OSSB Panther Paws

September 27, 2021 - Weekly Newsletter

~ CALENDAR OF EVENTS ~

SEPTEMBER

  • 29 - NCASB Track and Field Virtual Event at OSSB - 3:30-5:00pm
  • 30 - NCASB Track and Field Virtual Event at OSSB - 3:30-5:00pm

OCTOBER

  • 4 - Forensics Competition Tryouts after school - 3:30 - 4:30 PM
  • 4 - Varsity Swim Practice begins
  • 11 - NO SCHOOL/Columbus Day
  • 13 - Special Ed Book Club - registration info in this newsletter 7:30 - 9:00 pm
  • 14 - Parent-Teacher Conferences - 4-8 pm
  • 14 - OSSB Parent Teacher Staff Organization - Zoom meeting 7:30 pm
  • 15 - Student Dismissal at NOON
  • 25 - End of 1st Quarter
  • 28 - Dismissal at 2:30 pm
  • 29 - NO SCHOOL/Staff Records Day

Track Meet This Week at OSSB!

OSSB will be holding our Track & Field events virtually as we did last year. While this is disappointing, and other state schools will not be attending, it helps reduce risk of illness and opens up opportunities for our staff, students and families to volunteer or attend as a spectator. If you are available to help with field events or timing on Wednesday or Thursday (Sept 29 & 30) between 3:30-5pm, please contact Michelle Wagner, Director of Teaching and Learning!

cartoon figure of a young person standing at a lectern

OSSB Forensics Tryouts October 4th

Hello Panthers!

Coach Johnson and Coach Traucht would like to welcome you to the 2021-22 Forensics competition! Be a part of our team, and showcase your incredible public speaking skills in various topics and categories. Please join us for Forensics Tryouts on October 4, 2021 from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM in room 203. If you have an idea of a topic or category, please come prepared to present. Before joining us, you can contact Mrs. Traucht (atraucht@osdb.oh.gov) or Ms. Johnson (yjohnson@osdb.oh.gov) if you need more information.

If you want to participate but need motivation, here are some topics to consider:

  • a quote or motivational saying
  • excerpt from a favorite book
  • scene from a movie
  • personal growth story
  • your favorite person/place/thing

Due to travel restrictions, all competitions will be held virtually. We will represent The Ohio State School for the Blind by respecting our teammates and our opponents.

Dates to remember:

Season Dates: Begins October 4 and ends December 9, 2021

Virtual Competition November 8 through the 10th


Good luck! We look forward to seeing students on October 4, 2021, at 3:30 PM.


To read the complete letter from Coach Johnson and Coach Traucht, click on the link below.

cartoon figure of a young person standing at a lectern
Donate to the OSSB Read-a-thon

Thanks to all who participated in the OSSB Read-a-thon! We hope you had fun reading this fall, and continue to enjoy reading throughout the school year! Want to make a donation? Click HERE for secure PayPal/Credit Card donations.

Clipart shows cartoon images of children standing around the edges of a cartoon earth. They are smiling and waving as they look upward.

Last Week in Social Studies

Ms. McCumber's 5th-grade class is discussing cultures and civilizations. A culture is "any group of people with a shared way of life." The class had a wonderful and interactive discussion on blind and the visually impaired culture recognizing their shared experiences and beliefs. They better recognize their strengths as individuals and as a group. This helps increase their relationships and confidence within themselves.
Clipart shows cartoon images of children standing around the edges of a cartoon earth. They are smiling and waving as they look upward.

Guidelines for Quarantine After Exposure in K-12 Classroom Settings - Click on the Flowchart for more information

photo shows OSSB swimming pool with students swimming and people standing on the pool deck. Flags are draped across the pool with pool guides. The windows at the back of the pool room look out onto the OSSB property.

Varsity Swim News

Varsity swim practices begin on Monday, October 4th and will tentatively finish on December 9th. Just like last year, our final swim meet will be virtual.

Please have physicals completed and final forms updated.

We will have morning practices for residential students, and afternoon practices for day students. We have a large amount of students interested in swimming this year, and this will help with the safety of our students. This will also provide more focused instruction.

  • Morning practices will run from 6:00am – 7:15am
  • Afternoon practice will run from 3:30pm – 4:45pm

If you cannot pick up your day student at the pool by 5pm, I will escort him/her to the front lobby to await pickup. Looking forward to another great swim season. Go Panthers! ~Coach Grim

photo shows OSSB swimming pool with students swimming and people standing on the pool deck. Flags are draped across the pool with pool guides. The windows at the back of the pool room look out onto the OSSB property.
Cafeteria menu Sept 27 thru Oct 1
photo of a blue varsity letter jacket with white sleeves, and blue and white striped cuffs and waistband.

OSSB Vending Program offers Varsity Letter Jackets

If your student is interested in a Varsity Jacket, our Vending Department has set up a partnership with Egelhoff Sports in Northern Columbus. The jackets will represent the school colors of dark royal with white sleeves and red with white trim lettering.

  • Jackets with vinyl sleeves start at $165
  • Jackets with leather sleeves start at $225
There are additional costs for 3-inch OSSB letters across the back, 2-inch lettering (Marching Band, Wrestling, Varsity Swim, etc…), graduation year, name, and Panther head for the center of the back of the jacket.

At the time of ordering, an in-person fitting along with a downpayment of half of the total bill is necessary. Orders should be placed soon, allowing at least six weeks for completion.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Grim or one of our vending students. sgrim@ossb.oh.gov or 614-468-8880.

photo of a blue varsity letter jacket with white sleeves, and blue and white striped cuffs and waistband.
OSSB Parent Teacher Staff Foundation Facebook Page

Did you know that OSSB receives support from the OSSB PTSF, a Non-Profit Foundation? Find out more at www.ossbfoundation.org or click on this link.

RESOURCES & WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES

Disclaimer: The following information is being provided for informational purposes only. Listed events are not sponsored or endorsed by the Ohio State School for the Blind. OSSB does not guarantee the accuracy of the information or data provided at these events.
Registration now open for A Touch of Braille, Free online professional development course

Sign Up To Learn . . . A Touch of Braille!

October 4th, 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Refresh your braille skills with A Touch of Braille! This introduction to braille workshop was developed to assist those who support students who are visually impaired by providing an introductory level of understanding braille. This one-day, hands-on training for paraprofessionals, general educators, other school staff, and parents/families.


Visit https://ataem.org/a-touch-of-braille for more information and to register!

Information and photo shared courtesy of the AT & AEM Center.

Registration now open for A Touch of Braille, Free online professional development course

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Blind/Low Vision/Visually Impaired Students and Their Parents/Guardians

The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio (NFBO) wants to know about the experiences of families of visually impaired and blind students during COVID-19 in our state. They have created a survey to help determine how students have been impacted and to help guide future decisions regarding virtual instruction. They also want to hear of any new techniques that students have developed during virtual learning.


If you are a BVI student (K-12), or you are the parent/teacher/guardian of a BVI student (K-12), the NFB wants to hear from you! Please fill out this survey by October 1, 2021.


Examples of factors that could have been affected during the pandemic may include

internet access and reliability, Individualized Educational Program (IEP), availability of resources, teaching style, level of participation in class, virtual platforms, roles of parents and caregivers and more.


Please complete the Google Form survey by October 1, 2021.


Suzanne Turner, Ohio Affiliate Vice President

Cleveland Chapter, President

(216) 990-6199

smturner.234@gmail.com

Is Your Student Transitioning from School to a Supported Day Program? Check Out This Virtual Learning Opportunity

Adult Day Program Virtual Tour Flyer - download actual flyer in button below.
Columbus Recreation and Parks- Therapeutic Rec Blind Sports/ Rec FALL PROGRAMMING

Columbus Recreation and Parks- Therapeutic Rec Blind Sports/ Rec FALL PROGRAMMING

Envision Fall Event

Hiking, Campfire, Pumpkin Carving on October 20th from 4:30-6:30 pm

· Youth (3-17) 4:30-6:30pm

· Location: Ottawa 3200 Indian Village Rd. Columbus, OH 43221

· Other Activities: Pumpkin Carving, Apple Cider, Smore's and Doughnuts


Blind Soccer

· Location for Sept. practice: Blackburn Community Center 263 Carpenter St. Columbus, OH 43205

Oct 26th

· Youth 6-7:00 pm


OUTDOOR EDUCATION

Bird's Harvest on November 4th

· Youth (3-17) 4:30-5:30pm

· Location: Wyandot 3228 Indian Village Rd. Columbus, OH 43221

· Activities: How birds harvest in the fall. Hiking and Crafts


RSVP through the link below or the emails below:

Link: https://forms.gle/aKuPDMt33iDj8jw76

Outdoor Ed: outdooreducation@columbus.gov

Envision & Soccer: Katharineatkinso6@gmail.com

Columbus Recreation and Parks- Therapeutic Rec Blind Sports/ Rec FALL PROGRAMMING
Flyer for 4 session series on Supported Decision-Making with Jonathan Martinis

"EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING: A SERIES ON SUPPORTED DECISION-MAKING" WITH JONATHAN MARTINIS

State Support Team Region 11 is excited to host Jonathan Martinis, Senior Director for Law and Policy for the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, for four, 1.5-hour virtual speaking engagements focused on education, employment, and independent living for people with disabilities.

This series includes 4 sessions on 4 different dates. You will be able to register for all sessions from this page. The first session is on October 6th from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. This special event will be recorded. Registered attendees will be sent a free copy of "Supported Decision Making: From Justice for Jenny to Justice for All!"

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/education-employment-independent-living-with-jonathan-martinis-tickets-168723633931

Flyer for 4 session series on Supported Decision-Making with Jonathan Martinis

Weekly Updates from the Ohio Center for Deafblind Education

Click on the link below for weekly updates from OCDBE.
Photo of OSSB building with US and Ohio Flags flying

Ohio State School for the Blind

Photo of OSSB building with US and Ohio Flags flying

Michelle Wagner, Director of Teaching and Learning

Alison Brewer, Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning

Lou Maynus, Superintendent

Al LaBarre, Executive Director of Statewide Services

5220 North High Street, Columbus, OH, USA lkaplan@osdb.oh.gov 614-752-1359 ossb.ohio.gov
Newsletter Background Photo shows students dismissing after school last week. Yellow school buses, cars, and vans wait for instruction from the OSSB Paraprofessionals as students headed home last week. Photo courtesy of Lauri Kaplan.