The Eye Spy. Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped. Cheerleading. February Calendar

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "The Eye Spy. Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped. Cheerleading. February Calendar"

Derek McGee
5 years ago
Views:

1 A Division of the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired A Division of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Volume 3 Issue 5 February 2003 Inside this issue: School Bus 2 High 5 Awards 4 Swim Practice Begins 4 Forensics News 5 February Birthdays 5 New Staff at WCBVI 6 Labels and Box Tops 8 Student Absence Line 8 Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped Cheerleading On January 16-18th, WSVH had 5 cheerleaders and 6 wrestlers attend the NCASVI Cheerleading and Wrestling tournament at the Kansas School for the Blind. The entire cheerleading squad of Heather Olson, Renee Joye, Jessica Raichle, Misty Julian, Stephanie Kraft and Kereana Chlopek worked very hard preparing their routine to perform. The routine consisted of various cheers, chants, and dances, and a final gymnastic mount. Even though we didn t place, it was my pleasure to coach these girls. I was very proud of their spirit, enthusiasm, dedication and hard work. I look forward to next season.-pam Benzel, Cheerleading Coach February Calendar 2 Groundhog Day 9 WSVH 153 rd Birthday 15 WIAA Wrestling Regional Tournament 15 District Music Solo and Ensemble Beloit Memorial HS 15 Low Vision CESA 6, Oshkosh 22 WIAA Wrestling Sectional Tournament 28 Inservice Day-NO SCHOOL

2 School Teacher Bus of Danger the Year Zone The following is a memo from Anthony S. Evers, Deputy State Superintendent: Subject: School Bus Safety, 2001 Act 58 A tragic accident has given rise to new legislation intended to promote student safety in school bus loading and unloading. Prompted by the death of Joseph Chojnacki and the advocacy of his parents, the legislature passed SB 179 that the governor signed into law as Act 58. Please read the following: Dear School Official: I am writing to you today asking that you issue a newsletter reminding parents as well as students of the school bus danger zone. While you may or may not know, a law was passed in the state of Wisconsin mandating that a swinging gate be installed on the front of all school buses. This law was passed due to the loss of our son, Joseph. He was run over by his own school bus after he tripped and fell in front of the bus. The driver was unable to see him. Had there been a swinging gate on the bus, Joey would have been far enough in front of it where he would have been seen. My husband and I believe that his life would have been spared has this law been passed sooner. While the new law (which should be fully implemented within two years) is one step toward preventing the loss of another precious life, we need to take further action. I am asking that all schools inform not only the children, but the parents as well, of the dangers of riding a bus. You see, I never rode a school bus as a child, and was unaware of the danger zone. My ignorance cost me the life of my only son. Please don t let this happen again. Statistics have shown that the swinging gates have dropped frontal fatalities by nearly 100%. However, children should be reminded of the following: Page 2

3 Once you have crossed the front of the bus safely, by walking around the outside of the gate, never walk back in front of the bus. If you forgot something, either inform the school or the bus company. They should be able to help you retrieve whatever it was that was left on the bus. Never stoop down to pick up any dropped item near or under the bus. Children as old as 10 years have died because they dropped a book or backpack near the front door, bent down to pick up the item and were run over. I believe that these are very real and potential hazards that are never relayed to children or parents. Please include what I ve mentioned above with your other safety rules when reminding children, our most precious gifts, of the safety needed while riding a school bus. Gratefully yours, Mrs. Karen Chojnacki 2001 Wisconsin Act 58 An Act to create of the statures; relating to: requiring crossing gates on school buses, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. The people of the State of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: Section of the statutes is created to read: Crossing gates for school buses. No person may operate a school bus that is painted as provided in s unless it is equipped with a retractable crossing gate on the front of the bus that, when in use, prevents children from crossing in front of the school bus in such proximity that they are not visible to the operator of the school bus from the operator s seat. The secretary shall prescribe rules for the specifications installation, and operation of crossing gates required under this section. Section 2. Effective date. (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 25 th month beginning after publication-date of publication, Volume 3 Issue 5 Page 3

4 Physical Education High Five Awards Chuch Aprahamian Jenna Antreassian Brian Boknevitz Kereana Chlopek Richie Draper Elizabeth Fideler Emily Fideler Congratulations! Billy Hamilton Brandon Jopke Micah Murray Stacy Novak Jessica Raichle Kimberly Robinson Quincy Washington Swim team practice will begin on Swim Practice January 27th! All girls and boys interested in joining the swim team should come to the initial practice on Monday, January 27th, from 4:00 to 5:15 in the school gymnasium. There will be three away meets this year and the home Wisconsin Relays. The away meets are April 4-6 at Iowa, April at Minnesota, and May 1-4 NCASB at Indiana. Our Wisconsin Relays are scheduled for April here at WSVH. Once again we will have a competition team for 7 th graders and older as well as the community team for younger students. The schedule for the local meets for the community team have not been arranged yet, but I expect WSVH will compete against the Delavan- Darien Community Swim Team and Lake Geneva Special Olympics Team again this year. Co-curricular rules will be handed out for those new to athletics this year. These rules spell out the Athletic Code, grade requirements and behavior expectations for all students participating in school sports. So mark your calendars and join the WSVH swim team.-diana Brower, Swim Coach Page 4

5 It is that grand time of the year Forensics News again when middle and high school students get together to demonstrate and share their prowess in interpretative speaking. Approximately 14 students attended our initial meeting in which they learned about the various categories of speeches, rules of participation, and all that goes into preparing and performing speeches as part of a forensics team. Mrs. Heesen and I are delighted that several of our new students are involved in our forensics team this year. We applaud their enthusiasm, and the support of the veterans as we plan for the various competitions. One of our initial activities is to give every team member a chance to try impromptu speaking. It's a good way to get everyone's feet wet, and it breaks the ice quickly while we all have fun. There are several categories of speeches for students to choose from with opportunities for memorization, creative writing, and exposure to all kinds of literature. The forensics team will be traveling to Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana along with the swim team for various competitions. They will also host several schools in an event we call the Wisconsin Relays. We look towards an exciting forensics season.- Kathy Hudziak, Co-Forensics Coach February Birthdays Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to you. Students 4 Erika Geib 5 Matt O Connor 6 Dan Groll 10 Markee Penlton 22 Jason Songs 22 Katie-Ping Woods Volume 3 Issue 5 Page 5

Colleen Dunphy O&M Instructor Colleen grew up in Sterling, IL with her

Her interests include traveling, sight-seeing, spending time with

teaching. This is Colleen s first teaching job.

Colleen says I am very excited to be here.

enjoys reading, attending church, and spending time with family and

She worked for two years at Cedar Crest Retirement Community as a

husband, John, have three children; Patrick, Erica, and Jeffrey.

6 Colleen Dunphy O&M Instructor Colleen grew up in Sterling, IL with her parents and three sisters. Her interests include traveling, sight-seeing, spending time with family and friends, camping, fishing, painting, photography, and teaching. This is Colleen s first teaching job. She graduated December 2, 2002 with an O&M degree from Northern Illinois University. She had done her practice teaching at the Maryland School for the Blind. Colleen says I am very excited to be here. Latrice Loveless Child Care Counselor 1 Latrice is a single gal that enjoys reading, attending church, and spending time with family and friends. She worked for two years at Cedar Crest Retirement Community as a Personal Care Attendant before coming to WCBVI to work with the girls in Long Hall. New Staff at WCBVI Lorraine (Rainie) McGinnett Cook 1 Rainie and her husband, John, have three children; Patrick, Erica, and Jeffrey. In her leisure time Rainie likes to do crocheting, painting murals, crafts, and cooking. Her previous work experience includes having worked 2 years at Pearl Harbor Elementary as a part time receptionist and activities director. Rainie and her husband moved back to Wisconsin when he retired from the Navy. They are currently renovating their house and chasing the kids. Page 6

Sarah Arb Program Assistant 2 Sarah has a Bachelor s degree in Fine Arts from the University

She has worked as a dental assistant, a secretary, and various other jobs while in college.

and spending time with loved ones. She also enjoys creating, viewing, and purchasing art work.

Thank you to everyone for such a warm and friendly welcome. Thank you, I am glad to be here!

Her interests include cooking, traveling, and Badger hockey games.

7 Sarah Arb Program Assistant 2 Sarah has a Bachelor s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. She has worked as a dental assistant, a secretary, and various other jobs while in college. Her interests outside of work include: enjoying nature (particularly animals), reading, music, and spending time with loved ones. She also enjoys creating, viewing, and purchasing art work. Sarah said, It is a pleasure to be a part of WCBVI. Thank you to everyone for such a warm and friendly welcome. Thank you, I am glad to be here! Vickie Warner Certified Braille Transcriber Vicki is married and the mother of three daughters. Her interests include cooking, traveling, and Badger hockey games. Before coming to WCBVI Vicki was a Braillist for the Oregon and Verona School Districts. Most recently she has been the project coordinator for Volunteer Braillists and Tapists, Inc. in Madison. Welcome New WCBVI Staff! Volume 3 Issue 5 Page 7

8 Don t forget to cut out and save Labels and Box Tops your Campbell s soup labels and General Mills box tops! Just send them in to Theresa Eiden. WSVH can get stuff just by you cutting out these items; you hardly have to do a thing! Thanks for your help and support of WSVH! No School February 28th In-service Day Calling Students in Absent If your child is absent, please remember to call or , THEN PRESS 1 for the student absence line. Please do not leave a student absence message on an individual WCBVI staff member s voice mailbox. It is imperative that you leave all student absence messages on the Student Absence Line voice mailbox, as more than one WCBVI staff member may need to access the information related to student absences. Please remember to contact the bus company as well as the school. Visit our web site at West State Street Janesville, Wisconsin Phone: Page 8

The Eye Spy. Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped. Welcome New Principal

The Eye Spy. Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped. Welcome New Principal A Division of the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired A Division of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Volume 4 Issue 5 February 2004 Inside this issue: February Birthdays