Panther Press
a weekly publication of the Georgia Academy for the Blind
July 1 , 2018 Summer Edition 3
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.
Coming in our the next summer editon of Panther Press will be the student voted motto for the 2018-19 school year!
Only 37 more days until school starts!
Mark your Calendars!
August 5: 1-5 pm, Open House, Cottage Move In and Mandatory Title I Parent/Guardian Meeting
August 6: First day of school
September 3: Labor Day Holiday
September 6: Drop in RPM State Schools Regional Parent/Guardian Meeting, Savannah. 6 pm, Address forthcoming
September 17: Drop in RPM State Schools Regional Parent/Guardian Meeting, Mid-town Atlanta, 6 pm, Address forthcoming
The student calendar for 2018-19 can be found on our website. For your convenience it is linked below:
Did you see the GAB 2017-18 Yearbook?
We hope you are enjoying the yearbook emailed in June! If you didn’t receive let Sonya Milam know right away. Families, this is a great summertime opportunity to talk with your child about what they learned at school this past year, who their friends are and what were their favorite learning activities (and maybe get them excited about returning!?) Our Highschool Extended Core Curriculum (ECC) class Ready for the World taught by Ms. Thompson, Ms. Lynch and Ms. Doctor produced our yearbook.
Don’t forget to continue collecting Box Tops for Education
Registration Packets Coming this Month
Registration packets with a letter detailing events for August 5 will soon be mailed. It will contain only the information we need from you for the upcoming 2018-19 school year. Please complete and return on or before August 5!
*Medical forms for 2018-19 were emailed on May 14 and sent home with students May 18. Be sure to get this completed and returned on or before August 5. Contact the school office if you did not receive.
*PLEASE REMEMBER! IF YOU HAVE CHANGED YOUR ADDRESS, EMAIL, and/or PHONE NUMBERS, LET US KNOW !
Families of High School students!
Be on the “listen out” for a phone call and/or email this summer from our Vocational Rehabilitation/Parent to Parent Transition Partner, Cindy Crawford. She has important information to share! We will have an important meeting just for families of our high school students during the August 5 Open House!
A unique and important opportunities for GAB Families from AFB!
Calling All Parents/guardians!
Join in National Conversations to Improve Special Education for Children and Youth with Vision Loss! Three Opportunities to Tell Your Story
- July 10, 7 pm Central: Elementary-School-Aged Students
- July 17, 7 pm Central: Secondary-School-Aged Students
- August 7, 7pm Central: Pre-Kindergarten-Aged Children
To Join Any/All Meetings:
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/2545496018
Or by Telephone:
1-646-558-8656 or
1-669-900-6833
Meeting ID: 254-549-6018
Your candid input will help us develop comprehensive but concise policy guidance resources to help you and parents like you, along with teachers of students with visual impairments and other critical members of the educational team. Those resources will include:
- A full and accurate understanding of your child's rights
- The proper role of educators
- The responsibilities of schools and other public agencies
- Legal, academic, and other reliable sources of authority
- Best practices to ensure the most appropriate education for your child
Each of the three conversations we have scheduled will focus on children in specific age ranges. We have organized our conversations in this way to make sure that we can thoroughly explore issues of particular importance to specific age groups. While we welcome parents of children of any age to join our conversations, we would ask that you please attend the conversation most appropriate to your child.
Keep a Literacy Rich Home this Summer!
Online Resource List from Our Media Specialist, Mrs. Kim Smith
If you need any help with these resources, contact Sonya Milam, smilam@doe.k12.ga.us
(478) 262-3303
anytime this summer!
Wesbsites/and Apps:
Learningally.org
Bookshare.org- Read to Go $20
https://nlsbard.loc.gov/login//NLS- BARD Mobile
Storynory.com
Sparklestories (iPad)
Storylineonline.net
Booksshouldbefree.com
pbs.org
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/
Educational YouTube Channels for Various Age Groups
Descriptive Videos
https://dcmp.org/signup/register User: gabpanthers Pass: GAB2020
- A library card will allow you to check out free passes to Georgia State Parks, Go Fish, Zoo Atlanta, the Center for Puppetry Arts, and the Michael C. Carlos Museum. Click to find the contact information on your local library below:
- Summer Feeding programs in you community can be found below:
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
She will be available for our families via phone and email throughout the summer. Campus visits may be scheduled as well.