Pioneer
Spring
2003 Volume 40 Issue 2
Groundbreaking
for Playground
A
new playground will be coming this summer to the School. Groundbreaking ceremony featuring
the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce
Ambassadors with their gold shovels along with students, staff and friends of the School
was held on
Foundation
News
Board
Officers
President:
Dr. Don Cozzetto
Vice
President: Mr. Dean North
Treasurer:
Mr. Charles A. Clark
Secretary:
Mr. R. Lee Ginsbach
Members
Mr.
Lonald L. Gellhaus
Dr.
Marva M. Gellhaus
Mrs.
Cathy B. Hall
Mr.
James W. Rentz
Dr.
Erika Tallman
Mr.
James White
Ms.
Dawn LaMee
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.
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:
Become a member, you will be notified yearly of the annual meeting.
Bequests/Memorial:
Remember your loved ones and friends with a memorial to the Foundation.
Devise
of Assets: Share your real estate and/or investments.
New
Members (2/15/03-6/25/03)
SUSTAINING
Jim
and Alice Rentz, Aberdeen SD
Dawn
Flewwellin, Aberdeen SD
Candice
Lee, Aberdeen SD
Steve
and Marjorie Kaiser, Aberdeen SD
Ron
and Kathy Hall, Aberdeen SD
Jane
Ann Leonard, Aberdeen SD
Justin
and Amy Scepaniak in memory of Brad Perry
Justin
and Amy Scepaniak in memory of Mrs. Anderson
We
want to thank the following for helping us make the Playground Project a reality.
(2/26/03-6/24/03)
Individuals/Organizations
Vera
W. Lilly, Aberdeen SD
Tom
and Diane
Agnitsch,
Aberdeen SD
Delta
Kappa Gamma Epsilon Chapter, Aberdeen SD
Emily
Poelstra,
Yankton SD
Ted
Kneebone, Aberdeen SD
Riki
Nitz, Rapid City SD
Drs.
Dan and Erika Tallman, Aberdeen SD
Exchange
Club of
Aberdeen,
Aberdeen
SD
Kiwanis
Club
of
Aberdeen,
Aberdeen
SD
Ophthalmology
Associates, Dr. Curt Wischmeier and Dr. John Bormes, Aberdeen SD
Dawn
LaMee, Aberdeen SD
Several
additional donors
Foundations
Great
Plains Education
Foundation,
Inc., Aberdeen SD
Lions
and Lioness Clubs
Watertown
Lions
Club, Watertown SD
Hamlin
Lions
Club,
Hayti
SD
Clark
Lions
Club, Clark
SD
Memorials
Justin
and Amy Scepaniak in memory of Mary Kiefer Beck
Riki
Nitz in memory of Beryl Ginsbach
Career
Service Employee of the Year No
school – and especially no residential school - can run effectively without the
efforts of Career Service
Employees. The employee selected for this award is someone who has gone above and
beyond their job responsibilities to provide the school and its students with exceptional
support and has been an example to others. Staff feel it is an honor to be nominated by
peers for their outstanding service.
This
year 10 individuals were nominated:
Residential
Staff: Deb Bretsch, Shelley Teal, Suzi
Giovannettone, Sharon Lee, Dawn Flewwellin, and Kathy Prouse
Kitchen:
Ray Mehlhoff
Office: Susan Snaza
Maintenance: Jim Rentz and Pete Peterson
The
year’s winner is Jim Rentz, Physical Plant Manager. He has worked at the School for
over 27 years. He was recognized for his willingness to help out with special projects,
his honesty and dependability, his ability to get things done, and for the respect he
gives both students and staff. He is also involved with other groups that benefit the
School, such as the South Dakota Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the
Aberdeen Lions Club. Congratulations
to Career Service Employee of the Year: Jim
Rentz.
Donations
The
School would like to thank the following individuals or businesses for their recent
contributions.
Monetary
Donations
Rosebud
WELCA, Lemmon
Sigma
Alpha Iota - NSU Music Fraternity (music program)
TOPS
Organizations
Keepin'
It Kountry Dance Club
Miscellaneous
Donations
Lela
Holcomb (Book: Hank the Cowboy: The Case of the Raging Rottweiler)
Lenora
Roseland (Book: The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse and Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp)
Carl Perry, Aman
Collection Service (Book: Who Moved My Cheese)
Jayne Reuer
(embroidering on school towels)
Jane Mundschenk
(school towels)
Marjorie Kaiser
(audio tape - "Pay It Forward")
James
Konechne (DVS videos - "Star Trek: The Final Frontier” and “ “Field of Dreams")
Northern State
University (complimentary passes to sporting events)
James Konechne
(writing guides)
Jamie Goebel
(baseball card collection)
Cathy Walker (TV
stand)
Plains Lions Club
(OZ Festival tickets)
Aberdeen Rural
Firefighters (magic show tickets)
CATCH THE WAVE” -
Students Wade Turner, Hannah Ackerman, Thomas Miller, and Camron Van Asperen along with
Mrs. Holcomb attended “Catch the Wave” held on the campus of Northern State
University. It is an event designed to give students interested in attending college a
better idea of what to expect and how their individual challenges could be met on campus.
“Students of
the Month”
The Arts and
Special Activities Committee continues the “Student of the Month” program to
recognize student achievements and contributions at our school.
FEBRUARY: Lacey Killingsworth, Aberdeen SD Lacey was
recognized for her work in many areas and progress with many new challenges as well. Lacey has attended the School since 2000
MARCH: Wade Turner, Custer SD Wade was recognized for his
continued progress with his Braille skills, assistive technology, and the manner in which
he is a positive influence on both students and staff.
Wade has attended the School since 1995.
APRIL: Mariah
DeMarrias, McLaughlin SD Mariah was recognized for making great progress with her basic
building blocks of learning and her independence. No longer the "little kid on the
block", Mariah enjoys being our resident "mother hen" for our younger
students. Mariah has attended the School since 1997.
“Student
Council News and Notes: The Council has been busy since the beginning of the New Year. Thanks to the efforts of many students the Council
has:
raised $196 during
their bell ringing for the Salvation Army over the Holidays
donated $250 to the
Playground Project
donated $50 to the
“Flags Across America” project in support of a 30’ x 60’ US flag
installed at Wylie Park in Aberdeen
worked on
organizing fun activities during the SDSBVI goalball, forensics, and swim meet
worked at the
Family Y Boys Basketball Tourney concession stand with the Lioness club
planted trees for
an Arbor Day project, and
organized the
purchase of School Letter Jackets.
SPECIAL NOTE: Over $1000 has been collected during the last year
from the collection and sale of hunting licenses/stamps! Lets keep up the good work and collect more
licenses next year.
Retiring! Principal Mark
Krogstrand and Superintendent Marjorie Kaiser present a clock to Lenora Roseland upon her
retirement after spending 11 years as an Instructor. Lenora has been instrumental in
developing our off campus “Project Skills” employment opportunities for a number
of our older students as well as our on campus work program. We wish her all the best with
her new home and on the golf course.
Years of Service Several employees
of the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Aberdeen were recently
honored for continuous years of service. They
include, in the back from left to right: Dale Aman, Houseparent, 15 years; Candice Lee,
Speech/Language Pathologist, 10 years; R. Lee Ginsbach, Chief Business Officer, 20 years;
and Lela Holcomb, Instructor, 20 years. Seated in front Jeanne Scott, Instructional
Assistant, 10 years; and Ray Mehlhoff, Food Service Supervisor, 5 years. Not pictured are Tevan Fischbach, Instructor, 25
years; Kathryn Prouse, Houseparent, 15 years; Shelley Teal, Houseparent, 15 years.
Friends of SDSBVI This award is given
in recognition of individuals and organizations outside the school who have supported the
School and its students in a variety of ways. Over
the years SDSBVI has enjoyed a very positive collaboration with Northern State University.
They have always been ready to help out in any way they can.
Our students have access to the Barnett Center and Swisher Field, both for their
own activities and to cheer on the Wolves. Northern operates the computer center that
allows us to stay “connected” to the world via the Internet. Our maintenance
staff often borrows equipment and tools to complete projects on our campus. We work together to offer the classes necessary to
maintain the endorsements for Teachers and Braille Instructors. We were able to hold the
Cortical Visual Impairment Seminar and the Low Vision Courses from the Pennsylvania
College of Optometry, along with a wonderful museum display on Braille reading and writing from the American
Printing House for the Blind on the NSU Campus.
Academic VP Dr. Don Cozzetto and Dr. Erika Tallman both serve on the School’s
Foundation board. This level of collegiality
only flourishes when there is strong support from the head of an institution. NSU
President, Dr. John Hilpert, spearheaded a campaign to raise funds for our playground,
which was instrumental to our success. We are proud to honor our next door neighbor, Dr.
Hilpert as a “Friend of the SDSBVI.”
Consultants’
Corner
Amy/Indira/Riki
Additions
Congratulations and Best Wishes to both Amy & Justin Scepaniak and Indira & Harlan
Dillon on new additions to their
families. The Scepaniak’s welcomed Summer
Rae on January 6th and the Dillon’s welcomed Colton Kumar on May 14th. We welcome the new additions to the SDSBVI family.
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 Three
— “Becoming A Can-Do
Kid—Self-Help Skills”
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. The major focus of this video is helping the blind
child learn to do for himself/herself, specifically in the areas of feeding, dressing,
grooming, and toileting.
Key points
include:
Use hand-over-hand
teaching.
Work with your
blind child from behind him/her.
Talk to your blind
child while showing activities – tell him/her what you are doing.
Eating finger foods gives your blind child experiences with different textures and helps them to learn and develop coordination, to develop fine motor skills, and to search for objects within their environment.
Your blind child
needs to learn to do for himself/herself in order to be treated as other children are
treated.
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. For further information on these videos, or on other videos previously
viewed in this column, please contact your area Outreach Vision Consultant.
National Library
Week/Teacher For A Day We were happy to
have two community members, Jessica Dorn (Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce) and Carl Perry
(Aman Collection Services) visit our campus and share their time and talents. A number of
“guest readers” also helped out during the week for the benefit and enjoyment of
our students.
Traveling Display The School was
chosen to be a host site for “IN TOUCH WITH KNOWLEDGE: The Educational History of
Blind People”, a traveling exhibit from the Marie and Eugene Callahan Museum of the
American Printing House for the Blind. This exhibit draws on the Callahan Museum's unique
collection and extensive research on the history of the education of blind people. It is
the only museum in the country devoted to this history. The exhibit had four components: Reading and Writing, Geography,
Mathematics, and Science. The exhibit includes original artifacts, reproductions,
graphics, tactile exhibits, and hands-on activities. Braille labels, audio text, and
descriptions provide accessibility. A “hands-on” display of Braille reading and
writing was set up on the campus of Northern State University in March.
Congratulations,
Graduates!
We were proud to
confer diplomas to two of our students during ceremonies held May 22. Our commencement
speaker, Mr. Ted Kneebone, SDSBVI retired librarian shared with those in attendance the
secrets of a happy life. Dr. James O. Hansen
was on campus representing the SD Board of Regents to confer the diplomas to our
graduates.
Our graduates
shared the following thoughts:
Michael Adler,
Aberdeen SD
Best
Memories of School: School trips taken with my classmates
Extracurricular
Activities: Goalball, swimming, track, bowling, SPURS riding, and dancing
Plans
for the Future: Working at the Adjustment Training Center and living in an apartment
Most
Valuable Experience in School: Learning how to use my communication device and starting
work at the ATC
Most
Memorable Teacher: Diane Agnitsch – because she helped me learn workskills, how to
cook, and she played
games with me after school
Most
Embarrassing Moment: Getting caught in my “Birthday Suit” at a swim meet
Favorite
Hobbies: Collecting Matchbox cars, watching NASCAR on TV, going out to eat, and watching
sports (basketball, baseball, etc)
Favorite
Foods: Pizza and Hot Dogs
Something
You’re Proud of: My car collection
Gerad Schuldies,
Spearfish SD
Extracurricular
Activities: Special Olympics track/field and bowling, and FFA
Best Memories of
School: Hanging out with friends
Plans for the
Future: A job
Most Valuable
Experience in School: Job experience
Ted
Kneebone‘s “Kids of the New Century” radio play websites:
http://www.geocities.com/tkneebone1; Kids radio:
http://abe.midco.net/tkneebone2/index.htm; or Kids radio: http://www.lofcom.com/nostalgia/y2kids.php3
Year-End Student
Awards The following awards were given out at the Annual Awards Banquet.
Hannah Ackerman:
Orientation & Mobility Award, Certificate for Off Campus Job, Forensics Participation
Award, American Red Cross Level IV Swimming Achievement Award, Region IV Music Contest,
and Lettering in Music. Michael Adler: Sigma Alpha Iota Music Award, Graduation Award,
Goalball Certificate, Special Olympics Bowling and Book It. Tim Arnold: Book It and
Special Olympics Track/Field. Kim Beckler: Book It, American Red Cross Level I
Swimming Achievement Award, Special Olympics Swimming, Bowling & Track/Field, and
Orientation & Mobility Award. Jacob Bieber: Most Improved Student in the Boy's Dorm
Award, Classroom Award and Adaptive Physical Education Achievement Award (biking). Linda
Perez Delker: Special Olympics Bowling, Swimming & Track/Field, Goalball Certificate,
Book It and American Red Cross Level I Swimming Achievement Award. Mariah DeMarrias: Most
Improved Student in the Girl's Dorm Award, Classroom Award, Book It and Special Olympics
Bowling, Swimming & Track/Field. Lacey Killingsworth: Orientation & Mobility
Improvement Award, Classroom Award, Region IV Music Contest, Special Olympics Bowling,
Swimming & Track/Field, Book It and Goalball: Most Improved Girl Award. Jerred Gill:
Special Olympics Swimming, Track/Field & Bowling, Region IV Music Contest, and Book
It. Drew Halverson: Award of Merit for Participation in the “Kids of the New
Century” Radio Play, Prudential Fitnessgram: I’m Fit Award and Certificate for
Off Campus Job. Shane Hoffman: Adaptive Physical Education Achievement Award (biking),
Occupational Therapy Award and Classroom Award.
Emery Long Crow: Adaptive Physical Education Achievement Award (biking), Goalball:
Most Improved Boy Award, Classroom Award, Book It, Special Olympics Bowling, Swimming
& Track/Field and American Red Cross Level II Swimming Achievement Award. Thomas
Miller: Prudential Fitnessgram: I’m Fit Award, Lettering in Swimming, Lettering in
Forensics, Region IV Music Contest, Lettering in Music, Award of Merit for Participation
in the “Kids of the New Century” Radio Play and Track & Field Certificate.
Emily Poelstra: Adaptive Physical Education Achievement Award, Lettering in Music,
Certificate for Off Campus Job and Special Olympics Track/Field. John Sauer: American Red
Cross Level I Swimming Achievement Award, Classroom Award and Book It. Gerad Schuldies:
Graduation Award, Adaptive Physical Education Achievement Award, Lettering in Music,
Certificate for Off Campus Job and Special Olympics Track/Field. Sean Sipes: Region IV
Music Contest, Special Olympics
Track/Field, and Book It. Wade Turner: Region IV Music Contest, Lettering in Music,
Lettering in Track, Lettering in Goalball, Lettering in Forensics, PE Achievement Award,
Award of Merit for Participation in the “Kids of the New Century” Radio Play,
Special Olympics Bowling, Swimming & Track/Field, Certificate for Off Campus Job,
Apartment Student of the Year and American Red Cross Level IV Swimming Achievement Award.
Camron Van Asperen: Lettering in Music,
Lettering in Swimming, Lettering in Forensics, Region IV Music Contest, Prudential
Fitnessgram: I’m Fit Award, Track & Field Certificate and Award of Merit for
Participation in the “Kids of the New Century” Radio Play. Logan Van Kley:
Classroom Award. Clara Wren: Book It. Tony Zimmerman: Outstanding Citizenship Award (this
award is given to a student who best represents the qualities of good citizenship),
Goalball Certificate, American Red Cross Level
III Swimming Achievement Award, Lettering in Forensics, Lettering in Music, Region
IV Music Contest, Award of Merit for Participation in the “Kids of the New
Century” Radio Play and Certificate for Off Campus Job.
What’s
Happening on Campus!
“Artist In Schools” Several Artist in
Residents sponsored by the SD Arts Council and the Arts and Special Activities Committee
spent time at the School.
Gerald LaRoche was
on campus to share his love of music. His expertise with the harmonica showed students
and staff how music can be fun in many, many ways.
Nancy Losacher
worked with the students on creating many unique creations out of clay.
Linda Bruning spent
a week with the students in developing their creativity by working with theater arts.
Linda and the students wrote, produced, and directed a short play, “The Great Dryer
Mystery” as well as a short skit “Waiting in the Wings.”
Simmons Sensations
Students and staff were treated to a visit by the Simmons Sensations, an improv group from
Simmons Middle School in Aberdeen. During
their time with us, the group shared a number of short skits about “situations”
that students and others may find themselves in and how to make good choices. A special
thanks to Lois Walpole, group advisor, for thinking of us and making us a part of their
day.
The students and
staff spent an afternoon enjoying the spills and trills of roller skating
The students and
staff also spent an afternoon enjoying the cold weather to go ice skating and sledding
Minnesota Bound! The students began their swimming, goalball,
and forensics seasons with a trip to the Minnesota Academy for the Blind, Faribault, MN.
Students from Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Kansas were on hand. Goalball:
We had one boys team work their way to the 3rd/4th place match
amongst the 18 teams (Wade, Josh, Michael), and another combined team (Emery, Tony, and a
ND participant) gained three matches of experience, and our gals (Lacey, Linda)
collaborated with a ND participant to compete valiantly as well. Swimming: Thomas
picked up a 1st place finish in the 100m breaststroke, 3rd in the
100m backstroke, and 4th in the 500m freestyle; while Camron earned 1st
in the 200m individual medley and 100m backstroke, along with a 3rd in the 100m
freestyle. Forensics: It was not a competitive
event but Wade, Hannah, Camron, Thomas, and Tony all gave excellent presentations!
In April the Swim
Team traveled to Kansas City, KS, with students and staff from the Minnesota Academy for
the Blind where they competed against swimmers from ten other North Central Schools for
the Blind. Teams competing were from Indiana, Tennessee, Kansas, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kentucky, and South Dakota. Thomas and Camron truly made a statement
for SDSBVI in their swimming competition. They represented us well. They came
in 9th out of 11 schools in both male and combined team points.
Camron Van Asperen
took home 3rd place in the 100 Meter Freestyle (1:18.95), 6th
place in the 100 Meter Backstroke (1:57.16) and 9th in the 200 Meter
Individual Medley (4:32.37).
Thomas
Miller took home 8th place in the 100m Back Crawl (1:54.98) and 9th
place in the 100 Meter Breaststroke (2:03.27).
The “spring
season” of Special Olympics events got underway with many students traveling to
Watertown for the Regional
Aquatics meet and then on to “strut their stuff” at the State Track and Field
meet in Spearfish. Results: The following students participated in State Special Olympics
Meet: Kimberly Beckler – 1st 15 M Flotation, 2nd 15 M Walk
(Swimming), Standing Long Jump, and 25 M Assisted Walk, and 5th Tennis Ball
Throw; Jerred Gill - 1st 15 M Flotation, 15 M Walk (Swimming), and 25 M Assisted Walk, 2nd
Standing Long Jump, and 4th Tennis Ball Throw; Lacey Killingsworth - 1st 15 M
Walk (Swimming) and 50 M Dash, 2nd Standing Long Jump, and 15 M Unassisted
Swim, and 3rd Softball Throw; Sean Sipes - 1st 10 M Non-motorized
Wheelchair, 2nd 25 M Non-motorized Wheelchair and Tennis Ball Throw; Emery Long
Crow - 2nd 15 M Unassisted Swim, 25 M Freestyle and Softball Throw; Linda
Perez-Delker - 1st 15 M Walk (Swimming), 2nd 10 M Assisted Walk, 3rd
Standing Long Jump, and 5th
Tennis Ball Throw; Emily Poelstra - 1st 10 M Assisted Walk and 25 M Assisted
Walk and 3rd Tennis Ball Throw; Gerad Schuldies - 1st 10 M
Non-motorized Wheelchair, 25 M Non-motorized Wheelchair and Tennis Ball Throw. A Big Thank
You to the staff who help out throughout the year: Tevan Fischbach, Julie Van Dover, Lorri
Peterson, Pete Peterson, Martin Pfotenhauer, Jane Mundschenk, and Cathy DeCurtins. SDSBVI
also won the banner competition again this year!