KSB School Mail Newsletter for students and their families November 11, 2011 PSSO to Host Potluck Dinner and Silent Auction Prior to Percussion Concert on Thursday Next Thursday, November 17, a Percussion Concert will be presented in Ritchie Auditorium at 6:30 PM. Prior to the concert, the Parent, Student and Staff Organization (PSSO) will host a free soup and sandwich potluck dinner from 5-6 PM in the cafeteria. PSSO will also conduct a Silent Auction in conjunction with the dinner. The dinner is open only to students and their families and KSB staff. Students that will be performing in the concert are Annmarie Aqua (violin), Shawn Smith (piano), Donnie Risner (piano), Justin Hedges (keyboard), David Carnes (piano) and Riley Seif (violin). The student groups KSB Rockers and the Wildcat Ensemble will also perform. Since the dinner is potluck, parents and staff are being asked to bring bags of salad greens, salad dressing, desserts and/or a pot of chili or soup. There are sign-up sheets in the classroom and dorm offices for staff members. Parents should contact Denise Applegate in the classroom office to let her know what you plan to bring to the dinner. She can be reached at 502-897-1583, ext. 401 or denise.applegate@ksb.kyschools.us. PSSO will utilize the funds generated from the Silent Auction to support student activities at KSB. Please come out and support your PSSO and KSB students! Editor’s Note: The PSSO hosted a Halloween Party and Dance on Oct. 31. Here are three photos of the activity. Photo #1 shows a male student handing candy to a trick-or-treater on the KSB campus. The caption reads: Senior Demetrius Bell hands out treats to students. Photo #2 shows a male student handing a treat to a female student in a blue and white costume similar to one that would be worn by a waitress inside the Rec. Building. The caption reads: MS student Hannah Figley accepts a treat from junior Jonathon McCarty. Photo #3 shows a female student sitting at a table. She is wearing a costume and has a makeshift halo on her head. She is instructing a male student on how to make a craft. There are various Halloween related items and glue on the table. An adult staff member is sitting beside the male student. The caption reads: Senior D.J. Bachman helps primary student Hayden Ashley. Seated beside Hayden is Student Development Supervisor Pat Mohon. “Birds and Bees” on Tap for Dec. Parent Meeting Community Based Instruction Teacher Ann Boyd will conduct an informational session for parents on the topic of the “Birds and the Bees.” Her presentation will focus on how parents of students who are blind and visually impaired can be prepared to address sex related questions and issues with their children. The KSB Parent Meeting will be held in the McDaniel Building Conference Room (the Nest) on Tuesday, December 6 from 6-7:30 PM. For more information, contact Family Support Specialist Mitch Dahmke, 502-897-1583, ext. 220 or mitch.dahmke@ksb.kyschools.us. Counselor’s Corner By: Elaine Hall So many great things continue to happen at KSB. My past several articles have had a focus on our middle and high school kids with the Career Fair and ACT testing. While all that has been happening upstairs, our elementary students continue to blossom and excel in their classes. A fourth grade teacher reports, “I am proud of my students for being math thinkers. Our question of the day at the beginning of class is a question that doesn’t have any one answer. For instance — “Forty-six is the answer, what’s the question?” Students are expected to think mathematically and find several solutions for any one question. A second grade teacher reports that students are making great progress listening to books on tape and working hard on braille and another has reported great excitement over learning the life cycle of a butterfly. Our Arts and Humanities teacher is so proud of the excitement she has seen over early work on the Christmas show and great fun making masks in art class. I continue to see young students gaining independence and confidence during orientation and mobility classes. Teachers are so proud of the kids and cheer every accomplishment! It is great to be a member of such a caring and learning community!!! Editor’s Note: There is a photo of Counselor Elaine Hall standing beside the KSB mascot. Save the Date September 21-23, 2012 Statewide Family Conference at Center for Courageous Kids Check out the Website www.courageouskids.org Registration is Open More Details to Follow This conference is hosted by KSB Outreach and is open to all Kentucky families with a child who is blind or visually impaired. Grade 10-12 Students encouraged to apply to KDE Next-Generation Student Council In order to gain valuable feedback from Kentucky students and to engage student leaders in learning by doing, Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday has created the Next-Generation Student Council. This group will meet with the commissioner and Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) staff, both in person and virtually, to discuss how decisions made at the state level are affecting students throughout Kentucky and provide feedback - from a student perspective - on critical issues impacting Kentucky students and schools. The Next-Generation Student Council is a year-long program for Kentucky public school students in grades 10-12. The council will play a vital role in providing input regarding issues that face education in Kentucky and work with KDE staff to develop ideas that will work to improve and transform education. The council seeks students with refreshing ideas and thoughtful insight into how we can further improve our schools and student achievement. As such, we encourage students to apply who represent the diverse academic, geographic, demographic and school-size variables particular to our state. More information, an application and FAQs for the council are available on the KDE website (http://bit.ly/NxGSC). Please encourage students to read the information on the webpage and the FAQ’s carefully before submitting an application. Applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, November 30. Any questions concerning the council or the application process can be directed to Stephanie Siria by phone at (502) 564-4201, ext. 4817 or via e-mail to stephanie.siria@education.ky.gov. Nov. 1-Jan. 4 Braille Readers are Leaders Has Started Braille Readers Are Leaders started November 1 and will end on January 4. During these two months, students will record how many pages of Braille they read! In the past, students have won tee-shirts, certificates, ribbons and even money for participating in the contest, which is sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind. Parents, during the upcoming holiday vacations, please encourage your child to read and log what they are reading. Send this information (email or in person) to KSB Library Media Specialist Heather Davis. For more details and opportunities this program offers, please go to www.nfb.org/BRAL. KSB Welcomes Four New Students KSB is pleased to welcome four new students. They are sixth grader Jacob Hack, Butler Co.; senior Megan Cruse, Clark Co. and freshmen Jonathon May and Jamie Caudill, Floyd Co. Please join us in welcoming these students to campus! First Quarter Honor Roll Announced The first quarter grading period has come and gone. KSB would like to recognize those students who made the Honor Roll. All “A” Honor Roll Middle School: Annmarie Aqua, 7th Grade Kenny Breeden, 8th Grade C.J. Phipps-Gibson, 8th Grade Elementary: Taryn Seif, 5th Grade “A & B” Honor Roll High School: D.J. Bachman, Demetrius Bell, Ambre Cooper, Garrett Kawa, Amanda Livers, Amelia Morrissey, Garrad Riley, Kenton Smith, Bobby Townsend, Jessica VanBruggen, Kayla Voskuhl and Elijah Wegner Middle School: Shane Lowe, Logan Rovinski and Beth Stevens Elementary: Michael Davis, Mari Durrett, Jolean O’Connell, Kaylee Colgate and Alexander Stine School Activities for the Week of Nov. 14-18 Monday, 14 2:30-3:30 PM Fitness Club 2:45-3:30 PM Extended School Services (ESS) 3:30-5 PM Varsity Cheerleading Practice, Langan Gym Evening Recreation: 2:30-5 PM Radio Station (Elem.-HS); 4-5:15 PM: Group Game (Elem.); 6-7 PM Activity Time (Elem.); 7:30-9 PM Group Game (MS-HS) Tuesday, 15 3:30-5 PM Varsity Cheerleading Practice, Langan Gym Evening Recreation: 2:30-5 PM Radio Station (Elem.-HS); 4-5 PM Story Time (Elem.); 7-8 PM Adventure Crew (MS-HS); 7:30- 9 PM Bowling/Wii (MS-HS) Wednesday, 16 2nd Qtr. Interim Report Period Ends 2:45-3:30 PM Extended School Services (ESS) 3:30-5 PM Varsity Cheerleading Practice, Langan Gym Choir Practice, 6-7 PM Evening Recreation: 2:30-5 PM Radio Station (Elem.-HS); 4-5:15 PM Air Bag (Elem.); 4:30-5:30 PM Boy Scouts (MS-HS); 6:15- 9 PM Mall Trip (HS) Thursday, 17 2:30-3:30 PM Fitness Club 2:45-3:30 PM Extended School Services (ESS) 3:30-5 PM Varsity Cheerleading Practice, Langan Gym 5-6 PM PSSO Potluck Dinner, Cafeteria 6:30 PM KSB Percussion Concert, Ritchie Auditorium Evening Recreation: 2:30-5 PM Radio Station (Elem.-HS); 4-5:15 PM Group Game (Elem.) Friday, 18 Braille and Low Vision Carnival for K-5 Students Kentucky School for the Blind 1867 Frankfort Avenue Louisville, KY 40206 502-897-1583 Fax 502-897-2850 www.ksb.k12.kyschools.us