OSSB Panther News
April 25, 2022
IMPORTANT DATES
APRIL 2022
- 27 Last day to turn in End of Year Bash Permission Slips
- 29-30 Varsity Goalball travels to ISVI for NCASB Championships
- 4 Senior Dinner at OSSB
- 5 OSSB Prom
- 11 Year End BASH! 5:00 - 7:00 pm
- 12 Dismissal at Noon
- 13 NO SCHOOL
- 20 Dismissal at 2:30 pm
- 26 Elementary Art Festival
- 27 Senior Graduation Practice
- 30 Memorial Day/NO SCHOOL
- 1 Lions Club Track and Field event 9:00 - 11:00 am
- 2 OSSB Graduation 10:00 am
- 2 Last Day of School/Dismissal at Noon
Teachers Pass RESA Tests!
RESA (Resident Educator Summative Assessment) is a comprehensive mentoring program for new teachers in the state of Ohio. They learn to analyze and reflect on their teaching and how to use best practices in their teaching. OSSB mentor teachers support them during the four-year process. Teachers develop lesson plans, submit a video of themselves teaching a lesson, and answer a series of questions about the lesson. Teachers need to pass the RESA, which outside evaluators grade, and complete a fourth-year leadership project before applying for their five-year professional license. Be sure to give Mrs. Kallstrom and Mr. Schwamburger a big congratulations when you see them! ~Mrs. Ceil Peirano
OSSB Community Featured in Blind Soccer Videos!
~Mrs. Kaplan
Early Literacy Event Draws Families From Across Ohio
The Ohio State School for the Blind and Ohio School for the Deaf Statewide Services & Outreach Department hosted The Sense-Sational Early Literacy Family Event, for families of children ages 0-5, on Saturday, April 23rd. This special event was made possible with grant funding and support from the Ohio Department of Education.
On this beautiful sunny Saturday, families of children who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, and deafblind from all over Ohio gathered at the OSD and OSSB Early Learning Center to connect, learn about emergent literacy, and immerse themselves in a full day of farm-themed fun! Parent workshops highlighted the many ways to imbed literacy through children’s routines using real-life activities that engage all senses. They also observed demonstrations of shared reading experiences that they were able to put into practice. Young students and their siblings participated in a variety of fun activities, including Bring-The-Farm-to-You petting zoo, a musical egg hunt, farm-themed sensory pools, make-it-take it activities, and interactive games that introduced braille and ASL.
Special thanks to our many partners, without whom this day could not have been a success:
- The Ohio Department of Education
- The Ohio State University, Shawnee State University, Kent State University, and RIT: National Technical Institute for the Deaf for providing student teachers to assist with activities
- Bring The Farm To You: family-owned farm https://www.bringthefarmtoyou.com/
- The Morningstar Family Farm – who provided sensory materials from their family farm in memory of their child Rhett Leo
- OSSB/OSD participating teachers, parent mentors, paraprofessionals, and related service team members.
Important Survey for Families Regarding After School Programming
As we finish out another school year at the Ohio State School for the Blind, we are looking to receive Family Feedback on our current after-school program provided by the 21st Century Community Learning Centers. ALSO, what programming would you like to see for your student here if given the opportunity at OSSB in an after-school setting? Even if your student did not attend after-school programming, we would love to hear from you!
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey in the link below so we may look at better ways of serving students here at OSSB. Ohio State School for the Blind Parent Survey
Thank you,
After-school team
END OF THE YEAR BASH - Students and Families Welcome
Students and Families are invited to join us at our End of the Year Bash on May 11th, from 5 pm-7 pm. Day students received permission slip forms to be filled out by parents/guardians. Please return permission slips by Wednesday, April 27th.
Your student has the opportunity to stay after school, or they may leave and come back at 5 pm. Pick-up time is by 7:15 at the Front Lobby. Or come before then and pick up your student at the event! All activities will be in the courtyard between the OSSB school and the Residential dorms.
There will be activities such as inflatables, a video game truck, games, and more!
Please reach out to Sally Williams at swilliams@osdb.oh.gov with any questions, concerns, or comments! We hope to see you there!
Unique Boutique's Mother's Day Sale
Photos From The Annual OSSB Staff Student Goalball Match- April 14th
It's Not Too Late To Order Your OSSB 2021-22 YEARBOOK!
Just a reminder that yearbooks can still be pre-ordered on the Treering website and the cost is $20.59. If you would like to order a braille yearbook, please reach out to Yearbook Editor, Mrs. Rachelle Smith
Here is the link and passcode for ordering:
passcode: 1015036723664214
O&M Instructor Rachel Smith Featured in ACB's Ohio Connections Newsletter
2022-23 OSSB Calendar Now Available Below
Resources for Students and Families
Beyond Vision - A Tactile Art Experience
Opening night is Friday, April 29th at 6 pm. There will be music, food, and performances that night as part of the artist's reception/meet and greet.
When Molly became a newly blind person, she quickly learned that museums would no longer hold the same enjoyment as they did before. She decided to change that and is sponsoring her "first art show with local artists, all designed to be touched, heard, smelled and tasted." For more information on this unique experience, check out the Facebook page or Beyond Vision Art's website www.beyondvisionart.com.
The event continues on Saturday the 30th from 10 am to 8 pm, and Sunday, May 1 the gallery will be from 10am to 2 pm. Molly looks forward to seeing you there!
Friday, Apr 29, 2022, 06:00 PM
804 East Monument Avenue, Dayton, OH, USA
Affordable Connectivity Program Reduces Cost of Internet Services
Internet access is now necessary for work, school, healthcare, and more. However, for many households, it remains unaffordable. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wants everyone to access reasonably priced internet services. The FCC recently launched the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to reduce the cost of getting online.
The ACP provides a discount of up to:
- $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households.
- $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 toward purchasing a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. To qualify for this one-time discount, households must contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
Any household with an individual who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is eligible to receive discounted internet service through the ACP. Social Security doesn’t count ACP assistance as income or a resource for SSI purposes. Receipt of this assistance will not affect a person’s SSI payment.
Find out more here: https://acpbenefit.org/
Summer Camp and Sports
Envision Blind Sports Camp
Camp is being held on July 17th-23rd at Penn State Behrend in Erie, PA.
- Cost $500. Financial assistance is available.
- Camper Application: https://forms.gle/YdwvipLJCFa9KuLz8
- Counselor Application: https://forms.gle/LuQ1FsF7n6rbzTMYA
- The application deadline for campers and counselors is Friday, June 17, 2022. We will need time before camp to confirm facilities and order apparel so please make sure to sign-up ASAP
- for questions please contact Envision envisionblindsports@gmail.com
Blind Soccer Activities with Katie Smith
Blind Soccer - Contact Katie Smith 513-460-9785
Blackburn Community Recreation Center, 263 Carpenter St. Columbus, OH 43205
- May 12th - 4:30pm- 5:30pm Youth
- June 9th - 4:30pm- 5:30pm Youth
Katie Smith
513-460-9785
Information courtesy of Katie Smith.
Outdoor Education Fun!
Outdoor Education- Contact Kasey Sutton if attending kesutton@columbus.gov
- April 27- BVI Tree Planting
- Wyandot Lodge (3228 Indian Village Rd. Columbus, OH 43221)
- Time: 5 pm -7 pm
Workshops
OCALICONLINE 2022 - FREE when you Register between April 18-30th
Do you want to attend the premier autism and disabilities conference, OCALICONLINE 2022? How would you like it if you could attend it for free?
Now is your chance!
For two weeks only, you can register to attend OCALICONLINE 2022 for free. No strings attached, no gimmicks. You just have to register between April 18-30. Held conveniently online November 15-18, 2022, free registration includes access to both the live event and on-demand.
The conference features breakout and networking sessions by state and national leaders and experts on important topics and issues across the lifespan. Join colleagues and peers from Ohio, across the U.S., and around the world to learn, connect, and share research, best practices, and resources to support the needs of all learners and lifelong challenges and opportunities for people with disabilities.
Welcome to the community. There’s a place for you here. And you can have your very own FREE front-row seat!
To learn more visit ocalicon.org.
YLF Flyer and Outreach Event on April 23rd
Transition Information
American Council of the Blind of Ohio Scholarships - Apply Online
***APPLY NOW FOR ACBO SCHOLARSHIPS
ACB-Ohio will offer three scholarships for the academic year 2022-2023. 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. We have scholarships for entering freshmen, undergraduates, and graduate students.
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, have a 3.0 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale, and be willing to attend the 2022 ACB-Ohio convention in the fall. 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.
The scholarships include:
- $1000 FRIENDS OF FRESHMAN SCHOLARSHIP
Presented to a blind or visually impaired entering freshman in any field of study. - $4,000 MAX EDELMAN-DAVID NEWMEYER SCHOLARSHIP
Presented to a legally blind undergraduate student in any field of study. - $5,000 JOANN FISCHER-LINWOOD WALKER SCHOLARSHIP Available to a legally blind graduate student in any field of study.
The scholarship application deadline is June 15.
Information courtesy of ACB-Ohio.
Visionary Scholars Program Scholarships
Great news! The application deadline for the Visionary Scholars Program has been extended to April 30, 2022. Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired has teamed up with Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CABVI) to create the Visionary Scholars Program, which offers educational scholarships for students with vision loss who are planning to attend an accredited university/college. The program will offer up to 10 scholarships — five $5,000 scholarships and five $1,000 scholarships in its inaugural year. Learn more about the scholarship on WVXU 91.7.
They will be offering up to 10 scholarships — five $5,000 scholarships and five $1,000 scholarships to those who meet the following criteria:
- High school junior or senior
- An individual diagnosed as legally blind or severely visually impaired; or a team of individuals at least one of whom is legally blind or severely visually impaired
- Resides in one of the following counties in Ohio: Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland, Warren OR one of the following counties in Kentucky: Boone, Campbell, Kenton
Information courtesy of CABVI and Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Ohio State School for the Blind
Michelle Wagner, Director of Teaching and Learning
5220 N. High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-752-1359
Questions about this newsletter? Please contact Lauri Kaplan, Parent Mentor at 614-806-2651 or lkaplan@osdb.oh.gov