OSSB Panther News
May 23, 2022
IMPORTANT DATES
MAY 2022
- 26 Senior Trip
- 26 Elementary Art Festival
- 27 Elementary Bogart Car Race
- 27 Senior Graduation Practice 1:15pm
- 27 Spring Parent Teacher Staff Organization Meeting 2:45-3:30pm We will discuss the 2022-23 Fundraising Calendar for the PTSO. Click on the link to join.
- 30 Memorial Day/NO SCHOOL
- 1 Lions Club Track and Field Elementary event 9:00 - 11:00 am
- 1 Senior Graduation Practice 2:00 pm
- 2 Senior Breakfast with Dr. Maynus and Mrs. Wagner 8:00am
- 2 OSSB Graduation 10:00 am light refreshments will be served in the gym after graduation for families and graduates.
- 2 Last Day of School/Dismissal at Noon - Happy Summer!!
EDGE Program Year-End Wrap Up!
On Friday May 20th, participants in the 2021-2022 EDGE program had their Promotion Ceremony celebrating the work of the young adults in the program this year. Each young adult was recognized individually for their hard work and dedication throughout the program, and awarded a plaque to commemorate their achievement for the year. After the ceremony concluded, young adults enjoyed time to fellowship with friends, families, district representatives, and agency experts over refreshments.
The EDGE team led by Mrs. Fisher and Ms. Bailey, with support from Ms. Jackson, want to thank all those that were in attendance including families, district representatives, community partners and program supporters. The team was excited to host Joanie Shell from Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), Job Coach, Joe Weykamp, from Alpha, Site Supervisor, Nita Penick, Superintendent Dr. Maynus, Mrs. Wagner, and Dr. LaBarre at this event. This was a wonderful celebration for our young adults, as the team is very proud of all they have accomplished. The EDGE program wishes joy and success to all moving forward.This week's newsletter background photo also features students and staff from the 2022 EDGE Program.
"Tech Turn-In" This Friday
OSSB Celebrates During Girls on the Run 5K
Art Show and Tactile Mural on Display now at OSSB
If you are at OSSB anytime soon, check out a couple of new things on display! The Art Show and History Banner displays are set up in the multipurpose room in the elementary hallway. There is also a student-created tactile mural in the basement rec area.
The art show showcases the artwork of OSSB students. Each student gets to make an artwork of their choice to put on display. Some of the artwork includes a paper maché panther, a ten-foot-tall mermaid, and many ceramic pieces and paintings. Also, on display in the multipurpose room are fabric banners displaying the history of the school from its first days of establishment in 1837 to the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
The idea for creating a tactile mural was presented by OSSB student, Brady, who took the initiative to reach out to school administrators for approval. Students in the junior high and high school classes worked hard to make the mural come to life. The mural shows an ocean scene that includes a shark, a jellyfish, and a pineapple house similar to the one in Spongebob Squarepants. The tactile elements include clay ocean figures made by the elementary and MD art classes. ~Mrs. Rachelle Smith, Art Teacher
OSSB Mini Music Program - Choir and Ensembles
OSSB Mini Bands Concert - May 19th, 2022
OSSB Celebrates Seniors
After graduation, Seniors will receive guests through a receiving line in the hallway just outside the auditorium, and then light refreshments will be served to students, families, and staff in the Gymnasium. Congratulations!
Photo shown is from graduation in 2009 and shows Senior Katie wearing a red cap and gown with a blue and red tassle and holding a rose, her diploma and award. Katie decorated her cap with a circuit board, and computer key caps that spelled out her name (she also attended the Delaware Area Career Center). She is accompanied by OSSB's own Mary Swartwout.
Amazonsmile Supports OSSB Foundation and the Students of OSSB
Resources for Students and Families
Sensory-Friendly Summer Night - May 26th at The Columbus Zoo
Columbus Zoo Sensory Night
The Columbus Zoo will have a Sensory-Friendly Summer Night on May 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. On this day, the Zoo will offer “quiet hours” for families to enjoy the Zoo in a calm and relaxed atmosphere without added background sounds (such as music throughout the park or the carousel) that can be challenging for individuals with sensory needs.
A limited number of animal attractions, rides, and food and beverage locations will be open to guests. Admission is $10 per person and free to Zoo members. Please note- reserved tickets are required to enter the Zoo for this event to help us limit the amount of people at this experience, so please reserve spots at https://columbuszoo.org/home/visit/plan-your-visit/event-calendar/#0c0bdb32-bd2f-67d7-bdc2-ff0000bf4b43
Summer Camp and Sports
NFB BELL Academy in Ohio
The NFB BELL Academy is back in person this year, 08/07/2022 thru 08/12/2022, and provides children with braille and nonvisual skills instruction through fun, hands-on learning activities. The NFB BELL Academy—which stands for National Federation of the Blind Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning®—is a nationwide (United States and Puerto Rico) summer program that prepares blind and low-vision children to grow into confident and independent blind people who live the lives they want.
Who Should Attend?
Blind and low-vision children, ages four through twelve, who:
- Do not receive enough Braille and nonvisual skills instruction in school
- Could benefit from more Braille exposure over the summer
- Would enjoy connecting with blind role models
The Ohio NFB BELL Academy will offer a residential program from August 7-12, 2022 in Columbus. Meals will be provided. The registration fee is $100, and scholarships are available. Please contact Eric Duffy for more information.
To apply for this location, please visit the national NFB BELL Academy page.
Interested in volunteering? For older students who are blind or visually impaired, please contact Eric Duffy about volunteer opportunities during camp!
Program Coordinator: Eric Duffy
Phone: 614-377-9877
Email: peduffy63@gmail.com
Click to fill out the online Application
Information courtesy of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio.
Blind Soccer Activities with Katie Smith
Blind Soccer - Contact Katie Smith 513-460-9785
Blackburn Community Recreation Center, 263 Carpenter St. Columbus, OH 43205
- June 9th - 4:30pm- 5:30pm Youth
Katie Smith
513-460-9785
Information courtesy of Katie Smith.
Envision Blind Sports Camp
Camp is being held on July 17th-23rd at Penn State Behrend in Erie, PA.
- Cost $500. Financial assistance is available.
- Camper Application: https://forms.gle/YdwvipLJCFa9KuLz8
- Counselor Application: https://forms.gle/LuQ1FsF7n6rbzTMYA
- The application deadline for campers and counselors is Friday, June 17, 2022. We will need time before camp to confirm facilities and order apparel so please make sure to sign-up ASAP
- for questions please contact Envision envisionblindsports@gmail.com
Residential households in the U.S. are now eligible for another order of free at-home tests on USPS.com. Each order now includes 8 rapid antigen COVID-19 tests.
Packages will ship free
Workshops and Webinars
APH Webinars: ExCEL Academy - College Prep Webinar for Students - May 25th 6:00pm
May 25, 2022, 6:00 – 7:00 PM EST
College Prep Series
Academy Audience: High school and post-high school students
May 25: College Prep – How Do I Chose a Major and Other Important Questions
When you’re asked the question, what do you want to do after high school, it might be easy to say, “I’m going to go to college.” But just what IS college in 2022? And how can you make sure you have the knowledge and skills to really prepare for the changes that college-and life after high school, will ask of you. We will explore this and more in this Excel Academy series.
Attending college and entering the workforce with vision loss requires that you work now, to be the advocate and student that colleges assume you’re going to be. There are many ways to think about your post-high school education to help you meet your goals. This series will help you understand how to search for a college (they are not all the same!), consider the skills (academic and blindness skills) you need to meet the demands, and explore the pros and cons of college, including other ways to prepare for your life after high school, and entering the workforce. Topics will include college search, financial aid, choosing a major, the change in support from high school to college, and work, The key to all of it? Your own knowledge, skills, and determination to do hard things.
Register Here for College Prep Series
Information courtesy of American Printing House for the Blind
ARC of Ohio Summer Conference 2022 Free to Family Members
Ohio State School for the Blind
Michelle Wagner, Director of Teaching and Learning
5220 N. High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-752-1359
Questions about this newsletter or the content? Please contact Lauri Kaplan, Parent Mentor at 614-806-2651 or lkaplan@osdb.oh.gov