recipe. (It was wonderful!) Cherish Willis has become the “Shake-n-Bake” queen of chicken. She has done such a great job; she went home and made it. Awesome job!!!
PHOTO: Matthew Caudill, Cherish Willis and Amanda Livers prepare sweet potato casserole, Shake’n’Bake chicken and french fries!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Hill.
502-897-1583, ext. 7101
Outreach Welcomes New Director
Peggy Sinclair Morris recently moved with her family to Louisville from Richmond, VA where she was working as the Project Coordinator for the Virginia Deaf-Blind Project at Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to that, she was a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and an O&M Specialist in Virginia, New Mexico, and Texas. She received her master’s degree in Deaf Education, Parent Infant Education from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. and holds a bachelor’s degree in VI and O&M from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX.
“I am a mom to three children, Rheanna -19, Lydia -15, and Quinlan -12. My husband and I grew up in Los Alamos, New Mexico and enjoy hiking and college basketball. I’m excited to be working at KSB and providing services throughout the Commonwealth!”
SAVE THE DATE! Dec 19, 10:30 AM.
The show will feature the elementary students (along with some help from some KSB staff) with a selection of songs and special written poems in "A Cowboy Christmas". It will also include the KSB Glee group as well as some of our middle/high students playing piano and guitar with some holiday selections for all to enjoy. Christmas Dinner will be served after the performance!
TOBACCO-FREE POLICY STARTS THURSDAY!
By Governor Beshear's executive order, all state buildings, grounds, and fleet become free of all tobacco products and e-cigarettes, beginning Thursday, Nov. 20, this year's Great American Smokeout Day. Designated on the third Thursday of November by the American Cancer Society, the Great American Smokeout is held to encourage smokers to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance to quit that day. By quitting — even for one day — smokers will be taking an important step toward a healthier life and one that can lead to a reduced risk of cancer.
Gov. Beshear announced the tobacco-free policy on Sept. 4, citing Kentucky’s high rankings in smoking and cancer deaths. All state office buildings, vehicles, parking lots, sidewalks, and green space on state grounds are included in the ban.
From the Parent Student Staff Organization (PSSO):
By: Marilyn Kawa, PSSO President
We are thrilled to offer four beautiful themed baskets to for raffle valued at $50-$200. These baskets will be on display in the classroom office - stop by and see all the goodies that each basket has to offer.
A big thanks to four school families who made these baskets possible: Tara Armstrong, Dana Flynn, Linda and Lyndon Spigelmire, and Gyanna Howard.
Raffle tickets will be sold now through Dec. 19. The tickets are $2 a piece or six for $10. The drawing will be held during the Christmas lunch on the 19th. You do not need to be present to win.
Simply print out and complete the ticket at the end of the newsletter and send ticket with money into the school office.
A: University of Louisville Basket - signed basketball from Coach Pitino, hoodie, baseball cap, and much more
B: Games Basket - more than 10 games
C: Gift Cards Basket - McDonald’s, Panera Bread, Bed, Bath & Beyond, JC Penney, Cold Stone Creamery, & Kohl’s
D: “Frozen” Basket - the movie, backpack, toys, and much more
Event Highlights!
FALL FRIENDZY AT SODA POP ACTIVITY CENTER
KSB Outreach Consultant, Robbin Cox, brought an accessible corn hole game with sensors and shades and also provided literature on vision related topics. It was a beautiful fall day in western KY and participants enjoyed fun games, good food, and the mini horses. SODA POP stands for the Society of Differently Abled Populations and is an activity center that offers an avenue where those with special needs can practice what they have learned at school and home. Daily activities are designed to benefit all ages and abilities and the center offers week day sessions, after school program, and Saturday morning sessions.
KENTUCKY MATH STANDARDS
by: Nancy Nichols, KSB Outreach Consultant
TVIs from Anderson, Clark, Fayette, Montgomery, Powell, Scott, and Nelson counties received training in using Algebra Tiles to provide direct instruction in Algebra to students who are blind and/or visually impaired. Mark Helton, CKEC Math Consultant, was the presenter. Mark and Nancy will be working together to develop additional instructional activities to address Kentucky Math Standards.
LOW VISION EVALUATIONS OFFERED BY CINCINATTI’S VISION REHAB PROGRAM
KSB Outreach Consultant, Pamela Howard, and KSB Clinical Low Vision Therapist, Connie Hill collaborated with Kentucky Educational Development Corporation and the Cincinnati Children’s Vision Rehabilitation Program to provide no cost Low Vision Evaluations for several students in the KEDC Special Education Cooperative service area.
PHOTO (left): Morgan Jones with parents, Carter Co. Trying to access music notes!
PHOTO (right): Jenna Ratliff, Bath Co TBVI greeting Tyson Powell for clinic day. This is what it's all about!
The team provided comprehensive medical eye evaluation s and clinical low vison evaluations to our children ages 2-21. Optical devices and assistive technology were dispensed to children as needed. Instruction and consultation related to the functional use of vision and low vision devices was provided to parents and teachers for the blind/visually impaired.
A total of 19 students received evaluations throughout the 2-day event. Most of the students went back to their districts and homes with needed low vision devices.
PHOTO (left): It's a team effort! Sara Turpin, Rowan Co
This proved to be a very rewarding collaborative effort that I learned a lot from. I never knew that you could attach a monocular telescope to the lens of the iPad and have a pretty well-rounded CCTV type low vision device! I never knew that monocular telescopes could be attached to the lens on a pair of glasses to use for more than bioptic driving purposes – to read music notes! I enjoyed a great professional development experience and am thankful!
The team plans to collaborate with KSB Outreach staff to provide follow up within school districts for training and support as related to low vision device usage and its impacts on learning.
FUN, LEARNING GOAL OF 15TH ANNUAL ENVISIONING THE FUTURE DAY EVENT
by Mike James, The Independent
A pack of kids surrounded a plastic wading pool half-full of feed corn, groping about with play shovels and their bare hands for half-buried knick-knacks. The tickle of a feather, the leathery coolness of a mini-pumpkin, the prickle of a pine cone, all were tactile clues the children used to find the trinkets. All the children are blind or visually impaired and for some of them their hands are more useful sensory organs than their eyes.
Kneeling shoulder to shoulder around the pool brought the children together not just physically but in a bond made more meaningful in a world where those with sight issues live and work with their 20-20 peers.
PHOTO: Students within KEDC Special Education Cooperative district are learning through real-life experiences and enjoying contact with other students with visual impairments.
That is why once each year the Kentucky Educational Development Corp. invites blind and visually impaired children and their families to come for a day of fun and learning. “It’s our 15th year for Envisioning the Future Day and we have kids from 22 school districts here for hands-on learning activities,” said Pamela S. Howard, outreach consultant for the Kentucky School for the Blind. “We can bring them more in-depth opportunities here than they can get in their districts. Some of these kids are the only ones in their schools (with vision issues) so this gives them a chance to interact,” she said.
Specialists got children moving in a spirited dance class, emoting in a drama circle and creating colorful mosaics of beans and rice in the art room. All the activities were tailored to appeal to kids whose sight is limited, failing or non-existent.
For the article in full, go here: http://www.dailyindependent.com/news/fun-learning-goal-of-th-annual-envisioning-the-future-day/article_673844e8-6baa-11e4-bd06-1b5acf8330e1.html
KSB STUDENTS DEMONSTRATING THE USE OF BRAILLE!
KSB students were featured in a WDRB News story on the Prison Braille Program with a highlight on the individuals who benefit from the service. We are so very proud of our students and their willingness to educate the community and share with others about their own experiences! Enjoy!
http://www.wdrb.com/category/163829/fox-41-video?clipId=10855896&autostart=true
CAMPUS EVENTS:
SANTA’S WORKSHOP: Dec. 9 – 11.
Shopping will take place Tues, Dec 9th, Wed, Dec 10th, and Thurs, Dec 11th.
Every student will have an opportunity to shop. Everything is $1. Students need to bring cash and/or can access their student bank if they have money in their account.
Contact: Melissa Gatewood: (502) 897-1583, ext. 7203 or
STATEWIDE EVENTS:
BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA - DEC 1 (deadline), FEB 13 (concert)
Join KSB Consultant, Robbin Cox to hear the singers Blind Boys of Alabama perform February 13, 2015 at West KY Community & Technical College in Paducah. This concert begins at 7:30pm. The group of men formed the gospel singing group while attending Alabama School for the Blind. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for students. With 20 or more tickets purchased there is a 10% discount. Please let Robbin know if you would like to attend by December 1.
Contact: Robbin Cox:
FAMILY DAY OPEN HOUSE – Nov. 29, 10 AM - 3 PM
Friends and relatives visiting for Thanksgiving? Looking for something uniquely Louisville to show them? Bring them to APH's one-of-a-kind museum! Visitors can write their names in braille, see a book from Helen Keller's Bible, play games designed for children who are blind, and enjoy many other activities in this award-winning museum. See "Denver the Guide Dog," a Discovery Channel video about how a puppy becomes a dog guide and is matched with a new owner. Holiday goodies and hot cider will be served. Open to all ages.
AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND
1839 FRANKFORT AVE, LOUISVILLE, KY 40206
HOLIDAY ORNAMENT FACTORY – Dec. 6, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Visit the museum to learn how people who are blind and visually impaired "see" with their fingertips. Then craft your own tactile ornament to decorate your home for the holidays. Make unique holiday cards as well. Free to the public but space is limited so registration is required. Open to all ages.