Panther Press
a weekly publication of the Georgia Academy for the Blind
December 14, 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!
*just added
- December 17 – 20: Scholastic Book Fair in Media Center. (See note on left) AND Santa Shop in Media Center (A chance for students and any guests to purchase gifts for family. No gift is more than $7.00
- December 20: Winter Music Program at 10:00 a.m. Vineville Baptist Church, 2591 Vineville Avenue. ~Student Art Show & Scholastic Book Fair before and after at GAB. ~Orco Cooler Give-away (details page 9). ~ Parent/Guardian Meeting afterwards at GAB. PARENTS/GUARDIANS: REMEMBER YOUR STUDENT MUST RETURN WITH THEIR CLASS TO GAB ON THE BUS FROM THE CHURCH, NOT WITH YOU. IF LEAVING BEFORE THE 1:00 DISMISSAL TIME, YOU MUST CHECK THEM OUT FROM THE OFFICE.
- December 21 – January 4: Winter Holidays
- January 21: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
- *February 27 and 28: AdvancED site review; please save these date and stay tuned for the day in which we will need parents/guardians to come and meet with this accreditation team. Also stay tuned for link their parent/guardian survey.
- February 18: Presidents’ Day Holiday
- March 7: Braille Challenge
- *March 8: School Council Meeting, 1:00. Open to all. Call in number: 1-888-557-8511. The access code is 2537361 followed by the # sign.
- March 25-29: Spring Break
- April 4: High School Prom
- April 22: Easter Holiday
- April 25- 28: Senior Trip
- May 17: Graduation
- May 24: Last day of school
Character Education
Kindness: Consideration and willing to help others.
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~ Mark Twain
December Birthdays
Students:
Joshua: 12/5
Caiden, Kaleb, Jartavius: 12/11
Adria: 12/16
Kiauna: 12/22
Shyann: 12/25
Dani and Seth: 12/26
Blake: 12/29
Jermaine: 12/29
James and Logan: 12/31
Staff:
Ms. Gossett: 12/2
Mr. Cronan: 12/4
Ms. Good: 12/13
Ms. Bechtel: 12/17
Ms. Taylor: 12/18
Ms. Thomas: 12/26
Mr. Williams: 12/29
Check on list from Deborah
THIRD NOTICE: The annual Parent/Guardian School Climate Survey for the 2018-2019 school year is open! Please help!
This survey is YOUR opportunity to give your feedback about the school climate at the Georgia Academy for the Blind. It takes less than 5 minutes. You can complete the survey using your personal computer, smartphone, or tablet. You will also be invited to complete the Georgia Parent Survey at GAB during any regular school day and at the December 20 Music Program, Parent/Guardian meeting and Art Show.
The Georgia Parent Survey is for parents of all students in Georgia. The data collected is used as part of the calculation of the School Climate Star Rating. Survey responses are anonymous and will be submitted directly to the Georgia Department of Education for analysis. Schools with no parent or low parent participation will see a negative impact on the school’s School Climate Star Rating. So we need your help to make GAB shine.
You can take the survey here at any time at the link below. After choosing preferred language you will then be directed to School System (required) There you will choose STATE SCHOOLS, NOT YOUR COUNTY, then drop down to the find Georgia Academy for the Blind.
Thank you in advance for your participation and honest feedback. It is greatly appreciated! If you have
any questions are need assistance, please contact Sonya Milam, smilam@doe.k12.ga.us, 478-262-3303.
SECOND NOTICE: Christmas Gift Ideas
Our friends at the Center for the Visually Impaired have put together a list of some great gift ideas for all ages listed below. Some of these items can be found at their VisAbility store located on the first floor of CVI where you will receive a 20% discount through December 21. Online resources to find these suggested gift items are found at the end of this article.
Infants
- Touch and feel books encourage tactile exploration.
- Easily activated musical and light up toys.
- Bell balls with continuous noises to encourage the child to crawl toward the sound and retrieve the ball.
Toddlers
- Riding or push cart type toys such as a shopping cart can help children pull up, and eventually become an adapted walking mobility device.
- Braille blocks for exposure to braille and work on stacking.
- Match & store shape sorter.
Age (3-9)
- Pretend play items such as a kitchen set or dress up clothes such as a doctor, firefighter, etc. to encourage self-help skills such as dressing or cooking.
- Baby dolls, action figures, cars, trains, etc. encourage imaginative play.
- A wooden Lacing Shoe, which teaches children how to lace and tie their own shoes.
Middle School – High School
- Electronic devices such as smart phones are accessible through screen reading software.
- This is also a great age to develop any musical talents. Learning a musical instrument is great for teaching discipline and patience.
- Board games and cards are also great!
Online resources for the ideas above are found below:
The Case of the Missing 1000 Box Tops Mission 2: December 14, 2018: “BEFORE YOU START COOKING PLEASE BE LOOKING”
Our detectives are working hard, but those Box Tops are hiding in some tricky places. We have not had much success these past two weeks. I know this is a very busy time of the year. So, repeat this phrase with me: “BEFORE YOU START COOKING PLEASE BE LOOKING”. When our GAB family works together just think what we can do. We have 100 students in our school. If each student just brought in one Box Top. That would be $10.00. What if 100 students brought in 10 Box Tops (which is not hard to find) that would be $100.00 dollars and our goal would be met of 1,000 Box Tops. So please as you do your weekly shopping take a moment to look for Box Tops. Reminder: the detective who finds the most Box Tops before the Winter break will be given a bonus of $5.00. This is our last week for this contest. If you want to know how to look for Box Tops just email me, and the secret will be revealed. So, during the holidays you may buy items not normally purchased, please look on everything you purchase and help us reach our goal of 1000 Box Tops before December break. I know we can do it! A note to remember is that Box Tops do expire, so when you get a few send them in as soon as possible for us to receive the .10 for each one collected. So, detectives get on the trail to find some Box Tops because GAB students appreciate it.
Click below to learn of participating products.
P.S. Ask your grandparents, friends, and family everybody may have them. If you let people know why we are saving them, I am sure a lot of people would love to help us reach our goal.
Sylvia Layson, TVI, slayson@doe.k12.ga.us, (478) 751-6083 Ext. 1200
This Week in Pictures ~ Spreading Holiday Cheer
Below: Ms. Jones’ and Ms. Thompson’s classes utilized their Math, ECC and O&M skills on a shopping expedition at Macon’s River Crossing Mall and lunch at Buffalo Wings.
Below: Ms. Bechtahl’s and Ms. Flander’s class visits Santa at Macon’s Bass Pro shop
Below: Santa and Mrs. Claus came to GAB Tuesday and Wednesday!
4 Things Children Really Want for Christmas, from Unplug the Christmas Machine (Copyright ©1991 by Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli)
1. RELAXED & LOVING TIME WITH FAMILY
2. REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ABOUT GIFTS
3. AN EVENLY PACED HOLIDAY SEASON
4. RELIABLE FAMILY TRADITIONS
Sonya Milam has more she would love to share!
MORE SANTA PHOTOS IN NEXT WEEK’S EDITION OF PANTHER PRESS
LAST CHANCE!!!! LAST CHANCE!!!! LAST CHANCE!!!!
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