OSSB Panther Paws News

Monday - May 3, 2021

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Ohio State School for the Blind

Photo of OSSB building with US and Ohio Flags flying

Principal, Michelle Wagner

Assistant Superintendent, Al LaBarre

Superintendent, Lou Maynus

5220 North High Street, Columbus, OH, USA lkaplan@osdb.oh.gov 614-752-1359 ossb.ohio.gov
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IMPORTANT DATES

MAY

  • May 3-6 - Ohio State Testing
  • May 3-27 - Little NC's Swimming
  • May 12 - Senior Lunch
  • May 12 - Girls on the Run Race - 3:15 - 4:00pm OSSB Track
  • May 17 - Senior Parent ZOOM Meeting, 7:00 pm
  • May 19 - Junior/Senior Prom
  • May 31 - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

JUNE

  • June 3 - Graduation
  • June 4 - Last Day of School
  • June 7 - 18 - Extended Learning Plan - more information coming soon!
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Happy Teacher Appreciation Week (scrabble letters shown on top of a pad of paper with pencils to the side)

Ohio State School for the Blind Summer Camp Registration Now Open!

OSSB Summer Camp Registration

OSSB will hold in-person Summer Camps this year. Registration is now open through June 4th. Make sure to register soon, these camps will fill up quickly!

We Did It! Elementary State Testing In The Rearview Mirror.

Ms McCumber’s class enjoys a surprise celebration lunch from Subway after completing all of their state testing! Photos include left to right, Dhevon and Bryanna, Jonah, Josh, and AJ, and Brian and Lyric at their desks in Ms. McCumber's classroom, socially distant and enjoying their submarine sandwiches!
Photo of 2019 Girls on the Run team and coaches

OSSB Girls On The Run Season Finishes, May 12th - Celebrate With Us On The OSSB Track

Due to COVID-19, Girls on the Run has operated a little differently this spring. The health and safety of our girls, coaches and school is priority #1, so we combined on-campus practices for residential students with virtual practices for day students.


The Girls on the Run program provides students with the opportunity to engage in activities that are not only fun but also educate students in varying areas of their lives promoting their physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being. Practices have been held twice a week for 8 weeks where girls have had fun, explored valuable lessons, and found joy in physical activity!


Our season will conclude with a Girls on the Run Race! Please come and cheer our students on as they walk/run the track for a 30 minute time period. We are asking everyone to remember to wear their masks and maintain social distancing during the event. They will start around 3:15 pm and end around 3:45 pm.


Please contact Courtney Hunkele or Sally Williams know if you have any questions!

Photo shows 2019 Girls on the Run Team and Coaches in Downtown Columbus.

Photo of 2019 Girls on the Run team and coaches
Mr. Wilson shows students Aliyah and Errion how to load the washing machine in the Vocational Laundry room as they practice Expanded Core Curriculum skills.

Elementary Students Practice ECC Skills at OSSB

Errion and Aaliyah from Ms. Kester's class have been working with Mr. Wilson this year learning how to do classroom laundry. Independent Living Skills is just one of the areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) for students who are blind or visually impaired. I'll just bet these two have started helping their families at home with chores as well!! For more information about the ECC, check out this article on the Family Connect website - Photo courtesy of Val Kirk, Vocational Teacher.
Mr. Wilson shows students Aliyah and Errion how to load the washing machine in the Vocational Laundry room as they practice Expanded Core Curriculum skills.

Listen Now To The OSSB April Podcast

Welcome back to another exciting edition of the OSSB, podcast and as always thank you for tuning in every month. In this episode we hear:

  • the most interesting facts about the month of April
  • Monty and I interview an up and coming Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Miss Hannah, from the Ohio State University.
  • Ms. McCumber’s class does a really good episode of "Would you Rather".
  • OSSB now has a piece of amazing art work created by Ms Stephanie Welch-Grenier. This piece of art reflects on the many accomplishments of the Ohio State School for the Blind, and you just have to see it! We’ll do our best to bring it to you in audio.
  • Coach Heath will wrap up the track season for Podcast listeners.
  • Our alumni focus this month is Mr. Boniface Womber, who graduated in 2015 and pursued a degree in journalism. Want to read some of his stories? Click on the the links below.
  • We conclude with our elementary students talking about how they celebrated the end of our state testing.
We hope you enjoy this month's Podcast!


Articles by Boniface Womber:

https://eyeonohio.com/ohio-department-of-health-delays-records-release-despite-court-order/

https://eyeonohio.com/ohio-department-of-job-and-family-services-tries-to-bolster-its-own-workforce-by-posting-jobs-with-no-medical-benefits-in-pandemic/

https://www.thelantern.com/2019/09/ohio-state-buckeye-bike-hub-opens/

Turn That Trash Into Cash

Turn That Trash Into Cash

OSSB and the OSSB Parent Teacher Staff Organization are excited to announce that we are now partnered with Terracycle! Haven’t heard of Terracycle? In a nutshell, Terracycle is a recycling organization that coordinates with participating companies who pay to get their products or packing materials back after you use them. Each time you recycle participating products with Terracycle, you earn points for your chosen nonprofit. Those points translate into money to help OSSB PTSF with their mission to support OSSB students and staff.

Does your family use Kroger Brand Products, Colgate oral care products, or Swiffer products? Do you have any broken V Tech or Hasbro toys at home? Do you filter your water with a Brita filter? These are just a few of the manufactures that have recycling programs that earn points.

HOW IT WORKS

  • Participating is completely free and very easy.
  • Sign up for your free account at https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/
  • From there you can request a free shipping label or collection bag and start collecting your products! Each time you recycle, you earn points!
  • To make sure the points go to the Ohio State School for the Blind PTSF, go to your “Profile”. From there look for the “My Impact” tab. Search for Ohio State School for the Blind PTSF in the drop down menu.

If you have any questions about how to get started, feel free to reach out to Emily Russell at erussell@osdb.oh.gov.

Turn That Trash Into Cash
cartoon image of children and adults standing in a row with their right hand on their hip and left hand reaching over their head for a stretch.

Fitness Fridays on Zoom

OSSB staff is still offering Fitness Fridays on Zoom. Each week, they will offer new and exciting exercise routines. To maximize the health benefits, full and active participation is a must. Be ready to sweat! The sessions will start at 9:30 am and run for approximately 45 minutes. Proper dress is required – tennis shoes and exercise clothes. You may want to keep a water bottle nearby during the activity. We encourage everyone to join!


Mrs. Henry, Ms. Gilliland, Mrs. Kallstrom, and Mr. Lee

Fitness Friday (join here)

Meeting ID: 998 911 7625

Passcode: Fq36nR

cartoon image of children and adults standing in a row with their right hand on their hip and left hand reaching over their head for a stretch.

Yearbooks May be Ordered Thru May 10, 2021

Parents and students, it's not too late to order this year's Panther Yearbook. The deadline to order is May 10th if you want it delivered to the school. Braille copies will be available (braille only, no photos), so please let Mrs. Rachelle Smith know when ordering if you would like a braille text to go with your OSSB Yearbook. There is no charge for the braille copies.
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OSSB Cafeteria Menu - May 3, 2021

Download Accessible OSSB Menu PDF Here

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Panther Paws Newsletters - 2020-21 Archives

Did you miss one of our weekly newsletters? Find all 2020-21 issues on our website.

OSSB Social Media

OSSB Parent Teacher Staff Foundation Facebook Page

Did you know that OSSB receives support from the OSSB PTSF, a non-profit Foundation? Find out more at www.ossbfoundation.org or click on this link.

Resources and Workshops for Students and Families

Disclaimer: The following information is being provided for informational purposes only. Listed events are not sponsored or endorsed by the Ohio State School for the Blind. OSSB does not guarantee the veracity of the information or data provided at these events. In no way is OSSB instructing students and families to participate in the described events.
APH Virtual ExCEL Camps

The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is preparing to offer the Virtual ExCEL Camp from mid-June through mid-August. The Virtual ExCEL Camp will include a live hour at 2:00 ET, Monday through Friday, and is free to all registrants.

The Ohio Center for. Deafblind Education
Adaptive Sports Alert! Blind and Visually Impaired Boxing Instruction May 8th in Hamilton, Ohio 10:00am - noon Please email AdaptiveSports@cchmc.org
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Supported Decision Making Instead of Guardianship?

Supported Decision Making Instead of Guardianship?

Have you heard of Supported Decision Making? Are you considering getting Guardianship of your young adult with disabilities? This two part workshop may be for you - May 12th and May 26th from 6:30 - 7:30 pm (participants should attend both sessions). Presenters from Disability Rights Ohio, and Ohio Family to Family will share resources and information that may simplify the process. Register here or contact Marion Cosgrove Rauch for more information at marion.cosgroverauch@cchmc.org
Supported Decision Making Instead of Guardianship?

ACB Ohio Scholarship Window Opens

The American Council of the Blind of Ohio offers six scholarships each academic year. The application and reference forms may be downloaded from www.acbohio.org or requested by calling our office at 614-261-3561 or 800-835-2226. They have scholarships for entering freshmen, undergraduates, and graduate students. Applications are due in August.

An applicant must be an Ohio resident or attend an Ohio school in a two-year or more post-secondary degree program, be legally blind (except for the NOLA WEBB-MCKINNEY SCHOLARSHIP), have a 3.0 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale, and be willing to attend the 2021 ACB-Ohio convention.

Send the completed application packet to ACB-Ohio Scholarship Committee, 3805 N. High Street, Suite 305, Columbus, OH 43214, or via e-mail to acbo.director@gmail.com with “Scholarship Application” in the subject field.

Newsletter Background Photo shows an up-close view of a Perkins Brailler. Photo courtesy of Mrs. Kaplan.