OSSB Panther Paws
October 4, 2021 - Weekly Newsletter
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
OCTOBER
- 4 - Forensics Competition Tryouts after school - 3:30 - 4:30 PM
- 4 - Varsity Swim Practice begins
- 11 - NO SCHOOL/Columbus Day
- 13 - Special Ed Book Club - registration info in this newsletter 7:30 - 9:00 pm
- 14 - Parent-Teacher Conferences - check with your child's teacher about a virtual or in-person conference 4-8 pm
- 14 - OSSB Parent Teacher Staff Organization - Zoom meeting All are Welcome! 7:30 pm
- 15 - Student Dismissal at NOON
- 25 - End of 1st Quarter
- 27 - Residential Life Presents 'Trunk or Treat' more details coming soon
- 28 - Dismissal at 2:30 pm
- 29 - NO SCHOOL/Staff Records Day
NOVEMBER
- 12 - NO SCHOOL/Veteran's Day
- 15 - NO SCHOOL/Scope Day for Teachers
- 23rd - Calendar Update- Tuesday November 23 is a 12:00 early dismissal, not 2:30 as previously indicated. Students will be dismissed to transportation at noon for the Thanksgiving Break. The updated calendar will be sent in a future newsletter.
- 24 thru 26 - NO SCHOOL/Thanksgiving Break
International Day of Peace
Photo shows students Cheyenne, Elijah, Dezziree, and Avett with their koi fish in front of the tactile mural at OSSB. Photo courtesy of Mrs. Rachelle Smith
OSSB Forensics Tryouts TONIGHT!
Hello Panthers!
Coach Johnson and Coach Traucht would like to welcome you to the 2021-22 Forensics competition! Be a part of our team, and showcase your incredible public speaking skills in various topics and categories. Please join us for Forensics Tryouts on October 4, 2021 from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM in room 203. If you have an idea of a topic or category, please come prepared to present. Before joining us, you can contact Mrs. Traucht (atraucht@osdb.oh.gov) or Ms. Johnson (yjohnson@osdb.oh.gov) if you need more information.
If you want to participate but need motivation, here are some topics to consider:
- a quote or motivational saying
- excerpt from a favorite book
- scene from a movie
- personal growth story
- your favorite person/place/thing
Due to travel restrictions, all competitions will be held virtually. We will represent The Ohio State School for the Blind by respecting our teammates and our opponents.
Dates to remember:
Season Dates: Begins October 4 and ends December 9, 2021
Virtual Competition November 8 through the 10th
Good luck! We look forward to seeing students on October 4, 2021, at 3:30 PM.
To read the complete letter from Coach Johnson and Coach Traucht, click on the link below.
Stop By The OSSB Canteen!
OSSB vending students have opened the canteen in the school lobby to gain work experience. We sell Mountain Dew, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, root beer, Wild Cherry Pepsi, Sprite, fruit snacks, and beef sticks. Because of COVID, vending students and Mr. Grim are being careful about opening the canteen.
The reason that we have the canteen and vending program is because of the federal law called the Randolph Sheppard Act. This is a federal law which mandates a priority to blind persons to operate vending facilities on federal property.
The students are getting work experience and improving their money skills. Students in vending clean, and stock the canteen and the vending machines. ~ article written by high school student, Jonathon M.S., a member of Mr. Kelley and Mr. Strickler's Journalism class this semester.
Music Bouncing off the Walls at OSSB!
Photo shows OSSB students and staff standing in their classroom doorway, listening to the OSSB Marching Band!
September Podcast Edition
Welcome to the September edition of the OSSB podcast. We are so happy to share with you all the exciting events at the Ohio State School for the Blind. This month we welcome back Hot Diggety Dog Day. Students in Mrs. Fitchelman’s class are working hard preparing and offering hotdog combo meals to our staff. Proceeds will benefit all student activity in that class this year, and students gain valuable skills for working with the community. In other news:
- Emmie and Larry from the podcast team will bring you some interesting facts about the month of September
- Jonathan will tell us the calendar events for September and October
- Dr. Amanda Pickerill, OSSB School Psychologist joins the podcast team and gives up the lowdown on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and how we are addressing SEL at OSSB
- Ms. McCumber’s class is back at it again this year with coding. Her class will share what they are up to.
- Allan is doing something very interesting - he is providing color commentary for Westlake High School's football games. Search for Westlake High School Football on Youtube to hear his excellent work.
- Coaches Ron Heath and Rachel Bailey bring us up close to the NCASB 2021 track championship
Varsity Swim News
Varsity swim practices begin on Monday, October 4th and will tentatively finish on December 9th. Just like last year, our final swim meet will be virtual.
Please have physicals completed and final forms updated.
We will have morning practices for residential students, and afternoon practices for day students. We have a large amount of students interested in swimming this year, and this will help with the safety of our students. This will also provide more focused instruction.
- Morning practices will run from 6:00am – 7:15am
- Afternoon practice will run from 3:30pm – 4:45pm
If you cannot pick up your day student at the pool by 5pm, I will escort him/her to the front lobby to await pickup. Looking forward to another great swim season. Go Panthers! ~Coach Grim
2021 White Cane Week Coming to OSSB
OSSB Sensory Garden Work Day
The OSSB Sensory Garden was initially developed as a Lions Club exhibit at the Ameriflora '92 horticultural event at Franklin Park, billed as the first International Flower Show in America. After the exhibit closed, members from Lions District OH5 helped relocate plants to the OSSB campus. Lion Ralph Stacey and Lion Eileen tended to the gardens for many years, and the students have benefitted through their sense of touch, smell, sight and sound.
Following new building renovations in 2012, the sensory gardens are located in the green space in between the OSSB dorms, the new building, and the entrance to the original building near the Carillon. This is also where you can catch the OSSB Marching Band practicing in the summer and fall.
Photos show a work group at OSSB on October 2nd, and a close up view of lavender growing in the sensory garden.
RESOURCES & WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
Is Your Student Transitioning from School to a Supported Day Program? Check Out This Virtual Learning Opportunity
Columbus Recreation and Parks- Therapeutic Rec Blind Sports/ Rec FALL PROGRAMMING
Envision Fall Event
Hiking, Campfire, Pumpkin Carving on October 20th from 4:30-6:30 pm
· Youth (3-17) 4:30-6:30pm
· Location: Ottawa 3200 Indian Village Rd. Columbus, OH 43221
· Other Activities: Pumpkin Carving, Apple Cider, Smore's and Doughnuts
Blind Soccer
· Location for Sept. practice: Blackburn Community Center 263 Carpenter St. Columbus, OH 43205
Oct 26th
· Youth 6-7:00 pm
OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Bird's Harvest on November 4th
· Youth (3-17) 4:30-5:30pm
· Location: Wyandot 3228 Indian Village Rd. Columbus, OH 43221
· Activities: How birds harvest in the fall. Hiking and Crafts
RSVP through the link below or the emails below:
Link: https://forms.gle/aKuPDMt33iDj8jw76
Outdoor Ed: outdooreducation@columbus.gov
Envision & Soccer: Katharineatkinso6@gmail.com
"EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING: A SERIES ON SUPPORTED DECISION-MAKING" WITH JONATHAN MARTINIS
State Support Team Region 11 is excited to host Jonathan Martinis, Senior Director for Law and Policy for the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, for four, 1.5-hour virtual speaking engagements focused on education, employment, and independent living for people with disabilities.
This series includes 4 sessions on 4 different dates. You will be able to register for all sessions from this page. The first session is on October 6th from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. This special event will be recorded. Registered attendees will be sent a free copy of "Supported Decision Making: From Justice for Jenny to Justice for All!"
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/education-employment-independent-living-with-jonathan-martinis-tickets-168723633931
Ohio State School for the Blind
Michelle Wagner, Director of Teaching and Learning
Alison Brewer, Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning
Lou Maynus, Superintendent
Al LaBarre, Executive Director of Statewide Services
Email: lkaplan@osdb.oh.gov
Website: https://www.ossb.ohio.gov
Location: 5220 North High Street, Columbus, OH, USA
Phone: 614-752-1359
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OhioStateSchoolfortheBlind/