Wildcat Weekly
October 14, 2022
Contact Information
Website: https://www.ksb.kyschools.us
Location: 1867 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
Phone: (502) 897-1583
Fax: (502) 897-2850
Facebook: facebook.com/KYschoolfortheblind/
Twitter: @KSBWildcats
Principal's Message
What a beautiful day it was for our middle and high school's White Cane Day celebration! (The weather looks like it's going to cooperate for our elementary White Cane Day celebration Friday on campus as well!) We had such a great time at Robison Park and I think the students really enjoyed themselves. Check out the recap below in our ECC Spotlight this week.
The KSB Fall Festival is next week! We welcome any parent volunteers who want to join us for this event. If you are able to help, please email Kyrstin Price (kyrstin.price@ksb.kyschools.us)
Upcoming Eventsđź“…
- KSB Goalball Invitational-Saturday, October 15
- KSB Fall Festival-Thursday, October 20
- No School-Monday, November 7 & Tuesday, November 8
- Thanksgiving Break-Monday, November 21-Friday, November 25
Announcements📢
If you have any change in phone numbers, home address, a change in bus routine or you need someone added/removed from your child’s safe pick-up list; please contact Beth or Linda in the front office.
Are you signed up for OneCall? KSB uses OneCall to send school information, including our Weekly Wildcat. If not, please contact Beth Baker at beth.baker@ksb.kyschools.us or 502-897-1583
Reporting Student Absences
A parent/guardian should call the KSB Office (502-897-1583, ext. 0204) for each day their child will not be at school to report the nature of their child’s absence. If possible, please call the school before 7:45 am. A student’s absence can only be reported to the KSB Office.
Excused absences:
- Medical appointments which cannot be scheduled at non-school times
- Death in the family
- Student illness
- Unavoidable transportation issues
- Other just and legitimate causes, as determined by the Principal
Classroom Connectionđź““
English/Language Artsđź“–
2nd grade ELA: Introducing new unit The Sun, Moon, and Stars. We will be working on reading narrative poems and passages. Students are also working on reading skills, sight words, and fluency.
5th grade ELA: Beginning a new unit reading Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. We will be discussing realistic and historical fiction, writing in our writer’s notebooks daily, and forming well structured responses to writing prompts.
Middle School:
Middle School is continuing with Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, this week digging deeper into the theme of the book which is being different is okay! Ask your middle schooler how that theme applies to them!
High School:
High school English students continue to learn new vocabulary words (9th and 10th grade are learning root words; 11th and 12 grades are learning SAT vocabulary words). In preparation to read the classic fantasy fiction story The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, students are gaining important background knowledge on fantasy fiction, setting of the book, and the author, C.S. Lewis. We will dig deep into the characters, symbolism, author’s craft, vocabulary, and themes of the book. Ask your student about the book! They will be excited to talk about it!
Careers and Tech 💼🖥️
In the World of Work program, students have started interviewing at potential work sites, and some have already received job offers at KSBCF and APH. Work shirts have also been distributed to student workers.
Marketing students have been working on an online module where they are managing a food truck. Personal finance students are learning about building credit, identity theft, and budgetin
Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) Spotlight🔦
White Cane Day Celebration
Later in the morning, students heard from speakers about White Cane Day and how using their own white canes had helped their independence. There were blind and visually impaired adults who spoke, and our own Macy, Brandon, and TaMyah shared stories about their white canes before lunch was served. After lunch, students were able to play games again or visit the playground at the park. The day was capped off with an amazing dance party before the bus arrived. It was a wonderful day!
Mental Health Matters đź’š
Building Confidence
Both middle and high school students are at an age where they are working to discover who they are, what they are about, and their roles in society. It is common for students to be unsure of how to approach new situations, new friendships, or new opportunities. It is crucial for the adults in our students’ lives to coach them on appropriate ways to approach these situations and building confidence in being who they are is part of that. Students who are confident in who they are and who feel supported are less likely to take on negative forms of socializing such as gossip, disrespectful talk, and even bullying. Here are some helpful hints to support building confidence in your student:
- Model confidence: As hard as it may be sometimes, it is important for our students to see us tackling new tasks with optimism. Acknowledge that it may be difficult, but focus on the possible positive outcomes.
- Focus on a growth model: Kids make mistakes just like everyone else. Rather than dwelling on the mistake, help your student look for ways to learn and move forward. Students need to learn how to fail and not let it deter them from their goals. It is difficult to see our students fail, but trial and error is how they learn best.
- Praise the process: Kids will not be successful at everything they try, and won’t be the best at everything they do, either. Students need to understand the benefit of learning to work hard and not giving up. Say things like, “I’m very proud of the effort you’re putting in,” or “I have noticed how hard you’re working at this.”
- Encourage finding their passion: Allowing our students to explore their own interests can help students develop their own sense of identity, which is essential to building confidence.
- Set goals: Helping students to set both short-term and long-term actionable goals validates their interests. Praise each small benchmark on their way to achieving their large goals to keep them motivated. Reinforce that it takes time and effort to achieve dreams.
Student Life 🍎
Keep up to date on what's going on in the dorms with the Residential Program Site.
Athletics 🎽
The KSB Athletic Department will have a Goalball Invitational this Saturday, October 15, hosting teams from The Ohio School for the Blind and Illinois School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Goalball matches start at 9:00 am and run through 4:00pm on Saturday. Help us wish our Wildcats Good Luck, as they compete in the first competition of this year.
Upcoming Athletics Schedule:
Saturday, October 15: KSB Goalball Invitational
Week of October 17: Goalball Practice - Monday through Thursday (3:00 to 5:00)
Friday, October 21 – Saturday, October 22: Tennessee School for the Blind Goalball Invitational @ Nashville, TN
Week of October 23: Goalball Practice - Monday through Wednesday (3:00 to 5:00)
Thursday, October 27: Student/Staff Goalball Game at KSB @ 12:00pm
Week of October 31: Goalball Practice - Monday through Thursday (3:00 to 5:00)
Friday, November 4 – Saturday, November 5: NCASB Goalball Conference Tournament @ Missouri School for the Blind, St. Louis, MO
Students will need to be picked up at KSB on Sunday, November 6 – details to follow closer to time
APH Family Connect
Newsletter background shows drawings of pumpkins on an orange background.