Panther Press
a weekly publication of the Georgia Academy for the Blind
March 2, 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
* March 8: GAB and Tatnall Square Academy track collaboration
*March 11 Daylight Savings begins - - Set your clocks forward
*March 12 Jump Rope for Heart money due
*March 13 & 14 Jump Rope for Heart during PE
*March 14 - PI DAY
March 23: Spring Program (See page 3 for details)
March 26-30: Spring Break
April 2: Easter Holiday
April 5: Prom
April 10: Special Olympics
*April 11 spring festival 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
April 9-20 Elementary and Middle Milestones
April 19-22 SCASB April 26-29: Senior Trip
April 30-May 11 High school End of Course Milestones
May 1: Help a Child Smile Mobile Dental Clinic
May 14-18: Milestones’ Retests for grades 3, 5 and 8
*May 17: Community Partners Recognition Day 1:00-2:00 pm, Media Center
*May 24: Project Search Graduation, 4 pm at Navicent Health
May 25: Graduation
March Birthdays
~4th Zy
~9th Kameron
~23rd Harry
~27th Angelica L
~28th BJ
~29th Sammy
Character Education
PERSEVERANCE!
We’re watching a video series about Watch it at: and ask your child these questions over the weekend:
Learn more about our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program by visiting the link below.
A note from Mrs. Holloway! SECOND NOTICE
Greetings from the GAB music department!
We will be having our Spring Program on Friday, March 23 at 10:00 a.m. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the location of the Spring Program will be at Vineville Baptist Church, a half mile east of GAB. The address is listed below.
Students will be transported to and from the church by bus
Parents are to check their child out at the school and not take them from the church. We want to make sure all students are safely and securely transported back to the school after the program. Per Dr. Gibson, if you are signing your child out before the 1:00 p.m. end of the day, sign out in the Hendricks office. See Shirley Bronner and Brittany Jackson.
This is a mandatory performance, and all students will receive credit for the performance.
Church address:
Vineville Baptist Church
2591 Vineville Avenue
Macon, GA 31204
The students are very excited about this performance opportunity. I hope you will be able to join us to support GAB and our music department! Thank you for your patience and your ongoing support to help the students be successful!
From Mrs. Milam: Before and after the performance, at GAB you can browse the Art Show, shop at GABwill, see 3-D printer exhibition, and get a snack from GAB Café. There will be a very important parent meeting afterwards at the school “Discover Summer Camp Opportunities” . All activities will conclude at 1.
Special Education State Advisory Panel Needs a GAB Parent/Guardian!
The Georgia Department of Education Division for Special Education Services and Supports is currently accepting applications for the State Advisory Panel for Special Education (SAP). The SAP is comprised of parents, persons with disabilities, educators and administrators who are knowledgeable about the education of all children. SAP members provide input and advice into meeting the statewide needs of students with disabilities. Deadline is March 19, 2018I
Media Center News
Ms. Layson's class completed a genre reading challenge by reading 3 books from 6 different genres. They were rewarded with a special lunch in the media center. I am so proud of them and thankful that Ms. Layson and Ms. Bain encouraged them to complete the challenge. YAY!
Mrs. Kim Smith, Media Specialist
Braille Challenge 2018
Apprentice:
2nd Austin Rogers
3rd Felix Walker
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Freshman:
1st Shyann Miller
2nd Blake Smith
3rd Berkley Terry
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Varsity:
1st Judy Charles
2nd Armando Vias
3rd Crystal Hase
Yes, it’s barely March! No it is not too early for summer camp registration to begin!
Come to the Braille Challenge Parent/Guardian Program and/or our meeting after the Spring Program to meet with these folks and learn more! Scholarships and spaces are limited so act now! We would love to know who is going! Sonya Milam stands ready to help with the registration and scholarship process! smilam@doe.k12.ga.us, 478-262-3303
SECOND NOTICE:!Just for high school students! Envisioning Youth Empowerment (EYE) Retreat, July 14-21, Raleigh, NC
The mission is to expose participants to college transition activities through mentoring, real work experiences and identification of support services. To learn more, and to register, go to link below.
FOURTH NOTICE! Camp Dreams 2018 Camper Session Dates
· July 15th – July 18th (Sun. - Wed.)
· July 19th – July 22nd (Thu. - Sun.)
· July 23rd – July 26th (Mon. - Thu.)
·July 27th – July 30th (Fri. - Mon.)
Contact Sonya Milam for more information including how to register and how to apply for a scholarship!
Visit their website where you can watch a video and learn more below:
FOURTH NOTICE! Camp Abilities May 25 - 28, 2018
Camp Abilities Columbus GA at Columbus State University (CSU) is a non-profit (501c) organization for children that are blind or visually impaired. 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 and team building activities.Contact Sonya Milam for more information including how to register and how to apply for a scholarship! Visit their website and watch a video below:
SIXTH NOTICE ! Announcing the Georgia Lions Club Camp for the Blind’s 2018 SUMMER SCHEDULE
Session 1 June 10-15 Family Camp (ages 5-9)
Session 2 June 17-22 Pre-teen (ages 6-12)
Session 3 June 24-29 Older Adults (ages 35-up)
Session 4 July 1-06 Young Adults (ages 18-34)
Session 5 July 8-15 Teenagers (ages 13-17)
Deadline for completed applications is April 21! You may get a paper application from Sonya Milam, smilam@doe.k12.ga.us, 478-262-3303 or from the website below:
More of this Week in Pictures!
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“It’s a wrap!” This week’s newscasters bidding their viewers a farewell!
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Proudly contributing Box Tops. Keep them coming!
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Special guests at Braille Challenge!
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