Weekly Wildcat
August 30, 2013
This publication highlights the weekly activities and events that
take place on campus and features some of the activities conducted by KSB Outreach across the
state.
Counselor's Corner:
By: Elaine Hall, School Counselor
Welcome to the 2013-2014 School Year! The staff and administration are so excited to welcome
back our returning students, and thrilled to welcome 18 NEW STUDENTS and their families!!
As your school counselor I am looking forward to a wonderful and exciting new year!
Some highlights to get started:

The new phone system!
KSB has a new phone system and the biggest change will be that all the teachers and staff will
have new extensions. Be sure to check the KSB website for these new extension numbers.

Parent Portal Access Numbers:
The Parent Portal is your access to all the features of the Infinite Campus Computer System.
(Grades, attendance, schedules, etc) Please email me if you are a new family and need your
access number or if you lost yours. Thank you for your patience as staff members get these
numbers entered!

Student Volunteer Projects:
Volunteer work is important for all to experience. KSB students have often been the recipient of
many volunteer efforts. While KSB greatly appreciates these efforts, we also want our students
to learn that they too have many gifts and talents to share with others. Helping others also
develops leadership, compassion, and empathy in our students. 2012-2013 was the kick-off
school year for our school wide service project. High school students decided to have a yearlong
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book drive. These books were then donated to The Center for Women and Families, The Healing
Place, Jefferson County Homeless Education Program, and the American Council for the Blind.
Students collected more than 500 books!!
Stay tuned for details about the 2013-2014 project. I will meet with high school students in the
early weeks of school to brainstorm and develop this year’s idea.

School Incentive Programs:
This year at our staff opening day, Mrs. Heather Davis, our school librarian, shared a wonderful
book with staff called, The Golden Rule, by Ilene Cooper. I will share it with all the students in
the opening weeks of school. This book reminds us all of the importance of treating others the
way we all want to be treated. Throughout the year- teachers and staff will all try to “catch”
students modeling this rule and recognize them with a “Gold” coin and having their good deeds
announced during morning or afternoon announcements.

SEWS (Student Effort and Work Habits) Rubric:
In 2012-2013, KSB started a new grading policy. An important part of this policy is the SEWS
Rubric. (All the details are in your Parent/Student Handbook.) On every report card, all students
who receive scores of 3 and 4 will be recognized with special incentives. These SEWS grades
reward students for important skills like responsibility, quality of work, self-advocacy, etc.
In order to get strong grades on the report card, please remind students that they need to be
working on these skills from the very first day.

Eligibility:
Eligibility is an important component of our athletic and recreation program. Students in 4th –
12th grades must have good grades and behavior in order to remain eligible for these extra
activities. Starting Fridays, August 30th, teachers will begin reporting weekly grades. Again – it’s
important for students to get off on the right foot with best effort in order to remain eligible on a
weekly basis.
Finally – we have a GREAT fundraiser for KSB. Your vote makes a big difference to our
school. Visit GiveWith.Target.com to vote for our school.
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This year, Target will give money to schools all over the country for one simple act: a vote. Our
school needs just 25 votes to earn a $25 donation from Target. But that's only the beginning.
For each additional vote, our school will get $1 more. So please remember that, although the
gesture is small, the rewards are potentially huge. Go to GiveWith.Target.com to vote for
Kentucky School for the Blind once a week through September 21 or until Target has given away
all $5 million. And please forward this email to your friends. Vote and see rules at
GiveWith.Target.com.
KSB plans to teach your child to soar with their strengths!!! Please do not hesitate to contact me
if you have any questions or problems. I look forward to seeing everyone again!
elaine.hall@ksb.kyschools.us
502-897-1583, ext. 0203
The Importance of Shoes:
By: Donna Meyer, Physical Therapist
Shoes with laces are almost always preferred over Velcro as they allow additional support at the
ankle. There are lace up shoes that have a velcro strap across the ankles once the shoe is tied,
which are also a good choice. If your child has velcro shoes, be sure they are pulled over
snugly, to offer some stability.
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If your child has a narrow foot, Asics are good as are the Target brand CG. If the foot is wide,
New Balance and Skechers seem to be good options. Name brand shoes are not always the best
shoe. Look for a sturdy heel that offers support in the heel area with a thicker sole. A running
shoe is often a very good choice as it controls the "pronation" or rolling in of the ankle. Most of
the flat canvas shoes (Converse and some Skechers) offer very little support. If your child's
ankle rolls in toward the middle while standing and walking, the shoes are not a good option.
If you have any questions about your child's shoes, feel free to contact Donna Meyer or 502897-1583, ext. 7206.
Important News Bulletins:
The Fall Testing Dates for KSB students are as follows:
EXPLORE (grade 8): Sept. 16 and 17
PLAN (grade 10): Sept. 18 and 19
Don’t forget to order KSB your Spirit Wear! KSB T-Shirt Sales are as follows:
Tie Dye: SM-XL= $12; XXL/XXXL= $13
Black or Red: $10
Long Sleeve = $12
Sweat Shirts = $15
Hoodies = $20
Hoodies are available in S,M,L,XL. For XXL,XXXL add a dollar.
Shirt orders are due by Sept. 15. Please make any checks payable to KSB.
Here is the KSB Athletic Schedule:
Boys and Girls Track Team practice started Aug. 26 from 3:30-5:30 PM
Girls Goalball starts September 2, practice time 7-9 PM
Forensics Meeting will be held on Sept. 2, 6:45 to 7:45 PM
JV Track starts Sept. 9, practice time 6:15 to 7:15 PM
If you like to play golf, and want to make a difference for Kentucky children and
adults who are blind and visually impaired, plan now to participate in the Kentucky School for
the Blind Charitable Foundation Golf Scramble on September 18 at Fuzzy Zoeller's
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Covered Bridge Golf Club. If golf is not your game, but you would like to sponsor a tee, click
here.
The Visually Impaired Pre-School Stampede Run is Sept 28. It costs $25 to participate if
registered by Sept 20. If you are a Visually Impaired runner/walker you might win a prize. KSB's
Literacy Coach, Stephanie Davis won a prize during last years' race. Please contact Elementary
Teacher Missey Evers for more information.
Outreach Events:
KSB Outreach Participates in West KY Conference
Members of KSB Outreach Department participated in the West Kentucky ParentProfessional Conference on Saturday, Aug. 24 at Murray State University (MSU).
Outreach Consultant Robbin serving the Western Kentucky Educational Cooperative (WKEC)
area and Family Support Specialist Mitch Dahmke displayed information on KSB services and
programs.
From right to left, Family Support Specialist Mitch Dahmke, recent 2013 KSB graduates Kenton Smith and James Lewis,
and new KSB Outreach Consultant Robbin Cox pose in front of the KSB table during the Parent-Professional Conference
at Murray State University.
While Cox and Dahmke spoke with parents and service providers, two KSB alumni, James Lewis
and Kenton Smith, now attending MSU, visited with them and reported that they are enjoying
the college experience. Lewis and Smith are 2013 graduates of KSB.
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White Cane Day Activities to Take Place at Louisville Zoo
The Community Awareness of Low Vision and Education of Blindness in Society (CALEBS) invites
students and their families to plan now to take part in the White Cane Day Celebration on
Oct. 15 at the Louisville Zoo. There will be a parade and a lot of fun activities to celebrate. A
video contest for students is also being held in conjunction with this event.
Click here for
details and contact information.
September Calendar of Events:
Monday, 2: Labor Day, School is Not in Session
Tuesday, 3: SBDM Meeting, 4 PM, McDaniel Classroom Building
Fri.-Sat., 14-15: Track & Field Invitational, Tennessee Sch. f/t Blind
Mon.-Tue., 16-17: EXPLORE (8th Grade) and PLAN (10th Grade) Tests
Wednesday, 18: KSBCF Golf Scramble, 1 PM, Covered Bridge Golf Course, Sellersburg,
IN Click Here for details.
Fri.-Sat., 27-28: NCASB Track and Field Conference Championship Meet, Indiana Sch. f/t
Blind
News Contributors:
Robbin Cox, Outreach Consultant for WKEC
Mitch Dahmke, Family Support Specialist
Elaine Hall, Counselor
Donna Meyer, Physical Therapist
Paula Penrod, KIMRC Program Coordinator
Bo Mullins, HS World of Work Teacher
Editor: Kyrstin Johnson, HS English Teacher
Kentucky School for the Blind
1867 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206
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