Panther Place Residential News
Winter Edition 2020
Warm Wishes!
Welcome back from winter break! We hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday season. We look forward to continuing our adventures in the second half of the school year!
Ohio Winter Continues
Although we enjoyed seasonably warm weather in December and January, please make sure that your child returns each week with weather appropriate attire and accessories. Winter jackets, gloves and hats are essential during cold winter months. Students travel daily from the dorm to the academic building, so we encourage everyone to dress for the weather.
Find the Latest Residential News Online
In addition to the newsletter, the latest news and information regarding the Residential Department can also be found online at the OSSB school website page. Please visit www.ossb.oh.gov and click on the “Residential Program” tab for more information.
Sunday Return Reminder!
Save the Date!
Please continue to follow the school website at www.ossb.oh.gov for updates regarding summer camps this year. Registration information for all summer camps will be posted soon.
Student Goal Tracking and Progress
Quarterly Progress Reports for Residential student goal tracking were mailed home on February 14. Each Progress Report indicates the individualized goals that your child has been assigned in the dorm this school year along with the corresponding steps staff use to teach skill mastery. We encourage family members to continue the skill acquiring process at home!
The Quarterly Progress Report also highlights the areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) that are being focused on during time in the Residential Program. These areas may include: Assistive Technology, Compensatory Skills, Independent Living Skills, Orientation and Mobility, Recreation and Leisure, Self Determination and Social Interactions.
After School Program
Current Club Offerings
The after-school program is now in Session three of quarterly programming. There are some club's that are returning favorites including Blind Soccer, Cooking, Fitness, Game On, 3D Models, Explorer's, Podcast and Playgroup. There are also a few new club options including Drumming, Fit & Functional, Coding, Poetry Out and Nutrition.
A total of 11 residential students will be participating in the 21st Century Programs newest endeavor, the Young Entrepreneur Pitch Challenge. This 5 week program began February 19. The pitch challenge, similar the popular ABC hit show “Shark Tank”, is a competition during which students will have a short amount of time to showcase a product or service.
You can learn more about the Youth Entrepreneur Pitch Challenge or YEP by clicking on the link below:
As part of after school programming, the 21 century grant offers Homework Center on a daily basis from 3:15 pm-4:45 pm. During this time, the school library is open for student use. OSSB support staff and OSU student volunteers are available to assist students with homework assignments and projects. Reading material, resources and technology are also available for personal use. As incentive, if students regularly participated or attended homework center during session one, December 1-January 1, they were eligible to go on a special trip. Hard work paid of in January when students went bowling and played lazer tag after dinner.
EDGE Corner
The STEP Program is now known as the OSSB EDGE Program. EDGE stands for Education Development Growth Employment.
Recreation and Leisure
Residential students enjoyed the following all campus recreation activities:
Winter Holiday Party
Residential students were invited to attend the seasonal holiday party on December 18. The highlight of the party was the dorm gift exchange. Students also enjoyed festive karaoke and time to socialize with peers before winter break.
Snow Tubing
Students in the Residential program made their first visit to Mad River Mountain Avalanche Tubing Park on Thursday, January 30.
National Federation for the Blind
The Capital Chapter of the National Federation for the Blind hosted a party for OSSB students in honor of Louis Braille on Thursday, January 23. Louis invented a system of reading and writing for use by the blind and visually impaired known worldwide simply as braille. Students enjoyed pizza and refreshments while they were educated about services available to them during their high school career and beyond.
Super Bowl Sunday
Valentine's Dance
Love was in the air at the Valentine's Dance on February 12. Students enjoyed activities including bingo, cookie decorating and dancing. Students from the Poetry Out club also presented love poems to the group.
Upcoming Events
March 17: St. Patrick's Day Celebration
March 24: Skate Zone 71 (Roller Skating)
March 30-April 3: Spring Break
April 10: No School
April 13: No School