Panther Press
a weekly publication of the Georgia Academy for the Blind
April 13, 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
Last day of school countdown: 6 more weeks!
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
April 11-14: SCASB, Alabama (Track & Field)
April 16 Drop in RPM, Floyd County (details, page 3)
April 22: Easter Holiday
April 25-- 28: Senior Trip
*May 2: GAB students attend Macon Little Theatre’s “Miracle Worker” (details, page 3)
May 16: 10 am Awards Day
*May 16: 4 pm Project SEARCH graduation lobby of the Navicent Health Heart Tower
May 17: 11 am Graduation in our new and improved auditorium!
May 24: Last day of school
Georgia Milestones Assessments Continue
April 15 & 16 – Math (grades 3-8)
April 17 – Science (grades 5 and 8 only)
April 18 – Social Studies (grades 5 and 8 only)
April 19 – Make-up Day
April 23 & 24 – ACT
April 29 –Literature – Writing (grade 9)
April 30 –Literature (grade 9) and American Literature
May 1– Algebra I
May 2 – Geometry
May 3 – Make-up
May 6 – Biology
May 7 – Physical Science
May 8 – US History
May 9 – Economics
May 10– Make-up
Parents/guardians, you can help your child by assuring he/she:
o Gets a good’s night sleep.
o Eats a healthy breakfast.
o Gets to school on time.
Learn more about Georgia Milestones Assessments at link below:
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 Please remember, to contact us if you've had a change in address, phone number and/or email!
The Case of the Missing 1000 Box Tops Mission 2: April 12, 2019
Our GAB Box Top detectives have been busy this week. Ms. Applebee brought in 55 Box Tops. A total of $5.50 that would have been thrown in the trash. Let’s get everyone involved in collecting and maybe we can reach our goal. Now, I am asking that in the few weeks we have left of the school year that you try and make it a goal of collecting 200 Box Tops. This will get us close to meeting half of our goal of 1,000. Please look closely at everything you throw away and check for any Box Tops. Also please be aware of the expiration dates. Dates on Box Tops expire on the date shown, so no Box Tops earlier than April 2019. Thanks for all the hard work. Sylvia Layson, slayson@doe.k12.ga.us, 478751- 6083, ext. 1200
Birthdays
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
April Staff Birthdays:
Ms. Stroud April 4
Mr. Harris April 8
Ms. Yaughn April 9
Ms. Hawkins April 12
Ms. Y. Gibson April 12
Ms. Easley April 19
Ms. Sullivan April 20
Ms. Scott April 22
Ms. Bronner April 25
Ms. Minick April 25
Ms. Thompson April 30
SECOND NOTICE: Atlanta Area Families
Join the Center for the Visually Impaired for this FREE Field Day at Coan Park. Learn how many sports are adapted for the blind or visually impaired, and then try them out for yourself. Everyone can enjoy this day of fun so be sure to invite your family and friends to register, too! Blindfolds will be available for any sighted participants who want to experience what it is like for their family member or friend to play a sport with a visual impairment. Registration preferred by April 19.
Participants will have a chance to meet two medal-winning Paralympian Goalball Players – Atlanta resident Amanda Dennis and Tyler Merren. They will both share their journey to becoming a medal-winning Paralympic athlete and what they are doing now. Get your FREE tickets while they last at link below: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cvi-field-day-tickets-59771173188
Saturday, April 27
Registration/Check-In: 9:30 a.m. Activities: 10 a.m. to Noon
Location: Coan Park 1530 Woodbine Ave., SE, Atlanta, GA 30317
Announcing a Special Event:
The Macon Little Theatre has invited GAB to attend their final dress rehearsal for The Miracle Worker on Thursday, May 2 at 7 pm. Families of day students: if you want your child to attend, you must make arrangements to pick them up from GAB by 9:15 pm, OR make arrangements with Mr. Reynolds to stay in cottages this night. Our art students will be displaying their work during the duration of the play May 3-12. See their website for ticket information and show times by clicking below.
We are so thankful for these good neighbors!
FINAL NOTICE: North Georgia Families
Join the members of Georgia’s State Schools’ Family Engagement Team and other parents/guardians from the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf, the Georgia Academy for the Blind and the Georgia School for the Deaf
for a “Drop-In RPM” (Regional Parent/Guardian Meeting) in YOUR community!
. Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Georgia School for the Deaf
232 Perry Farm Rd. Cave Spring, GA 30124
Drop in anytime between 6-7:30
Get the latest updates and give your feedback on your child’s school including
o Family Engagement Plan, School Improvement Plan and the School/Student/Parent-Guardian Compact
o Learn ways to help your child with school and daily living skills
o Learn of valuable resources in your own community
o Light refreshments served
o Door prize given
So that we know who to plan for, please RSVP: (AASD) Patti Lombardi 404-300-5858, plombardi@doe.k12.ga.us or (GAB) Sonya Milam: 478-262-3303 smilam@doe.k12.ga.us or (GSD) Marie Dickinson (706) 777-2200 mdickinson@doe.k12.ga.us Also, let us know if you want a RPM in your community!
7TH 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.
FINAL NOTICE: 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!
FINAL NOTICE: 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!
FINAL NOTICE: Middle Georgia Families
Last Week in Pictures
Senior Dinner Before Prom!
Senior Lead Out at Prom
More prom pictures in next week's edition.
Last Friday: a Day of GAB Royalty
(Below) Ms. Denice Lamar has been elected the 2018-19 RA of the Year! GAB has been her first and only job! She joined the GAB family 35 years ago and is looking forward to many more happy years serving our students and families!
(Left) On Friday, we also surprised Mrs. Mary Keith with a fun coronation. We heard proclamations from students, staff and administrators and enjoyed a visit from her husband.
Mrs. Keith led the GAB faculty and staff, students, families and community members throughout the entire AdvancED accreditation process. All preliminary findings are excellent from the many audits, meetings, observations and final visit. We look forward to soon sharing the final official report with all. Thank you to all!