Panther Press
a weekly publication of the Georgia Academy for the Blind
March 22, 2019
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.
Check out the student produced video about our Mission Statement below:
Mark your Calendars!
*Just added
March 25-29: Spring Break
*April 1: High School prom packets and money due!
April 4: High School Prom
April 9: Special Olympics
April 11-14: SCASB, Alabama (Track & Field)
April 22: Easter Holiday
April 25-- 28: Senior Trip
May 17: Graduation
May 24: Last day of school
Whether you are traveling or enjoying a “stay-cation”, we want to wish all our students and families a very safe and happy spring break. In addition to relaxing and having fun, remember to have your child help prepare meals, do some chores, read, read, read and practice math facts in fun ways during their time with you (see page 2 for some resources.) We look forward to our residential students to return on Sunday, March 31 and having all our students back to school on Monday, April 1!
Let us hear from you!
This newsletter is published by our Parent Mentor, Sonya Milam. Please send your ideas, news, and resources in your community to her. smilam@doe.k12.ga.us, 478-262-3303
Character Education
Determination: the inner strength and outward effort to pursue a goal or a tack.
If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress. Barack Obama
Birthdays
Students remaining March birthdays:
Harry 03/23
Angelica L 03/27
BJ 03/28
Sammy 03/19
April Student Birthdays:
Pierce April 2
Caden W April 4
Quaderrius April 7
Dillon April 17
Frankie April 18
Eugene April 21
Ashlyn April 21
Joshiah April 25
Marquez April 26
Majestic April 27
Hope D. April 28
Joe April 30
Staff remaining March Birthdays:
Mr. Hudgins 3/24
Ms. Ezell 3/25
Mr. Lumpkin 3/25
April Staff Birthdays:
Ms. Stroud April 4
Mr. Harris April 8
Ms. Yaughn April 9
Ms. Hawkins April 12
Ms. Easley April 19
Ms. Bronner April 25
Ms. Minick April 25
Ms. Thompson April 30
Families: Don't forget to encourage your child read during spring break and perhaps read along with them. There are resources available below and through your local library too!
Keep math and literacy alive during Spring Break! Check out the membership offerings from Described and Captioned Media Program below!
The Case of the Missing 1000 Box Tops Mission 2: March 22, 2019
Our GAB Box Top detectives have been busy this past week. One of our staff, Ms. Flanders, brought in 34 and Noah brought in 14. That is a total of 48. Almost $5.00 for the student fund. I know we are all excited about Spring Break, but while you are enjoying fun, food, and fellowship with others could you keep an “eye” out for Box Tops? It would be great if after the break we could collect 100 Box Tops. Remember, the money we raise goes towards our educational field trips like the ones you read about in Panther Press! Thanks for all you have done for our students. Click below to see list of participating products.
Sylvia Layson, TVI slayson@doe.k12.ga.us (478) 751-6083 Ext. 1200
FOURTH NOTICE: SUMMER CAMPS!
Act fast as spots are limited. Scholarships are available! Contact Sonya for details! Note: these camp resources are simply provided as a courtesy to our families. Though we are confident that they are appropriate for and accessible to our students, GAB does not endorse or sponsor any camp.
Georgia Lions Club Camp, Waycross, GA
Session 1 - June 9~14: Adults, age 31-plus
Session 2- June 16~21: Adults, age 31-plus
Session 3 - June 23~28: Family Camp, age 5-12
Session 4 - June 30~ July 5: Teens, age 13-17
Session 5 - July 7~14: Young Adults, age 18-30
Get your application by contacting Sonya Milam, Smilam@doe.k12.ga.us, 478-262-3303 or get it from their website at link below. DEADLINE IS APRIL 15 – no late applications will be considered!
Camp Abilities Columbus, GA
May 24, 2019 - May 27, 2019 at Columbus State University
Camp Abilities Columbus, GA is a residential camp that will be open for a maximum of 16 campers, ages 9 to 18 years old who are blind or visually impaired. They will stay on Columbus State University's campus to engage in an array of sports and recreational activities in a safe and developmentally appropriate environment. Sports and recreational activities include: goalball, beep baseball, beep kickball, tandem biking, rock climbing, swimming, soccer, tennis, track & field and team building activities. Learn more from their website at link below.
Contact Jeanine Fittipaldi-Wert at wert_jeanine@columbusstate.edu for information regarding camp registration
Camp Dreams, (Camp Grace, Roberta, GA)
July 21st – July 24th (Sun. - Wed.)
July 25th – July 28th (Thur. - Sun.)
Only online applications are accepted. See the link below. Let Sonya know if you would like assistance in registering.
Blaze Adaptive Sports Camp, Camp Twin Lakes, Winder, GA
July 21-26 Ages 7-17 Only online applications are accepted. See the link below. Let Sonya know if you would like assistance in registering.
STARS Day Camp at the Center for the Visually Impaired, Atlanta
. Transportation from 7 points in Atlanta area provided. All grades for day camp 9 am-3pm. To register go to link below. Sonya has paper applications available as well. Deadline is May 3!
Week 1 - June 3 to 7 . . . . . STARS & the Arts
Week 2 - June 10 to 14 . . . STARS & the Arts
Week 3 - June 17 to 21 . . . Sports and Recreation
Week 4 - June 24 to 28 . . . ECC Week, with a focus on Activities of Daily Living, Transition, Social Skills & more!
Middle Georgia Families:
This Week in Pictures
Below: Ms. Layson’s fifth grade class took their annual field trip to Warm Springs, GA to visit the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Students enjoyed touring the museum and the Little White House. They also visited the pool where Roosevelt and others enjoyed the warm water in helping with polio. One of our Social Studies standards for fifth grade involves studying American history. Standard SS5H4 covers many aspects of our involvement in World War II when Roosevelt was president. This trip enriched our study. Along with Ms. Layson and Ms. Bain, also attending the educational field trip was graduating senior, Judy who is completing her practicum for her is dual enrollment Teaching as a Profession Pathway in Bibb County School System’s Hutchings College & Career Academy. Also pictured is the unfinished portrait of Roosevelt and a wheelchair he once used.
Below: Our middle and high school field trip to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium enabled us to put our O&M and math skills, history and economics knowledge, and even music skills to the test! Everyone experienced getting through a strict security check prior to our group picture in front of the Giant Falcon. The students maneuvered from the upper deck to the middle deck suites of the rich and famous (including Arthur Blanks) and then to the floor level where they explored the Atlanta Falcons’ and Atlanta United locker rooms. The guides informed the group about the history of the stadium (finished a little more than a year ago), how long it took to plan everything (10 years), how long it took to build it (3 years), and how much it cost to build it ($1 billion+). They got to explore samples of artificial turf, put on shoulder pads, pose with wooden players, feel the Falcons’ helmets, and listen to broadcasts of major plays last season for the Falcons and United. The finale was the highlight in the United locker room singing “Oleeeee, Ole-Ole-Oleee, Ooooleeee, Ooooleee!“