News and Views
News and Views
Fall 2005
'News and Views' is the Superintendent's quarterly newsletter. It is available to be seen here by students, parents, Alumni, staff and friends. Please send any comments to Mr. Oldham.
We’ve just completed the first nine weeks of school and already there have been many exciting and positive things to report to you, our TSB family. Despite another large graduating class last spring, (fourteen) our school enrollment made another modest gain. Our Outreach program has grown tremendously and has served over one hundred students to date this school year. Our Resource Center is providing textbooks, educational materials and services to approximately 800 students with vision challenges across Tennessee. Our growth serves to demonstrate that Tennessee School for the Blind is an outstanding school and a wonderful place for learning and teaching. We also serve as a hub of services to school systems and families in our state.
TSB LENDS A HAND TO STUDENTS IN LOUISIANA
During the recent disaster on the gulf coast caused by hurricane Katrina, many families of the students of the Louisiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired suffered greatly. Some lost their homes and others were left with literally the clothes on their backs. Our students and staff saw a need and stepped up to the plate. Our students twisted arms, broke into piggy banks and even went to their churches to do their part in the effort. Hold on to your hats! They raised $3,000 for the students and families of LSBVI.
Christopher Wright and his family raised $280. What a wonderful lesson in civic responsibility.
TSB STAFF MEMBERS WIN NATIONAL HONORS
On October 12th, in Louisville Kentucky, at the annual meeting of the Council of Schools for the Blind, several of our staff members received national recognition for their talents and dedication. The TSB choral ensemble was privileged to provide the evening’s entertainment and to cheer for our winners. Our honorees were:
Ms. Lee Gale, Outstanding Teacher of Students Who are Blind/Multiply Disabled
JoAnne Weatherall, Outstanding Teacher of Students Who Are Blind/Visually Impaired
Vicki Wolczyk, (Honorable Mention) - Outstanding Related Services Provider
Amanda Shirley (Class of 2005) was honored in Louisville at the American Printing House for the Blind InSights Art Contest. She received a third place prize in the senior high competition for a beautifully hand-woven wall hanging.
Congratulations to ALL!!!!!!!
SPORTS UPDATE
Fall is our Track and Field season. The men and women’s teams, coached by Mr. Joiner and Ms. Smedley, attended meets in Ohio and Kansas and concluded another successful season with the NCASB conference meet on our campus.
There were eleven special schools and over one hundred and seventy-five students competing in this event. The women garnered a second place and the men placed a respectable seventh place. Conducting a meet of this size is a tremendous undertaking. Under the leadership of Mr. Frank Alexander, our Athletic Director, and with a lot of elbow grease contributed by the maintenance, custodial, and procurement folks, the athletic field was in great shape. Teachers, Para Educators and YSW’s made sure the meet went off without a hitch. The nurses kept us safe and the food service staff once again took first place honors as preparing the best “vittles” in the conference. Students and staff were all winners.
Our fledgling Goalball team, coached by Mr. Schenk, participated in exhibition matches with several special schools during a home track meet on September 9th. A tournament trip to the Florida School for the Blind had to be canceled at the last minute due to concern over the latest hurricane. The team was ready to brave the elements, but that mean old superintendent “chickened out”. Plans are underway for the team to “show their stuff” at two Memphis Grizzly’s half time intermissions later in the school year. The season will end with a Conference meet on March 3rd.
MUSIC NOTES
Mr. Gregory and the TSB Tiger Band preformed recently at Fort Campbell for the Exceptional Family Members Program as part of the celebration of Disability Awareness Month.
Ms. Lorie Neil, who was selected last year as a member of the All State Mixed Choir, will be auditioning for a repeat of this prestigious honor on November 18th
Ms. Denning and the TSB Choral Ensemble have made several appearances already and are tuning up for the holiday season. We are very proud of the school’s long heritage of musical excellence and grateful to our dedicated music teachers.
Ms. Denning, Mr. Gregory, Ms. Seay, take a bow.
OUTINGS AND FIELD TRIPS
Despite the fact that our long awaited accessible school bus is still being assembled, TSB students have gone on several field trips and outings. A special thanks goes to the Friends Foundation for funding the chartered busses.
A few of the highlights were:
Pumpkin Patch Trip to Walden Farms October 3rd - Classes attending: Ms. Heiser, Ms. Benton, Ms. Bozeman,
Ms. Smedley and Ms. Walker
Pumpkin Patch Trip to Walden Farms October 18th -Classes attending: Ms. Pedigo, Ms. Chance, Ms. Gale,
Ms. Atwell, Ms. Hedrick and Ms. Reinhart
On October 12, forty elementary and middle school students attended the Jr. Olympics at the Kentucky School for the Blind. Several parents made the trek with the students. For many of these children, this trip is on of the high lights of the school year.
Children's Theater group went to see Holes on Oct 19.
Some of the classes had read the book prior to seeing the play. Children's Theater always sends a study guide with a synopsis of the production and optional learning activities.
Classes attending: Ms. Atwell, Ms. Chilton and Ms. Johnson
On October 19th Ms. Chance’s class visited Ms. Woodson's class at Rockvale Elementary School in Rutherford County. Mrs. Woodson's class is studying the 5 senses and our students went to show the class how boys and girls may learn using other senses. Mr. Alexander went with the students and demonstrated how to use a cane. He also took simulation glasses to demonstrate the different types of vision.
On October 26, Ms. Johnson’s class will make a similar visit to Scales Elementary School in Williamson County.
4H organizational meeting was held Oct 24th from 3-4 p. m. Justin Crow from UT led the group as we explored the various aspects of 4H. It is certainly more than cows and cabbage! Eleven students attended, J Journey, E Tucker, A Williams,
J Peterson, C Carter, H Rasmussen, A Thomason, D Spradling, B Faircloth, T Graybeal, S Gwinn and 4 more expressed an interest but had conflicting activities.
On October 25th Ms. Engelhardt and seventeen science class students visited the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. This is a wonderful trip that is enjoyable and educational for our students. Thank you to the parents and teachers who assisted our students.
OUR “FRIENDS”
The Friends of Tennessee School for the Blind Foundation Inc., who do so much each year for our school have certainly “hit the ground running” this year. The dream that former superintendent, Ralph Brewer, had of an independent
Foundation that could assist TSB with purchasing items and services that could not be easily acquired through state monies has come true. Each year the Friends Foundation assists the school by providing transportation and funding for trips and outings, grants to teachers for special projects and major projects like our accessible playground and new band instruments.
One of the big projects that FTSBF tackled this year was to purchase five new practice and performance pianos. The Foundation was able to negotiate a great price with the Baldwin Piano Company and secure a grant from the Academy of Country Music for $20,000. The end result is that our students are now playing these pianos.
If you are a parent, I’m sure you have heard that country music star, Phil Vassar, brought the check from the ACM. The chorus sang one of his songs and he sang one for us. Jonathan Davis and Mr. Vassar even did a little duet. The story was printed in the local newspapers and there were a couple of small segments on CMTV and GAC TV
The “Wonder Room” is scheduled for it’s GRAND OPENING on November 4th. It’s hard to describe, without experiencing it, but the Wonder Room is a special place where students with special challenges can relax and enjoy sounds, lights, and tactual stimulation. Students get to choose what is fun and works for them. I don’t believe that any other school in the country has a place just like it. My description does not do it justice, so you will just have to visit the Wonder Room on your next visit to our school. A very special thank you needs to go to Mr. Allison and the maintenance guys and to Mr. Johns for many hours of hard work to get things ready.
UNITY CONFERENCE
On October 27th TSB will host our 16th annual Unity Conference for persons interested in the education and/or rehabilitation of people with vision challenges. We expect about two hundred participants. The keynote speaker for this year is Dr. Tuck Tinsley, President of the American Printing House for the Blind. We are extremely honored to have a nationally known person of his standing address us.
Well, as I said at the beginning of this edition, the Tennessee School for the Blind is a great place for learners to learn and for teachers to teach. We’re constantly improving our programs and broadening the impact of our services to students with vision challenges in Tennessee.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim A. Oldham
Superintendent