Website: https://www.ksb.kyschools.us
Location: 1867 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
Phone: (502) 897-1583

Fax: (502) 897-2850
Facebook: facebook.com/KYschoolfortheblind/
Twitter: @KSBWildcats

Happy Friday KSB families!

The weather turned cooler this week, but thankfully yesterday the sun was shining for our 2nd Annual Fall Festival. Students had an amazing day with lots of crafts, games, and activities. Thank you so much to our family members who joined us to volunteer or just join in the fun with your kids! We couldn't be T.E.A.M KSB without your help!

We have added some resources from American Printing House (APH) to our Wildcat Weekly. There are so many resources they offer to our families including a hub of websites that offer curated advice and resources to assist children, parents, adults, job seekers who are blind or visually impaired, and their associated professionals, leading to greater independence and success in their lives. Make sure to check out the webinars and virtual conversations they are offering at the bottom of this newsletter.

I hope everyone has an amazing weekend!

• Red Ribbon Week-Monday, October 24-28 (Spirit Day schedule below)
• No School-Monday, November 7 & Tuesday, November 8
• Thanksgiving Break-Monday, November 21-Friday, November 25

If you have any change in phone numbers, home address, a change in bus routine or you need someone added/removed from your child’s safe pick-up list; please contact Beth or Linda in the front office.

Are you signed up for OneCall? KSB uses OneCall to send school information, including our Weekly Wildcat. If not, please contact Beth Baker at beth.baker@ksb.kyschools.us or 502-897-1583

A parent/guardian should call the KSB Office (502-897-1583, ext. 0204) for each day their child will not be at school to report the nature of their child’s absence. If possible, please call the school before 7:45 am. A student’s absence can only be reported to the KSB Office.

Excused absences:

• Medical appointments which cannot be scheduled at non-school times
• Death in the family
• Student illness
• Unavoidable transportation issues
• Other just and legitimate causes, as determined by the Principal

Next week is Red Ribbon Week with the theme: Celebrate Life, Live Drug Free! Below are the planned Spirit Days. Make sure what you choose to wear is still school appropriate!

Monday- wear Red

Tuesday- crazy mismatched clothes

Wednesday- pajama day

Thursday- tie-dye or hippie clothes

Friday- Halloween costume

In K/1 Math students are learning and practicing their counting skills. Students are using various hands-on manipulatives and activities to practice counting, writing and representing numbers. Students love to read their number books too! All students have a goal to count to 100 by 1's, so far all of them can count to 50 by 1's.

Middle School:

In Middle School Math classes, students continue using their problem-solving skills to be great mathematicians. We use braille, large print and technology every day in class!

In 6th grade, students are completing their unit on fractions. They will have a test next week and then move to the next unit on ratios. In 7th grade, students completed their unit on rational numbers and have moved on to Ratios and Proportional Relationships. The 8th graders are deep into algebra, this is one of Ms. Fischer's favorite units to teach!

Just a reminder, in middle school math, students are allowed to retake a math test, after they submit test corrections and a signed contract. A time will be arranged once the test corrections and signed contract is completed. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Fischer at any time if you have any questions.

High School:

Algebra 2 students are applying their skills from the previous unit to solve real world problems with systems of equations.

Geometry students are using a hands-on approach to learn about transformations. Image shows a translation of a triangle. There are 3 blue round tacks for the pre-image and 3 green star tacks for the translated image.

Algebra 1 and Integrated math students are strengthening their number sense and foundational algebra skills.

This week in PE with repairs ongoing in the Gymnasium we are using the Rec Gym. For the 8th graders and High Schoolers, they are rolling skating! Our elementary and 6th graders are playing Fitness Ball. A game combining throwing to targets and incorporates fitness movements like push-ups, sit-ups, squats and jumping jacks!

1. They are preview of the path ahead
2. They are protection against drop-offs and obstacles
3. They are identification as a person with a visual impairment.

This week we are recognizing Kentucky Safe Schools Week and this year’s theme is “Create a Ripple Effect.” The focus will be on the fact that no act is ever too small to make an impact. When you create a difference in someone’s life, you not only impact their life, you impact everyone influenced by them throughout their lifetime.

Students can pledge to be part of the Ripple Effect by:

• Treating others the way they want to be treated
• Saying something if they see something
• Helping others
• Being kind
• Following all school safety rules

One way to treat others the way you want to be treated is to show respect for others. You may wonder how you can show respect for others? One of the ways you show respect is to listen to them and what they say. You can also respect others by letting them know you think they have talents and that you appreciate them even if their talents are different than yours. Respecting others is like putting a “smiley face” sticker on someone’s paper. You are letting them now that they are important and that you respect them as a person. Respecting others and their feelings will in turn be rewarding to you. When you learn to treat others with the respect they deserve you create a ripple effect.

Kindness. It costs nothing but means everything.

We still have staff out with illness and the formal recreation program remains on hold. Our recreation leader and our houseparent coordinator are both selflessly placing the needs of their own programs on hold to ensure that we have exemplary supervision of our dormitory students. Their continued willingness to step in as substitute houseparents allows our students to still have enjoyable evenings with their peers. Each set of dormitory houseparents are covering their own evening activities.

Due to a scheduling issue, the therapy dogs will not be in on 10/24.

When going through your child’s clothes to make the switch to colder temps, please remember that the residential program accepts any gently used clothing that you may have and no longer need. You may donate your gently used clothing, accessories, shoes, etc. to the dormitory as a tax deductible donation. You would receive a letter as a receipt of the charitable donation that can be used on your taxes. If donating, please clearly identify the items and send them to Allison Chandler, Residential Director. Please accept our gratitude in advance for any donations.

Keep up to date on what's going on in the dorms with the Residential Program Site.

The KSB Goalball team hosted The Ohio State School for the Blind and Illinois School for the Blind and Visually Impaired this past weekend for the 2022 KSB Goalball Invitational. The Boys Goalball team finished the invitational 3-1. The Girls Goalball team finished the invitational 4-0. Individual Game Scores were as follows:

KSB Boys Goalball Competition

Game 1 - KSB (3), ISBVI (1)

Game 2 – KSB (14), OSSB (4)

Game 3 – KSB (4), ISBVI (5)

Game 4 – KSB (10), OSSB (0)

KSB Girls Goalball Competition

Game 1 - KSB (6), OSSB (4)

Game 2 – KSB (6), ISBVI (4)

Game 3 – KSB (7), OSSB (6)

Game 4 – KSB, ISBVI (forfeit)

The KSB Varsity Goalball teams head to Tennessee School for the Blind this weekend for the TSB Goalball Invitational. Good Luck to our Wildcats!

Goalball Practice the week of October 23 is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (3:00 to 5:00pm).

If you child is in 7th grade or up and interested in Wrestling or Cheerleading, FINAL day to sign up is Friday, November 17. Las day to turn in paperwork to compete is Monday, November 28. Please contact Jessica Belcher with any questions. Practice starts Monday, November 28.

Upcoming Athletics Schedule:

Friday, October 21 – Saturday, October 22: Tennessee School for the Blind Goalball Invitational @ Nashville, TN

Week of October 23: Goalball Practice - Monday through Wednesday (3:00 to 5:00)

Thursday, October 27: Student/Staff Goalball Game at KSB @ 12:00pm

Week of October 31: Goalball Practice - Monday through Thursday (3:00 to 5:00)

Friday, November 4 – Saturday, November 5: NCASB Goalball Conference Tournament @ Missouri School for the Blind, St. Louis, MO

Students will need to be picked up at KSB on Sunday, November 6 – details to follow closer to time

The APH ConnectCenter includes FamilyConnect, CareerConnect, and VisionAware – a hub of websites that offer curated advice and resources to assist children, parents, adults, job seekers who are blind or visually impaired, and their associated professionals, leading to greater independence and success in their lives.

Navigating and Negotiating Successful IEP and 504 Outcomes

Wednesdays, November 16th, December 21st, 2022, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
In this a 5-part webinar we will share how to navigate the process of getting your child the appropriate support at school. This will cover the evaluation, present levels, annual IEP goals, accommodations and supplements and the service deliver model.
Register Here for Navigating and Negotiating Successful IEP and 504 Outcomes

Ask the Advocate

Wednesdays, October 26th, November 30th, December 28th, 2022, 7:00 – 8:30 PM EST
Answering questions families have to better understand the processes, procedures and parent rights in a 504/IEP. When parents are better informed they will be better equipped to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes.
Register Here for Ask the Advocate

ONH 101: Collaboration (Part 3)

Monday, October 31, 2022, 2:00 – 3:30 PM EST
In this webinar, providers of various disciplines will share strategies they use when working with a child who has been diagnosed with ONH. They will also discuss how collaboration with a teacher for students with visual impairments is key for promoting skill development in all environments. Collaboration is the conclusion of the ONH 101 series – What is ONH (Part 1) and Strategies (Part 2).
Register Here for ONH 101: Collaboration (Part 3)

Career Conversations

Thursday, November 3, 2022, 6:00 – 7:00 PM EST
Join us and meet Casandra (Cassie) McNabb, a professional blind Embalmer. In a funeral home, the embalmer is responsible for embalming and preparing the bodies of the deceased for funeral services as well as burials or cremations. Join us to meet Casandra, ask her what is involved in her profession, and learn how her blindness doesn’t prevent her from working in this unique profession.
Register Here for Career Conversations

The Department of Education wants to hear from you! OSEP Listening Session Parents of Children who are Blind or Low Vision ages 3-21

Thursday, November 3, 2022, 7:30 – 8:30 PM EST
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) project officers want to hear from families of infants, toddlers, and students with visual impairments. Topic areas will range from working with schools and service providers to the unique needs of infants and toddlers (IDEA Part C), to orientation and mobility and the Expanded Core Curriculum. Families will be encouraged to share ideas, concerns, and questions.
Register Here to join in the Conversation with the Department of Education

Looking for more event opportunities? The ConnectCalendar is a one-stop resource for all events in the field of blindness and low vision. You can also submit events to share with the community and we’ll help spread the word.

Newsletter background shows drawings of pumpkins on an orange background.