Summer
Program
“Planes, Trains and Automobiles: You Can Get There from Here” will be the
theme for this summer’s programs on our campus.
Students will have daily opportunities to
learn skills from the “expanded core curriculum” including:
Instruction/Use of Braille
Compensatory Skills (adjusting to blindness
or enhancing visual efficiency skills)
Social Interaction Skills (getting along
with others)
Recreation and Leisure Skills (sports,
games, bowling, movies, and swimming)
Technology Skills (electronic magnification,
screen magnification, screen reading, scanning and reading, and refreshable
Braille)
Orientation and Mobility (cane use,
community travel, mobility aids, individual
lessons, and public transportation)
Independent Living Skills (food preparation,
home management, shopping and personal
hygiene)
Career Education (career exploration, job
seeking skills, and job shadowing)
For more information on Summer Programs
contact Dawn LaMee at 1-888-275-3814 or 605-626-2580 or your Outreach Vision
Consultant.
Playground
Installation to Begin!
We are well on our way! Nearly $26,000 has
been raised for the replacement of our playground equipment and redesign of our
outdoor recreation areas. We are
grateful for the support of the various Lions and Lioness Clubs, foundations,
organizations, and individuals.
The new playground equipment will be safer, more
accessible and far more colorful. It
will also better meet the needs of our students for exercise and fun. The project will be divided into two
parts. We will begin with the swings,
sand play area and one portion of the climber assembly this spring. Since the
project is being funded entirely by grants and donations, we will proceed with
the remaining as funds become available.
If you would like to support the playground project, contact the School.
Foundation
News
Board Officers
President: Dr. Don Cozzetto
Vice President: Mr. Dean North
Treasurer: Mr. Charles A. Clark
Secretary: Mrs. Cathy B. Hall
Members
Mr. Lonald L. Gellhaus
Dr. Marva M. Gellhaus
Mr. R. Lee Ginsbach
Mr. James W. Rentz
Dr. Erika Tallman
Mr. James White
Ms. Dawn LaMee
Dr. Roy Thurston
Dr. Marjorie Kaiser: Ex-Officio
The Foundation is a nonprofit corporation
founded in 1978 with the purpose of
expanding social, recreational, and many educational opportunities for
students who are blind or visually impaired. The Foundation has an existing
endowment that provides annual income to allow contributions to keep giving
year after year. There are many ways a
donor can help the Foundation, including:
Contributions: Gifts of cash or securities
are tax deductible and offer the possibility to make an immediate impact on the
opportunities and enrichment
activities offered by the Foundation.
Memberships: Consider becoming a member, you
will be notified yearly of the
annual meeting.
Bequests/Memorial: Consider remembering your
loved ones and friends with a memorial to the Foundation.
Devise of Assets: Share your real estate
and/or investments.
New Members
(7/1/02 – 2/15/03)
Valley
Tele-Communication Coop,
Herreid SD
CNA Surety, Sioux
Falls SD
LaVonne Haumann, Elverta CA
Ruth Quail, Sinai SD
Touch This!
Once
again Mark McGinnis’ NSU Design Class
created tactile art paintings. These creations were designed for the purpose of allowing the viewer the opportunity to touch and see the art.
This year’s projects were based around plants or organic materials. The artists
signed their works in both print and Braille.
What
to Expect?
Jane
Ann Leonard, SDSBVI’s Physical Education Instructor, took the opportunity
through the “Adapted Physical Education” class she teaches at Northern
State University (NSU) to give her
students a chance to learn more about working with people with disabilities.
The course was developed for students going into careers within physical
education, coaching, and fitness. The majority of the class time was spent
working with individuals from either the SDSBVI, Central High School, Lincoln
Elementary, Simmons Jr. High, or the Adjustment Training Center. The NSU
students were exposed to a variety of physical and recreation activities during
“Move for Heart”, track meets, adaptive PE classes, SPURS therapeutic
horsemanship), Special Olympics Bowling, dances and recreation activities. They were able to gain a great deal of
hands-on experience that will hopefully give them a better understanding of
“what to expect” when working with people with disabilities. The practical
experiences continue this semester as her “Sports for Individuals with
Disabilities” class will also prepares future teachers and coaches. The fall/winter months have been busy ones for the
Student Council. Seventeen students participate with the council this
year.
Student Council Doings Mr. Mark Krogstrand, Advisor
The members:
helped build a float for the NSU “Gypsy
Days” parade;
participated in the SDAB (SD Association of
the Blind) state
conference;
collected expired hunting licenses;
donated to the “Flags Across America”
campaign;
worked with the Aberdeen Lioness Club
members to operate a concession stand during the Aberdeen Family Y tournaments;
continued to operate a “candy/snack store”;
participated in the Youth on the Move group;
enjoyed a Christmas supper;
rang bells for the Salvation Army; and
donated to the Playground Project.
“Students of the
Month”
SEPTEMBER: Linda Perez-Delker, Box Elder Linda was
selected for her hard work this year with improving her O&M skills, working
with the IntelliTools keyboarding program, improving her independent living skills, achieving personal bests in
the all-school track meet, for her ready smile, willingness to try just about
anything, hard work, and ability to make others who are around her put a smile
on their face.
OCTOBER: Jerred Gill, Waubay Jerred was recognized
for his efforts with IntelliTools, Braille, independent living skills, his off
campus job, Special Olympics bowling, and his support shown for his classmates!
NOVEMBER: Angela Zimney, Aberdeen Angela was honored
for her work in the dorm setting and the progress she has made with her
independent living skills.
NOVEMBER: Gerad Schuldies, Fruitdale Gerad was
recognized for his ongoing efforts to gain greater skills with his off campus
job, work skills in the dorm, and in his ability to “work around the kitchen”
to better serve himself and meet his needs for independence.
DECEMBER: Tony Zimmerman, Bridgewater Tony was
recognized for his positive attitude, willingness to try anything (at least
once), progress with his computer skills, and a big step for Tony this year has
been his off campus employment with a job coach at the Aberdeen Family Y.
“Honor
Roll” is Back
In
a continued way to acknowledge student efforts with their academic pursuits,
and perhaps to motivate them along the way, we continue the Honor Roll, (all As
with only one B for the quarter) and the Merit Roll (all As or Bs, with only
one C) as the guidelines for “making the grade.”
Our
honorees to the Merit Roll for the 1st nine weeks were Thomas Miller, Sisseton;
Hannah Ackerman, Sisseton, and Emery Long Crow, Winner. We hope that others
will join them next quarter!
Student
Council Officers: Mark Krogstrand –
Advisor, Hannah Ackerman – Secretary, Thomas Miller – Vice-President, and
Camron Van Asperen – President
What’s Happening on
Campus!
9/11
Remembered
Like
all Americans, students and staff took “time out” on Sept. 11, to share a
moment of reflection and remembering for those who lost their lives in the
terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania. We shared in song, reflection, and with our
Pledge of Allegiance, and celebrated America with ice cream sundaes decorated
in “Red, White, and Blue.”
Pledge
Across America At the request of US Education Secretary Rod Paige, along with
students from across all of America, at exactly 1:00 PM, students and staff took time out on Sept. 17 to
participate in the nationwide “Pledge Across America” in honor of our US
Constitution, the men and women who have fought and who are fighting for our
flag, and on behalf of all communities across America. We gathered around the outdoor flag on a
beautiful day and once again pledged our allegiance to America!
Adopt
A School The students and staff have
been the beneficiary of being adopted by the Aberdeen Police Department. Officer
Kyle Stoddard and Officer Joseph Moslander have already made several visits to
our classrooms to share information on a variety of topics, such as drugs,
safety issues, and other areas our students request.
Special Award Gered Schuldies from
Fruitdale, SD was one of 25 South Dakota Future Farmers of America (FFA)
members to receive the 2002 National American FFA Degree. This award is granted
to fewer than 1/2 of 1% of all FFA members and is the highest honor that can be
bestowed on a member.
Consultant’s Corner Amy/Indira/Riki
Fred’s
Head
It’s
where you gotta go when you gotta know! And just what is Fred’s Head??? It is a
special e-place for ideas, tips, and resources from the American Printing House
for the Blind (APH) for people who are blind or visually impaired. Convenient and completely accessible through
the APH web site, Fred’s Head is all the stuff you need to know. Stuff
like: Assistive Devices, Blindness
Organizations, Braille Music, Child Care, Clothing Organization, Computer
Software, Educational Aids, Employment, Health Care, Household Hints, Internet
Resources, Labeling, Low Vision, News Sources, Products, Recreation, Role
Models, Scholarships, Shopping, Teaching Aids, Toys, Travel, and Vocational
Training. And just who is Fred??? He is Fred Gissoni, who has been working with
people who are blind or visually impaired since 1953. After all these years, he knows so many things that can be of
assistance that this resource place was named in his honor. So — you have a
question or need some information??
Ask Fred. Visit him at
www.aph.org or email him at fhead@aph.org.
Video
Views
The
CAN DO! Video Series was developed to show parents and professionals some
practical and sound ways to assist the
young child who is blind or visually impaired to develop needed skills and take
off on the road to independence. The
series consists of 11 videos demonstrating a progression of skills in crucial
areas of development for the child who is visually impaired.
Video
Two — “Learning About the World—Concept
Development” In this video, six families of visually impaired children model in
their own homes some very basic and important practices in parenting the visually impaired child. Incidental
learning is what is learned just by looking and watching. So many things are difficult to understand
without vision. For every thing seen,
there is a name to tell about it. Thus,
concept development is extremely important.
Key
points include:
Conceptual
development is the foundation of your child’s learning.
Talk
to your child about everything you are doing, seeing, hearing, touching,
smelling, and tasting.
Help
your child to use all of his/her senses to make up for what he/she cannot see.
Take
your child to new places and let him/her do new things.
Your
blind child needs you to help build concepts and to understand his/her world.
This
is an excellent video with lots of interactions between parents and child and
also lots of fathers involved. It is
modern, up-to-date, and colorful.
Internet Resources
www.puzzlecenter.com
www.superkids.com
www.coolmath.com
www.netmom.com
Education
Materials The Sensory Cylinder Set develops skills in manipulation, number and
language concepts, and tactual, color, and weight discrimination. The set contains six cylinders, two each of
three different weights. Ends of the
cylinders have six different texture matches and color matches. The Peg-A-Circle Set assists in teaching
concepts of next, sequence, clockwise, and counterclockwise. The set consists of a 12 inch square board
containing 16 holes in a circular
pattern and 16 pegs. Both of these sets are early childhood products available
from the American Printing House for the Blind. Recommended ages is 3 years and older.
American Education
Week Students
and staff took time out and made special efforts to celebrate education. The
theme for this week’s activities was “Together, Making Our Schools Great” and
some of the highlights during the week included Blue and Gold Day. Student Council
provided treats to the education staff and all staff members being recognized
as “Key” members of the school.
Students wrote essays on either "If I Were the Principal, I
Would..." or “My School is Great“, and several students became "teacher for a day.”
“If
I were Principal for a day” By Emily Poelstra If I were Principal no gum
chewing would be allowed in school because sometimes tables or desks become
garbage cans for gum. The gum causes a big sticky mess. A person might touch it
and then they would be sticky, too. I would have carpet installed in the dorm
rooms so we wouldn't have to sweep and mop the floors. I would have the school
day hours run from 9 AM to 2 PM. This would allow for naps in the afternoon.
This would also give us more free time. I think the teachers would like shorter
school days, too. I would like to have more handicapped bathrooms located
through out the school.
“If
I were Principal for a day” By Gerad Schuldies If I were Principal for a day, I
would make it so that students in the breakfast program would not have to do
their dishes. I would make the teachers do the dishes. I would do away with
room cleaning for the students and install self-cleaning rooms. This would be a
new robotic contraption. I would install wider doors through out the building
so wheelchair drivers won't bump into
them. I would also install bumpers (like you find at the bowling alley) on all
the hallways so that wheelchair drivers don't run into the walls. I would
schedule a “siesta” time every afternoon. It would last for as long as the
students would like to sleep.
Hail to the
Chief! A number of students and staff members were
able to attend the 1st visit by a sitting President of the United
States to Aberdeen since 1936, when Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt made
a visit to the Hub City. With the festivities “just across the street” at the
NSU Barnett Center, our students
braved the very, very cold weather and the brisk winds to stand in line for
some of the lucky ones to get in to the rally.
It was an exciting time, after all, it’s not every day you get to see or
listen to, in person, the most powerful man, leader of the greatest nation on
our home planet Earth. It certainly will be a “life memory” for those who
attended!
Donations The School would like to thank the following
individuals or businesses for their recent contributions.
Monetary
Donations
Special
Olympics of South Dakota (Special Olympics)
Stan & Pauline Arnold
Sunday
Afternoon Men’s Basketball Team
Avera
St. Lukes Hospital ICU Staff
Special
Olympics - ARC of Brown County
Miscellaneous Donations
Exercise
Bike (Sandra Payne)
Jayne
Reuer (handmade quilt and wall hanging)
Bethlehem
Lutheran Church (15 Braille Hymnals Books)
Ken
Heemeyer Family (Complete set of the Braille Bible)
Vision
Care Associates & Optimist Club (play tickets)
AirDyne
Exercise Bike (Anonymous)
Aberdeen
Lions Club (“Christmas Play” tickets)
Ted
Kneebone (concert ticket)
Northern
State University (complimentary passes into all sporting events)
Jerry
Menzia (Books: Redbird, Earth Day, and Listen to Me)
NSU
Library (Book: Vision Problems in the U.S.)
“Fallen
Sons and Daughters of South Dakota in World War II” - CD (Former Governor
William Janklow)
Memorial
Donations
DuWayne
and Dorothy Stai in memory of Foster Grandma
Edna Fransen
Veronica
Stai in memory of Foster Grandma Edna Fransen
Mr.
& Mrs. James Saltzman in memory of John Henry Maxwell
Margaret
Soveg in memory of John Henry Maxwell
Playground Project
We
want to thank the following for helping us make the Playground Project a
reality. (7/1/02 – 2/26/03)
Foundations
The
Hatterscheidt Foundation, Inc.
Green
Memorial Foundation Agency
Individuals/Organizations
SDSBVI
Arts & Special Activities, Aberdeen SD
Girl
Scout Troop #150, Aberdeen SD
South
Dakota Association of the Blind
“Bosses
Day” honorarium for Superintendent Marjorie Kaiser by SDSBVI Staff, Aberdeen SD
Charles
and Ginny Clark, Aberdeen SD
Burt
and Elaine Elliott, Aberdeen SD
Troy Froke, Aberdeen SD
Jack Hogarth, Denver CO
Marlowe
and Susan Hovey, Dell Rapids SD
Dr.
and Mrs. O.M. Krogstrand, Custer SD
Ka
P. and Sally Squire, Aberdeen SD
Jane
Mundschenk, Aberdeen SD
Donna
Iszler, Grand Forks ND
James
Nelson Kivimaki, Virginia MN
Deanna
Viland, Aurora SD
Chuck
and Terri Timanus, Reston VA
Hazel
Wheeldon, Sioux Falls SD
Doug
and Sue Halverson, Fargo ND
Fanny
Seville, Bismarck ND
Henry
Carlson Jr., Sioux Falls SD
Michael
Guilbert, OD, Deadwood SD
Walter Hack Jr., Omaha NE
Jason
and Heather Grebner, Aberdeen SD
Dr.
Thomas C. White, Sioux Falls SD
SDSBVI
Student Council, Aberdeen SD
C.C.
Croal #17 Auxiliary of the VFW, Aberdeen SD
Roland
Wieczorek, Pierre SD
Capitol
Bancorporation, Inc, Britton SD
Memorials
Justin
and Amy Scepaniak in memory of Mae Rann
Ginsbach
Family in memory of Beryl Ginsbach
Duane
and Bonnie Ellis in memory of Flawnie Wyatt
Lions/Lioness Clubs
Multi-District Lions Convention
Yankton Lions Club, Yankton SD
Marion Lions Club, Marion SD
Huron Lioness Club, Huron SD
Aberdeen Lioness Club, Aberdeen SD
Willow
Lake Lioness Club, Willow Lake SD
Selby Lioness Club, Selby SD
Wolsey Lions Club, Wolsey SD
Avon
Lions Club, Avon SD
Dell
Rapids Lions Club, Dell Rapids SD
Aberdeen
Lions Club, Aberdeen SD
Rushmore Lions Club, Rapid City SD
Siouxrise
Lions Club, Sioux Falls SD
Ipswich Lions Club,
Ipswich SD
Freeman Lions Club, Freeman SD
Madison
Lions Club, Madison SD
SF
Sioux Empire Lions Club, Sioux Falls SD
Brookings
Lions Club, Brookings SD
Sioux
Land Lions Club, Sioux Falls SD
Belle
Fourche Lions Club, Belle Fourche SD
Eureka Lions Club, Eureka SD
Beresford Lions Club, Beresford SD
Faulkton Lions Club, Faulkton SD
Tulare Lions Club, Tulare SD
Huron
Noon Lions Club, Huron SD
White
River Lions Club, White River SD
Eden Lions Club, Eden SD
Wheat
Land Lions Club, Onida SD
Alcester
Lions Club, Alcester SD
Magic
Mile Lions Club, Watertown SD
Pierre Lions Club, Pierre SD
Custer Lions Club, Custer SD
Groton Lions Club, Groton SD
Rapid
City Metropolitan Lions Club, Rapid
City SD
Parkston
Lions Club, Parkston SD
Volga Lions Club, Volga SD
Eyeopener Lions Club, Huron SD
South
Dakota State Lioness Project
Fall
Forum Lions Convention
Councils of Schools
for the Blind SDSBVI Superintendent Dr. Marjorie Kaiser was
elected president of the Council of Schools for the Blind (COSB) at the group’s
meeting in Louisville, KY this fall. COSB is a consortium of specialized
schools in the U.S. and Canada whose goal is to improve the quality of services
to children who are blind and visually impaired. COSB promotes new opportunities for students who are blind and
visually impaired, increases public understanding of blindness, and encourages
efficient management of the specialized schools for the blind. As COSB
president, Dr. Kaiser has taken part in an effort to expand partnerships with
university teacher preparation programs, attended the National Accreditation
Council summit meeting, and the “Vision Loss in the Twentieth Century”
conference. Dr. Robert T. “Tad” Perry,
Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Regents, the governing board
for the School commented, “Dr. Kaiser’s election to this national post recognizes her outstanding work in the
field and her strong advocacy for quality educational programs serving the
blind and visually impaired community. This is a real honor not only for Dr.
Kaiser and South Dakota, but for her staff and students as well.”
Our 1st
Dog Guide Dawn Flewwellin, Residential Child Care Staff member, brings a new friend with her to
work, her dog guide “Whimsey“. Dawn obtained her dog from Guiding Eyes for the
Blind in Yorktown Heights, New York. Whimsey has become an exciting addition to
the School. The students and staff even celebrated Whimsey’s third birthday
with a party and cake. The students, staff, and those who visit the school
enjoy seeing how a dog guide works.
Sports and
Activities
Track
Season When our students participate in a meet with other schools for the
blind, they do so in one of three categories, based on the level of their
visual impairment. Camron Van
Asperen, Thomas Miller, Wade Turner, Amanda Hofland ventured with Mr.
McLaughlin and Ms. Leonard to the Minnesota Academy for the Blind meet at
Faribault, MN. Camron Van Asperen, competing in Class C (visual acuity of
better than 20/400 in the best eye after correction) earned the following honors:
1st place in the shot put; 2nd place in the triple jump;
3rd place in the 60m dash, 400m dash, and triple jump. Thomas Miller, also competing in the Class C
category, gained a 2nd place in the shot put and 4th
place finishes in the 60m dash and triple jump. Wade Turner, competing in Class A (totally blind) earned 4th
place finishes in the standing long jump and standing triple jump; and Amanda
Hofland competing in her 1st meet earned a 2nd place in
the shot put, a 3rd place in the shot put, and a 4th
place in the standing long jump, in Class A. Gerad Schuldies picked up a 3rd
place finish in the Class A shot put.
Participating in their first interscholastic meet for SDSBVI were:
Jerred Gill, Kimberly Beckler, and Linda Perez-Delker, who while they did not
place, had a great time and enjoy themselves tremendously.
We
also hosted our own SDSBVI meet, highlighted by a social, dance, and music with
students from Minnesota coming to “our
place” for competition and fellowship.
Phil Baker provided some “warm up” music and activities for our Friday
night fun and games, followed by the music magicians of SDSBVI. We had a number
of students participate in their 1st ever meet for SDSBVI, and all
of our students represented themselves and SDSBVI well. In Class A Wade Turner
earned 2nd place in the standing long jump, the 3-consecutive long
jumps, the 60m dash, and the standing
triple jump; Amanda Hofland earned 1st place in the shot put,
3rd in the standing triple jump and the 60m dash, and a 4th
in the 3 con event. In Class B Lacey
Killingsworth brought home a 1st place in the shot put, 2nd
place in the 60m dash, and 3rd place in the standing long jump. Our
Class C participants saw Camron Van Asperen earn a 1st place in the
shot put and then three 2nd place finishes in the long jump, 60m
dash, and triple jump; Thomas Miller garnered a 2nd place finish in
the shot put, and also picked up 4th place finishes in the long
jump, 60m dash, and the triple jump.
Hannah Ackerman wowed them all with 1st place efforts in the
shot put, long jump, and 60m dash.
Bowling Fever
The
“Special Olympians” got their season underway by participating in the Regional
and State Bowling Tournaments at the Village Bowl in Aberdeen. At the state-bowling tournament we had a
good contingent on the lanes bowling not only singles, but this year, doubles
too. Our keglers earned the following honors as a result of their efforts:
Doubles: Lacey Killingsworth earned a 1st place finish, as did Linda
Perez-Delker and Jerred Gill.
Kimberly Beckler and Emily Poelstra brought home 3rd place medals along with
Gerad Schuldies. In Singles, our 1st place finishers were Lacey Killingsworth
and Gerad Schuldies, with 2nd place recognition for Linda Perez-Delker and
Jerred Gill, and 3rd place work turned in by Kim Beckler and Emily
Poelstra.