Panther Press
a weekly publication of the Georgia Academy for the Blind
August 17, 2018
Dr. Cindy Gibson, Superintendent
Email: smilam@doe.k12.ga.us
Website: www.gabmacon.org
Location: 2895 Vineville Avenue, Macon, GA, United States
Phone: (478) 751-6083
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Georgia.Academy.for.the.Blind/
Twitter: @gab_library
Mission Statement
The Georgia Academy for the Blind provides quality education services to Georgia’s students with visual impairments and/or visual impairments in conjunction with other disabilities to prepare them to achieve their highest level of independence in transition to college and career readiness.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Mark your Calendars!
September 6: Drop in RPM State Schools Regional Parent/Guardian Meeting, Savannah, 6 pm, Address forthcoming
September 7: 1 pm School Council Meeting. All are invited. GAB Conference Room or call in.
September 9: BOXED deadline for Box Tops (see page 2 for details)
September 17: Drop in RPM State Schools Regional Parent/Guardian Meeting, Mid-town Atlanta, 6 pm, Address forthcoming
September 17: Monday Media Mania and Coffee Club
October 8-12: Student Fall Break
November 19-23: Thanksgiving Break
December 21 – January 4: Winter Holidays
January 21: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
February 18: Presidents’ Day Holiday
March 25-29: Spring Break
April 22: Easter Holiday
May 24: Graduation
Families: Please be sure to get all your forms turned in including assistive technology forms, meal forms and migrant worker forms regardless of your eligibility status.
Give us your feedback!
This newsletter is produced by Sonya Milam, Parent Mentor. Please send your news ideas and items and/or resources in your community to share with others. Smilam@doe.k12.ga.us 478-262-3303
August Birthdays
STUDENTS:
Josie 08/25
De'Zereion 08/29
Jesse B 08/30
STAFF:
Ms. Holloway 08/17
Ms. Adams 08/19
Mr. Stephens 08/20
Ms Taylor 08/23
Ms. Brown- Basley 08/25
Mr. Fields 08/29
Introducing a new way to get Box Tops!
Hi Box Top Collectors,
I have some exciting news. If you sign up for the Boxed website and order 3 items in the list that offers Box Tops, GAB can receive 100 Box Tops. Simply go to https://www.boxed.com. I did this, and we got 100 box tops easily. If you do this, please sign up under our school. It is very easy to sign up. This offer is only valid until September 9. They will offer Box Tops at other times and I will let you know.
Our total as of August 15 is 277. We are 30% closer to our goal. Please keep collecting. If you have any questions you can email me. Thanks to the many staff and teachers for sending in Box Tops. Thanks to GAB student, Pierce pictured here with his 49 Box Tops.
Thanks for all your help.
Sylvia Layson, Elementary Teacher slayson@doe.k12.ga.us
Publix Partners
This past year GAB earned $97.60 simply by having our families and friends use their Publix Partners cards at the cash register. Be sure to pick up your Publix Partner’s cards at Open House (or contact Sonya Milam to mail) and share with others. Once $250 is reached they will send us a check. What a fun and easy way to make money for our students’ activities!
Introducing CAMP COURAGE - A Helen Keller Experience
September 20-22, 2018
Ivy Green – Birthplace of Helen Keller
Tuscumbia, Alabama
Registration is now open. Qualifications: students must be grades 4-6 and/or ages 9-12, with a hearing impairment and/or visual impairment with no other significant exceptionalities. This camp is offered free of charge. Assistance with travel expenses is available. At least one, and no more than two, parent/guardians, must be participants of the camp and will be required to stay in the hotel with the student and attend some of the events. There will be some activities just for parents/guardians. Contact Sonya Milam to receive the application. Smilam@doe.k12.ga.us, 478-262-3303
DEADLINE is September 6!
Atlanta Area Families: SECOND NOTICE - An introduction to golf clinic by Blind Sports for all ages, no experience necessary!
August 18, 10AM - noon at the PGA Superstore, 2611 George Busbee Parkway, NE, Kennesaw
September 15th 10AM till noon at the Marietta City Club, 510 Powder Springs Street, Marietta
October 20th from 10AM till noon at the Marietta City Club.
November 9 hole play. Location and date to be determined.
Columbus Area Families SECOND NOTICE, see below for a fun filled weekend for students and families. You can go for the weekend OR just spend the day OR choose just one activity!
Friday, August 24, 6:00 pm Camp Abilities at Columbus State University (CSU) relay races and fun activities followed by 7:00 pm game of The Beep Baseball Chicago Comets.
Saturday, August 25, 9:00 am -2:00 pm. Camp Abilities Fun Day at CSU’s Oxbo Meadows: kayaking and other awesome activities. This is open to all individuals (children and adults) who are blind or visually impaired. There is no registration fee and lunch is provided but you must register! Please get an application from Sonya Milam, or contact Jeanine Fittipaldi-Wert, wert_jeanine@columbusstate.edu
Saturday, August 25 at Midnight, Country’s 5K Midnight Run in Columbus will be inclusive and accommodating to our students. Learn more and register at this website: https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Columbus/MidnightExpress5K
GAB Students Entered National Contest & Advocacy was Performed
"Eckman’s Energizing Exercises" and Fall Reading Challenge
For the first five minutes in each of her classes, Ms. Eckman and her high school language arts students are participating in movement activities including elbow planks, straight-arm planks, and side planks, push-ups, side lunges, and “Supermans”. They daily choose an exercise from a deck of exercise cards in large print and Braille. This is part of GABs participation in the state-wide initiative Power Up for 30 whose goal it is to increase active movement by thirty minutes each day.
Last year, these students engaged in two Reading Challenges that increased our students’ reading speeds by up to 39 words per minute. Parents/guardians, please. Please sign and send in the form sent home about the Reading Challenge
VIDEO PRODUCTION
Ms. Thompson’s students are trying out their new green screen equipment. This screen will be used in our video productions allowing usage of a variety of backgrounds.
On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!
The 2018-19 Project Search Internship is moving in full swing. Last week the student interns moved into the Transition Cottage and the adult interns moved into the Project Search House. We are currently working to complete all our hospital requirements for becoming interns at Navicent Health. Also, we are learning to navigate the hospital and getting acquainted with the hospital staff. We have each opened bank accounts and will be going grocery shopping for items to start making our lunches for the following week. We are excited to start this year off right and look forward to what is next to come. By Project Search Adult Intern Media Reporter, SheaReon Reaves
Great news from the GAB GEEK (Giving Enhanced Educational Knowledge) Squad:
- Just in time to enjoy a family movie this weekend, Audio Description movies have arrived on Amazon Video. The feature is available on Fire TV, Fire Tablets, iOS devices, and Android devices. View titles with audio descriptions by going to: https://amzn.to/2BbfWv8
- The Freedom Scientific Blog tells us about a discount program where blind SSI and SSDI recipients can get desktops with JAWS and ZoomText installed through Computers for the Blind for $70. For more information, please see this link; http://bit.ly/2Mruc7w