Western Heritage Day - Silver Spur Ranch for the Blind

Oklahoma School Western Heritage Day - Silver Spur Ranch for the Blind

Western Heritage Day The OQHA sponsored next year and do it all 2017 - 2018, Issue 2 at the Silver Spur lunch for this hungry again. October 25, 2017 Western Lodge group of cowboys and Editor: Maggie Mattox Volunteers look forward cowgirls. Youth members from to Western Heritage Special points of interest: the Oklahoma Youth Students received Day as much as the  Space Camp Quarter Horse Associa- hands-on experience OSB students, some of  White Cane Safety Day tion, the rodeo team riding horses, touching them driving over 200  Special Olympics from Connors State spurs and saddles and miles to spend the day  Secret Reporter College in Warner, talking to cowboys who with our students.  Academic Team Oklahoma Quarter have lived on horse and Once they’ve been to  Elementary “Fire Prevention Horse Association Trail cattle ranches. They Program” Field Trip Western Heritage Day Riders and area high also learned about the  Blind Boys of Alabama to help, they don’t want Concert school students were good times and the to ever miss it.  FCCLA District Meeting matched up with OSB tough times working and students as buddies for making a living on a Linda Graber the day. ranch. Inside this issue: Activities included pony When they loaded up on Space Camp 2+14 rides, mechanical bull Social Services News 3-4 the bus to go back to White Cane Safety Day 5+11 and stagecoach rides, school, the students Goal Achievement Awards 5 dummy calf roping, were exhausted, but A big THANK YOU City Bus Travel 6 fishing, rock climbing, also excited. They to all our sponsors. Cane Quest 6 Special Olympics-Bowling 7 bungee jumping on a talked about everything Please also check out our Jazz Band Update 7 trampoline and other that happened and how “student article” in the Student Student Corner Articles 8-14 hands-on activities. they’re ready to return Corner section (page 11) - Secret Reporter 8 - Academic Team Update 9 - Wrestling Team Update 9 - Running Club Update 10 - Elem. Fire Prevention Trip 10 - Blind Boys of Alabama 12 FUTURE SHOCK REMINDER - Poem “Limitations” 13 - FCCLA Update 13 Don’t Forget - Future Shock is Thursday 30 November. Recreation Activities 15-16 OSB Cookbook Reminder 16 We’ll have special guests on campus sharing information Going the Extra Mile 17-18 to help you after graduation. Editor’s Challenge 18 Dress is business casual (NO t-shirts or athletic wear). Birthdays 19 Calendars 20-21 Faye Miller Staff Changes 22 Cookbook Order Form 23 Spaghetti Fundraiser Flyer 24 Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students (SCIVIS)

By Cheryl Daniels scripts and labels. The Space The experience included more Camp administration is extremely than just space camp though Often people who haven’t been to supportive of the program and since we traveled by plane to Space Camp don’t understand many counselors say this is their Alabama. The kids navigated what goes on there. Space Camp favorite week and a few even airport security checkpoints, is a little different than other come back just for SCIVIS. learned about gates, the camps in that it focuses on We feel pretty special! differences in airplane and STEM activities where the They also bring in a panel of blind airport sizes (some are full of participants are engaged in and visually impaired employees more stores than our mall!), and complex simulated space from NASA to talk to us about airline safety. missions, engineering design, and their jobs. astronaut training exercises. The SCIVIS is a program I can’t say campers also go through intense enough about... the kids learn new skills, gain confidence, and ropes courses, exciting team building activities, and advanced make friends from across students have the opportunity to oceans. It is a very special program that I hope continues to SCUBA and experience the weightlessness of space. The grow. camp is open year round and Waiting to head to the US Space Our trip has been supported hosts teams from not only the Center at the Huntsville Airport. financially through the generous U.S. but many other countries, gifts from The Zarrow adults and kids alike. They have This past September, I had the honor of chaperoning three Foundation and from The corporate groups, teachers Oklahoma Foundation for the weeks, and more. students from OSB, Trinity Lewis, Thomas Raines, and Richelle Education of Blind Children and Our students go during a week Zampella. The students were Youth. known as SCIVIS – Space each in different groups and had We truly appreciate these Camp for Interested Visually the opportunity to make friends groups. Impaired Students. from all over. This was a dream of an educator Trinity flew a fighter plane and from West Virginia many years went on military style missions in ago and has grown into an the dark and had to save her amazing program that now brings team mates who had been One staff hundreds of visually impaired captured by the enemy. She also member took it students from around the world to had to swim out of a helicopter upon himself to get together for a very special build this actual simulator that had crashed into working model to week. During this week, the US the lake! help the kids un- Space and Rocket center derstand what transforms itself into basically a Richelle learned to SCUBA dive goes on at the Pamper Pole climbing Space Camp for the Blind. in the Underwater Astronaut area. Mission control centers, the space Trainer tank and participated in difficult space missions. The staff spends shuttles, hours covering science Thomas climbed up a 30ft pole, “Area 51” with labs, and a 45ft tower, fluorescent duct more are all and assisted tape to help our outfitted his team VI students. with Braille in space labels. missions with

Braille label in the various Space Lab. Hundreds of hours of anomalies. Please also check out our Being lowered from the “student article” in the work through a collaboration of VI pamper pole. teachers, goes into brailing the Student Corner section (page 14)

Page 2 Panther Pride Social Services Department - News, Tips, etc.

"Caught Being Good" Sept. 21-Oct. 23  John Duong - for helping out another student with Independent Living Skills.  Conner Hilton - for offering a student help in the cafeteria.  Alyn Walker - for being honest about school work and for making good choices.  Xerek Hitchcock - for helping out a classmate in the cafeteria.  Ocie Webster - for helping clean and decorate the Recreational center.  Jaylee Burnside - for telling the truth during an activity.  Garrett Kennedy - for taking care of a fellow student's needs.

Social Services Department Sylvia Sterling Boys Bash

On October 17th I accompanied several hundred young men in A BBQ Sandwich lunch was some of our 7th grade young men attendance this year. also supplied for those who here from OSB to “Boys Bash attended. I felt the information that was 2017”, which is held at Fort shared was very informative and Boys Bash is sponsored every Gibson’s Field House every year. relevant for those young men that year by the Crisis Pregnancy “Boys Bash” is where 7th thru 9th attended and hopefully will aid Center. grade young men from schools all them in making wise choices in Those attending this year were: over this area gather for the future. Jimmy Anderson, Julio Vadez educational lessons concerning and Elbin Carrillo. sex and sexuality and there were Paul Butler Word of the Month for November The “Word of say, want and do.” ~Emanuel Compliment someone. the Month” for Swedenborg Put your focus on the positive November is “The smallest act of kindness is by expressing it. Tell someone “Kindness”, worth more than the grandest what you like, admire, and which intention.” ~Oscar Wilde appreciate. Share the love. describes It’s the small, everyday things that These actions might seem small, the quality of can make or break a day for us. but not only do they make being friendly, Here are a few examples: others’ lives better, they are also generous and considerate. Offer your help. directly nourishing for you. “Kindness is an inner desire that Being kind is good for your makes us want to do good things Even when people don’t need it, health. they appreciate being offered even if we do not get anything in Sylvia Sterling return. It is the joy of our life to do help. them. When we do good things Say thank you. from this inner desire, there is Say thank you like you mean kindness in everything we think, it. ... E,g. “Thank you. I really appreciate your help.” Page 3 Panther Pride Social Services Department - Tips for Encouragement

Words that Encourage: Labels that Judge: Grow your Mind-Set: 1. Wow! Smart - Cute - Great - 1. What did you struggle with today? 2. Look at that! Super - Bright - Fast - 2. This is hard, this is fun, 3. Tell me about it. Best - Pretty - Good - what should we do next? 4. Show me more. Quick - Clever - Beautiful - 3. You can grow your 5. How did you do that? Talented - Gifted - Lovely - intelligence. 6. Let’s see what you did. Intelligent - Right - 4. You can learn. You can 7. How do you feel about it? Amazing - The Best - stretch. You can keep mastering new things. 8. How did you figure that out? Awesome - 5. I don’t think there is anything 9. I see that you _____ . Better than ______better in the world than a (Be specific) (another person) child hearing from a parent

10. That looks like it took a lot of or teacher the words: “You’ll effort. get there.” 11. How many ways did you try it 6. Do you label your kids? before it turned out the way This one is the artist and you wanted it? that one is the scientist. 12. What do you plan to do next? Next time, remember that you’re not helping them - 13. That looks like it took so much even though you may be work. praising them. 14. Are you pleased with what Remember … praising kids’ you did? ability lowered their IQ scores.

Teens For Christ

This school year some students Teens for Christ activities includes formed “Teens for Christ”, some Singing and a Short which has been meeting Devotion. every Wednesday morning All students are invited & at 7:30 am in the Auditorium welcome. with 10 to 12 OSB students attending. Paul Butler

Page 4 Panther Pride White Cane Safety Day

On Tuesday, Oct. 10th, Oklahoma The 2 time, 2-A state champion School for the Blind (OSB) OSB Jazz Band performed for a students and faculty – even the very appreciative crowd. They Jazz Band - traveled to Tulsa to had them dancing in the isle. celebrate National White Cane Safety Day. WHITE CANE OSB organizers displayed free educational materials HISTORY and presented demonstrations throughout the day from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Woodland Hills Mall. The first white cane laws were OSB Jazz Band drafted around the time that Demonstrations included travel National White Cane Safety Day techniques, use of dog guides and was established by presidential assistive technology. Students and other blind and proclamation in 1964. OSB’s White Cane Day activities visually individuals walked the Today, similar laws exist in all 50 aim to help the community mall to celebrate White Cane states and in the District of understand the connection Safety Day. Columbia. between effective cane use and independence, and to provide Linda Graber Under Oklahoma law, only blind information about free services people may carry white canes with offered by OSB to students with or without red tips, which are visual disabilities across the state. universally recognized as mobility aids for people with vision OSB students had the chance to impairments. demonstrate their white Oklahoma law requires drivers cane travel to completely stop their vehicles skills, to meet 15 feet away from pedestrians and educate who are visually impaired and identified by their use of white new people Ruby Barker, OSB teacher (right) about blind- canes or dog guides. ness and to People who violate this law are guilty celebrate the of a misdemeanor punishable by many accom- Please also check out our “student article” in the imprisonment for up to three months plishments of Student Corner section (page 11). or $100 fine or both. Sherry Holder, people with OSB Outreach vision impairments.”

Goal Achievement Awards

In this edition we would like Cameron Hughes for smashing Samantha Six for achieving to recognize and congratulate his old record of 62 wpm and her goal of learning the Braille following students for achieving 66 wpm! He really put a alphabet. – Kathy Barrett achieving their goal: lot of effort in practicing to get better!! – Paul Butler Conner Hilton for mastering conversion units in molecular equations. – Cheryl Daniels

Page 5 Panther Pride Hop on the Bus: City Bus Travel Experience 2017

In the month of October we had the Once inside the mall, students had Some of us even got soaked from opportunity to take several groups to look in strategic places to find the rain as cars and pickup trucks of our high school seniors to signage of some of the stores they zoomed across the puddles of introduce them to the basics of city wanted to visit, as well as signage water near our bus stop! bus travel in Tulsa. leading to sections of the mall such Our boarding point began at the as restrooms and escalators. metro midtown transfer station. They learned the value of using Students were responsible for their senses of hearing, touch and purchasing their own bus passes smell for cues and landmarks as and getting bus route information to well as the importance of asking know location of bus stop and specific questions when seeking Waiting on the bus ... arrival time. They also had to assistance from the public. inquire about the location of their The food Whether our students have plans return route, giving consideration for court to get jobs or to continue their how much time they would need to provided education at a technical school or walk to the return bus stop. many college following graduation, The route involved a street options to being able to access public crossing at a traffic light, at which choose from transportation gives them another students used the initial surge of the From Left: Brianna, Trinity , to satisfy option for cost-effective, Cameron, and Holly (at the Mall) parallel hungry, independent travel to those traffic as a growling stomachs! places. cue to begin The bus transit personnel were Gina Woods, crossing the friendly and helpful to our students, O&M Instructor street, and ensuring pleasant and successful a visit to trips. Lorenzo R. (grey t-shirt) with O&M Woodland instructor, Faye Miller (on right) Hills Mall. Cane Quest …. Nov. 16 !

Cane skills Scouts will stay on campus, negotiating obstacles, and will pay off! completing a route through stations advanced cane techniques. Top On Thursday, that will test their O&M skills, contestants in each category will November 16th, including the ability to maintain be awarded Gold, Silver and thirty-two orientation, use different cane Bronze medals with prizes. contestants will vie for medals techniques, and work with their Special thanks to our contest and prizes at Oklahoma Regional teammate to negotiate stairs. The sponsors: Cane Quest. coins they earn at each station can Braille Institute, Oklahoma School be used to “purchase” a variety of Contestants will meet the 59 for the Blind, Humanware, prizes. volunteers at 10 am in the Economy Pharmacy, Frank auditorium for a group photo. Explorers and Trailblazers will Dirksen, Liberty Braille, NanoPac, These volunteers include 1-on-1 complete a secret route by the NewView Oklahoma, Oklahoma teammates and shadows and Muskogee Civic Center. Some of Council of the Blind, Oklahoma trained experts who will score the the skills they will demonstrate AER, Sapulpa Lions Club contestants. include crossing a variety of streets, Faye Miller Page 6 Panther Pride Special Olympics “Bowling”

Our OSB Special After competition Olympians the athletes were traveled to treated to lunch McAlester, Ok to picnic style at a participate in the park in McAlester. bowling area The kids reported Conner H. games. Blazen S. that they had a Blazen Sitterly blast and can't wait Our athletes competed against until the next event! athletes from Glenpool and did an A big THANK YOU to Mr. Chris excellent job. Carden and Mrs. Gina Woods for Miracle Jones  Conner Hilton, Junior, being awesome helpers on the placed 1st trip. Tera Webb  Mikel Gentry, Junior, placed 2nd Kolten  Blazen Sitterly, 7th grader, Pennington placed 1st

 Miracle Jones, 7th grader, placed 1st

 Kolten Pennington, 5th grader, placed 1st. Conner Hilton Mikel Gentry

Jazz Band - Updates

The Jazz Band was busy and 2nd Event: A big THANK participated in two events this The band traveled YOU to our month. to Oklahoma City, private donor st OK to attend a 1 Event: who purchased concert perfor- To celebrate National White Cane all of the tickets Jazz Band group picture in front of mance from the Let’s be goofy !!! the Tower Theatre, OKC Safety Day, we performed at for the concert! Blind Boys of Woodland Hills mall in Tulsa, Our next performance will be our OK. We played a variety of songs Alabama. We received a personal invitation Annual Spaghetti Dinner from jazz standards, to songs Fundraiser on November 7 fresh off the radio. The crowd to meet the band before the performance and to ask questions at the Masonic Lodge, lined the balcony and covered 121 S 6th St. West, Muskogee, most of the dealing with blindness as a professional musician. OK (located next to the Muskogee US floor space in Postal Service). front of Dillard's and We hope to see you there! erupted with Chris Ferrell OSB Jazz Band applause after each of the band's selections. OSB Jazz Band meets the Blind Boys of Alabama

Page 7 Panther Pride Student Corner Class Clown reading history is Yup, you guessed it. or astonishing. It doesn’t Conner reads quotes matter whose turn it is made by girls in his School Clown? to read, he reads every best “girl” voice. This SECRET REPORTER We all know Conner single quote in every is when everyone in Hilton as the kid who single section, on top of class starts laughing just doesn’t stop reading his own parts. so hard, they almost Last edition’s “Secret have to pee. It even talking and making No, I do understand Reporter” was: makes Preston laugh, people laugh. He even that a person reading Trinity Lewis and he always tells does this in his every quote isn’t that Conner to read classes and makes his funny, but Conner The winner: normally so that they teachers laugh too. doesn’t exactly read the Richelle Zampella can get the section Mr. Jackman’s 6th quotes in his “normal” done and do the hour class. That’s voice. GREAT JOB LADIES !!! work. when just half of the When Conner is That’s why Conner Take a guess… 11th grade class has reading a quote from a Hilton has been him for United States male he tends to read Who is THIS pinned, in a loving History, and that is in a deep, raspy voice. way, as the class edition’s secret when Tai, Nick, Sometimes he even clown (although some reporter ? Ariana, Preston and reads male voices with say he’s the school Conner are all in his a “country” accent, Turn in your guesses to clown). classroom. which he learned from Ms. Laci Goins at First off let’s just one of the best at Keep it up Conner… [email protected] school, Cameron laughing is the best restate that Conner The first one guessing correctly loves to make people Hughes. medicine and we wins the challenge, his/her laugh. That is exactly need a good laugh But when the quotes name will be published in our what he does in this from time to time. made by girls come next edition and he/she will win class. in… well, that should Your a small price. His ability to make speak for itself. Secret Reporter people laugh while (Who am I?) Let the fun begin!

College Fair Tour by Jonathon Phelps

for the annual area-wide college The students gathered fair. information from local colleges that will help them make The seniors who attended were: decisions about their future. Halle Stout, Kinzie Peters, and Jonathon Phelps. On September 26 three seniors traveled to Connors State College Their sponsor was Mrs. Cragg.

Page 8 Panther Pride Student Corner - c o n t i n u e d

Academic Team to answer as many question as On Monday, October 9th Update they can during practice. Kaylee Ragon, Trinity Lewis, Richelle Zampella, Jillian by Halle Stout and Trinity Lewis The team works on answering Matthews, and Garrett Kennedy questions individually and in Hello everyone! traveled to Prue, Oklahoma for groups. This year OSB their annual District Seeding. has a hard It is no mystery why this intelligent They played Prue and Glencoe. working group of students meet together They seeded first by Academic Team. with their leader. One reason is to winning both of their games. be able to practice answering We have eight members. questions that would be asked at We are so very proud of them. Participants on the Academic competitions. Another is to study They had so much fun. Team include: Brianna Brennan, what they need to know to beat Garrett Kennedy, Trinity Lewis, the other teams. To be on an Jillian Matthews, Ariana Academic Team is not something Richardson, Kaylee Ragon, Halle to just mess around. It is meant Stout, and Richelle Zampella. for students to study topics in Every Monday the Academic which they are interested in, and Team meets after school until they compete with students from other The Academic team’s next get released to go to dinner. schools to do their best to win at competition is the OSSAA Laci Goins happens to be the competitions by showing their Regionals on November 11th leader of our Academic Team. intelligence. at Kremlin-Hillsdale. She expects her group members

Wrestling Season Update by Kinzie Peters It’s that time of the year again when Our panther wrestlers in Our first wrestling duel is our panthers start HS include 9th grade Nathan Saturday, November 11th wrestling season. England and Johnnie Davidson, against the Arkansas School for th They kicked off 10 grade “Dee” Willis, Kentrell the Blind located in Little Rock, the season on Monday, October Wallace, Christopher Shepherd, AR. th 9th with a meeting and started and Allen Alender, 11 grade Tai’ practice on Monday, October 16th. Thomas and Preston Fenton, 12th grade Jonathon Phelps, Our panther wrestlers for Kinzie Peters, and Cameron th MS include 7 grade Julio Hughes. Valdez, Elbin Carrillo, and Jimmy Anderson, 8th grade John Duong The team is coached by Rob and William Winston. Culie.

Page 9 Panther Pride Student Corner - c o n t i n u e d OSB Running Club run outside along the rocky track information about the Panther which surrounds the playground Prowl 5K race please see/ by Halle Stout just outside of the East Lobby. contact Mrs. Young Mock. OSB is a place where students Our members must run as many learn how to be healthy. One thing days as they can to prepare Go runners! that we must do to be healthy is to themselves to run races. get exercise and we can do that The coach of the Running club is by participating in the OSB Mrs. Susan Young Mock. Before Running Club. running she leads the runners in stretches in order to get them warmed up and prepared to run well. On November 15 th we will be Members of our Running hosting the Panther Prowl 5-K Club include: Race. Our runners, who are considering to participate in the Allen Alender, John and Tyler race, are practicing hard in order Duong, Halle Stout, and Katelynn to become very fast, and even go Zampella. for longer distances. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and If you are interested in being part Wednesdays members meet and of the running club or want more

Firefighter’s Fire Braylen told me that when the fire safety. If you catch on fire you Prevention Program alarm went off everyone started should STOP, DROP AND running and hiding. When the ROLL. By Preston Fenton firefighter asked if they did good th On Wednesday, October 11 the everyone shouted with a OSB Kindergarteners through unanimous “NO!” He then second graders went to the informed us that “instead you Muskogee Civic Center for fire should prevention week. I talked to a few try to of the students that went to that make it Demonstration of and got their opinions and views out a DROP & ROLL on their day at the Civic Center. door or The clowns were played by the window. “I learned that it is bad to leave firefighters, and one was Skyler To feel if the stove on because it will smoke Demonstration how to get to a Moore’s uncle! and can start a fire” said Noah. window - STAY LOW ! the fire is Although it was fire prevention He then told me that they watched behind a door you should place week we did not have a fire drill the fire show where they taught your hand backwards on the door at school that week, because we them not to leave stuff that can to feel if there is any heat.” had one at the beginning of the catch fire on the floor. Noah also He liked taking pictures with the school year. said that he got to stop, drop and clowns (firefighters). He informed roll in front of everyone. me that the clowns were used as a demonstration for proper fire

Page 10 Panther Pride Student Corner - c o n t i n u e d

White Cane Day Ragon, Trinity Lewis and The students also got to learn a Nicholas Jackson-Morrison little bit about guide dogs and by Ariana Richardson got to take part in the day what is required to have one. On Tuesday October 10, we time events. They learned a They learned that it is a great had our yearly celebration lot about how to use a cane responsibility and as their owner, of White Cane Day to honor properly and about how to it's very important to take good and tell about why visually identify different landmarks care of them. for navigation skills. impaired individuals use They learned how beneficial it is canes. The students had a blast and to have proper Orientation and It took place in Tulsa at the to top it all off, they got the Mobility (O&M) skills, and how Woodland Hills Mall and lasted opportunity to be interviewed by helpful it can be to their lives in through most of the day. TV News stations Channel 2, 6 the future. and 8. The students got to speak The O&M instructors that we The OSB jazz band performed about what White Cane Day have here at OSB are fabulous that evening at 4:30 pm and again means to them and why they feel and they've taught many at 6:00 pm. They did a fantastic that it's such an honorable day. job and the entire event was a big students successful ways to success. Trinity said that she got to navigate not only around familiar experience getting on an areas, but around non-familiar During free time, between the escalator blindfolded. "It's not areas as well. band performances, Mrs. Jane what you can see, it's about what I think White Cane Day is also a Thomas spoke about the you can be," she said. importance of using a cane and day to honor and thank them for how helpful it is to many people Kaylee feels that White Cane all they've done for the students who are blind. Her speech was Day was a great way to spread here at this school. So if they've very inspiring and it gave some awareness and to inform more made a difference in your life, insight to how sighted people people about the white cane in please thank them and let them should address someone who general. "It's a good way to show know how much you appreciate may be using a cane to cross a people how to treat someone them for everything they have street or intersection. It reminded when they see them using a cane taught you. to cross the street," she said. others that people who are White Cane Day was definitely a “And it also shows people that we visually impaired can get around huge success and we can all can do anything that they can do, on their own just by using a simple look forward to having another even if we may do it a little red and white stick. celebration next year! differently.” A few students including, Kaylee

Silver Spur Ranch by Jonathon Phelps and Lorenzo Once the High School arrived Mrs. Linda Graber for making Rodriguez they were greeted with a nice this activity possible. It was so On September 27 OSB was lunch and Priscilla sang us a much fun! good song. invited to attend their annual Western Heritage Day at the The students were able to ride Silver Spur Ranch. horses, a wagon, and a The elementary and middle school stagecoach, go bungee jumping, students left at 9:00 am and the rock climbing, fishing, and roping. high school followed at 11:00 am. The students would like to thank the quarter horse association and

Page 11 Panther Pride Student Corner - c o n t i n u e d

Five Blind Boys of Grammy Awards and Everybody enjoyed it and I also they've been working together think everyone could agree with Alabama Concert since they were in high school. me that even though we were by Ariana Richardson They are true inspirations and tired from getting back at almost they are so talented. We got the one o'clock in the morning, it opportunity to ask them some was worth it. questions about their career and I I'm so glad we got to witness was really impressed with how these awesome bands and I much they've accomplished OSB students meet the Blind Boys of Alabama would like to thank everyone together over the years. It made who made it possible for us to th me realize how much music really Wednesday October 18 , 2017 go. It was a great experience has changed compared to the our OSB jazz band traveled to and we all had so much fun! Oklahoma City to the Tower to music that we have today and see the famous Blind Boys of how certain music can really Alabama in concert! It was a long impact people's lives. ride, but I have to say, it was The concert itself was fabulous! definitely not a waste of time! One thing that they did before starting their show, which really touched my heart, was they gave our school recognition! I thought that was so sweet and considerate of them. There were two other performers who were equally amazing and OSB students outside the Tower Theatre who really made the show even more worthwhile. One of them When we first arrived and went in was Irma Thomas and she told us to take our seats, a few people a little bit about her life and spoke to us about the history of career. She has such a beautiful Let’s have some fun ! the Tower and about the different voice and it was nice to hear them productions and performances all perform together. I think I that have taken place over the could listen to them all day long if past years. It was very interesting I had to. and I was especially happy to It was so wonderful and I'm hear that one of my favorite movies, The Sound of Music, really glad we got to go. It was definitely more than I expected happened there for about a year and a half. and not only was the singing fantastic, the music and After that, the Blind Boys spoke to instruments that they played were At the concert ! us about their past and how they beautiful as well. became so successful in their lives. They have won five

Page 12 Panther Pride Student Corner - c o n t i n u e d

Limitations eyes at you, but do they return the joke written upon all the By Richelle Zampella your gaze? faces? Does the moon, when it flashes a Will you help me surpass these crescent of a smile, expect you'll limitations? share in the humor? If I were the sun, the moon, or the stars, would I shine as bright and Does Earth orbit halfway around sure? the sun, only to reverse its Will you help me on my orbital course? course, return my gaze when I The stars wink their bright, playful don't return yours, share with me

FCCLA District she had the courage to get up on glad we got to be a part of this Meeting stage and introduce our chapter event and I hope we get to go and its members. We did a very again next year. by Ariana Richardson good job representing our school. All FCCLA members had a After the opening ceremony, a wonderful time. wonderful motivational speaker, After the meeting we had lunch Kent Butler, talked to us about at Chili’s. situations that may come our way in life and how we should spread It was a very inspiring day and it love and kindness to people that was so much fun. we meet along the way. He also Tuesday October 17, Mrs. Garner, said that we can't let opportunities Mrs. Harris, 6 members of FCCLA slip away; we need to take and I traveled to Tahlequah to advantage of these situations attend the yearly FCCLA when they arise. He was very Northeast 5 District Meeting. entertaining and kept us laughing. Kent made me think about my life It was a great experience and we more seriously and I realized how learned so much about what it many opportunities I haven't truly means to care for one another taken advantage of. OSB FCCLA Leadership Team and how we should take care of our community. "We had great motivational speakers and it was a fun The ceremony began around experience," Trinity says. 9:30 a.m. and the FCCLA chapter members were introduced and I've enjoyed it every year so recognized for their hard work far and it always teaches me throughout the district. something new that could possibly impact my life in a Trinity Lewis did an amazing job, positive way in the future. I'm

Page 13 Panther Pride Student Corner - c o n t i n u e d

SCIVS; Space Camp would get to zip line into a lake Tragically all good things must while members of the Space come to an end so on Friday Aviation Challenge Academy program couldn’t. night there was a graduation by Thomas Raines Despite this I still had fun. ceremony held for all the teams. Three students from the school I got to zip line and After the graduation there was a recently attended Space Camp in thankfully I didn’t dance held as a celebration. Huntsville, Alabama. The three get wet while Once the dance was over we students were Trinity Lewis, doing it. went to bed and the next Richelle Zampella and I. morning we had to leave early to I also got to climb catch our flight home. However, Ms. Daniels went with us to act as a rock wall. our sponsor/chaperone. just like the first time it was The Space Acade- done, we had to take two We had to take two flights, first we my members, different planes at two different Thomas and a flew from the Tulsa Airport to including myself, airports. Houston, Texas and finally we teammate getting were actually able ready to zip line I would like to thank everyone took a plane from there to to build and launch Alabama. who made this trip happen for their own rockets. me. I had a We attended space camp from the rd th The main difference between the great time and 23 to the 29 of September. Aviation program and Space learned a lot. After we arrived we were allowed Academy program is that one to get settled in and then we were specialized in space exploration, assigned to specific teams, in while the other specialized in which we stayed for the entire military training. week. Another thing that The first day was honestly pretty I and the rest uneventful, nothing really of the team happened, the only noteworthy members were thing is that each of us was able to do was assigned to our teams. space simula- Unfortunately, Richelle, Trinity and tions. The space I were not on the same team, we simulations were Richelle getting ready for scuba diving were on separate teams, that is Thomas in his fun, I enjoyed mainly because each of us was in myself and near space suit different programs. Another factor the end of the was that each team was only week we were made to do a three allowed to have a certain number hour long space mission. Each of members. member of the team was Trinity was in the Aviation assigned a specific job, for program, while Richelle and I example I was in mission control were both in the Space Academy and I was charged with keeping Trinity getting ready program, but in an eye on team members that for a water mission different teams. were working in the International Space Station or rather a mock The camp offered version of it. several different activities, some On the last day all of us were able however were to launch rockets that we made program specific so and if we found them we were for example an allowed to keep them, however, Aviation member while I found mine I wasn’t able to Ms. Daniels getting keep it. strapped into a simulator Trinity getting ready to zip line into water Page 14 Panther Pride Recreation Activities by Belinda Thomas

26 Sep 2017 - Dining Out Night 04 Oct 2017 - Mr. Ferrell brought the jazz for MS/HS at China King Happy October band's sound system to the Rec and set it up for us. The audio OSB staff and students had an Birthdays was so crisp and clear! Garrett amazing night out at China King No tricks here! Kennedy and Tyler Duong were here in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Just treats! The kids enjoyed our magnificent MC's for the They all enjoyed gourmet Chow creepy cupcakes to celebrate all night. Students sang their Mein and fried rice, assortments of the birthdays in October! individual chosen songs, or of chicken dishes, savory beef Flavors being chilling chocolate teamed up with friends. Students dishes, and a variety of seafood. with sprinkles, spooooky danced while singing, and Everyone had a great time eating Strawberry with sprinkles, and before long this karaoke night till they burst! very scary Vanilla! - Kaylee became an open mic/dance off Ragon 27 Sep 2017 - for students and staff members Happy September 10 Oct 2017 - Movie Night for alike. I wasn't able to take as Birthdays Elementary many pictures as I wanted to OSB celebrated While the Middle because I was running the music birthdays for the School/High School from my phone, but Miss month of September by eating were away at Wood- Christine snapped some pics for mouthwatering cupcakes made land Hills Mall for me! Thank you Miss Christine. special by our lovely ILS ladies. White Cane Day, 17 Oct 2017 - Monster Skull They baked luscious chocolate OSB elementary got Craft Night cupcakes, succulent strawberry, to snuggle down, laugh, sing, and OSB staff and and delightful vanilla with party enjoy the fantastic and students got to sprinkles both in the mix and in creepalicious 1993 movie of craft some nifty the icing! Happy Birthday to ALL! “The Nightmare Before Dia de los Christmas” by Tim Burton. 03 Oct 2017 - Movie & Popcorn Muertos skulls We got to hang out with the Night for 13 and Older for our Halloween craft night. majestic Jack, the Pumpkin King These skulls could be colored AHHH it’s a mummy! and all the loveable yet haunting brightly or painted more dark to Just kidding, it’s not characters of this cult film. real! As our teenagers celebrate any gathered to watch the Afterwards, the elementary holiday in 2017 “The Mummy” students got to kick off their October. they enjoyed yummy shoes, run around the Rec, and Students could popcorn (or should I say mummy play video games and eat put stickers or popcorn!) and water straight from snacks. rhinestones on the Nile River in Egypt! 11 Oct 2017 - Karaoke Night the skulls to make them bling. They may have been just a Students got LITTLE scared, but there were to sing till definitely more laughs than their voices screams. It was a perfect kick off got hoarse at to the “oh so spooky” October! - this Karaoke Kaylee Ragon Night!! (Continued on page 16) Trinity giving it her all! Page 15 Panther Pride Recreation Activities - c o n t i n u e d

(Continued from page 15) 24 Oct 2017 - 2017 Fall Festival popular with the kids, and an awesome maze. FINALLY! 23 Oct 2017 - Alpha Theta Pizza It was time for the THANK YOU to all the helpers, Party for MS/HS volunteers and visitors. 2017 Fall The lovely We couldn’t do it without you. Our fearless Rec. Activities Festival! ladies and Leader !!! - Belinda Thomas gentlemen OSB threw a great from Alpha one this year… We had Theta brought eight arcade games with cool yummy pizza, tasty drinks, and prizes, a cake walk, a hillbilly bags of Halloween candy for our cannibal BBQ, MS/HS students at OSB. s'mores from The students had a the microwave great time (due to it being eating, laughing, too windy for and getting to know our awesome fire pit), a washable this organization better with each tattoo stand, a picture booth, pizza party. a trunk-or-treat with the Brushy Thank you again Alpha Theta Mountain Fire members for all that you have Department and done for our school! private volunteers, a haunted hayride that had runaway clowns and witches, which was very

OSB’s Family & Friends Cookbook - REMINDER !!!

OSB’s at [email protected], and I will gladly make arrangements FAMILY & Still need a Christmas Gift? to get the cookbook to you! FRIENDS How about a cookbook? Please include payment COOKBOOKS with all orders. ARE HERE !!! Cookbooks are : 1-4 copies $12.00/ea Much thanks for your support and to everyone that The print cookbooks have arrived 5+ copies $10.00/ea and are available for purchase! contributed recipes and their You may contact Mrs. Tonya time and talents to this project! Please use the attached order Givens, who has print copies form if you would like to Allison Garner available in her office, or myself to purchase a copy in print or order and receive your copies. another format. If you are unable to catch either

one of us, please email me

Page 16 Panther Pride GOING THE EXTRA MILE - October 2017

brochures. He did an awesome Day. It was such a nice treat, and I job! appreciate you all so much. You are an incredible group of people with a Linda Graber is again noted common purpose of making sure our for going the extra mile for students get the best education organizing Western Heritage possible. I feel so blessed to be Day and White Cane Day. here and look forward to working Following employees were Both events were extremely nominated for their devoted with you in the future. YOU are the successful due to the in depth support of our students, staff reason OSB is successful. YOU are planning and organizing she and school: the ones that make a huge did. She is an incredible Linda Graber, THANK YOU difference in our students’ lives. volunteer! for putting together another Many thanks to all of you. successful White Cane Safety A big thank you goes to the Rita Echelle, Day celebration. Woodland Hills maintenance staff for getting Superintendent Mall was an excellent choice the conference room ready by of location and the support October 17. They are all Thank you Rob Culie, Tera you received from other nominated for going the extra Webb, Tonya Givens, and Barbara organizations is evidence of the mile for meeting the completion Collins for bringing their individual impact you have made for the deadline through excellent copy of “The Nightmare Before promotion of OSB. Thank you teamwork. Christmas" to school to insure that our elementary students get to watch again for all you do! Mike Bynum and Brian the movie they choose. Karen Bryan, thank you for Culver are noted for going the taking my students while I was extra mile for driving the buses Thank you Sarah McClendon busy with bus travel. I knew on our activity trips and home for trying to help me reserve the they would be accounted for going routes. They have Muskogee Library's copy of “The and encouraged to complete worked all day and part of the Nightmare Before Christmas” for their work. night transporting our students elementary movie night. safely. Thank you! Future Shock Committee - Thank you to Mrs. Admire and Carla Cotney, Cheryl Daniels, Tonya Givens is recognized Ms. Isom for making those fantastic Allison Garner, Laci Goins, and for going the extra mile by cupcakes for our monthly birthday Gina Woods - thanks for putting assisting our new business party for the month of October. They together a plan for a wonderful manager on proper procedures were nicely decorated and tasted experience for our grade 7-12 and the multitude of rules GRREEAAATT! students. The extra time you applicable to his job. She Thank you Chris Ferrell for completes her job efficiently have committed to this project letting us use your sound system for and lends a helpful hand to him will help our students be more karaoke in the Rec. Your sound and others when asked. prepared for that Real World! system sounds so much crisper and Great job, Tonya! Faye Miller clearer than the amp I have. Thank On a personal note: you so much. I would like to thank Chris Ferrell for going the extra mile I would like to thank the Belinda Thomas and designing our new OSB incredible staff of OSB for the nice goodie basket for Boss’s (Continued on page 18)

Page 17 Panther Pride GOING THE EXTRA MILE -

(Continued from page 17) Thank you to Mrs. Kathy A big THANK YOU to Tonya Barrett for the marshmallows, Givens and Ronna Johnston for hot cocoa, and candy bars for helping with food basket duty. the Fall Festival. Also, THANK YOU Paul Butler Thank you to Christine for taking the boys to the annual Timmreck for taking pictures of Boys Bash again. the karaoke night while my Sylvia Sterling Thank you to Mike and phone was preoccupied with A HUGE THANK YOU to all Marcella Bynum for making and playing the music. OSB staff members and volunteers decorating the maze for the fall Thank you Lisa Yochum for that helped put together another festival. cleaning my floor. It looks great FALL FESTIVAL. amazing!!!! Thank you Laci Goins You guys did great. and Jeremy Jackman for Thank you too UNKNOWN Maggie Mattox painting separate versions of for putting my tables and chairs Frankenstein (two Do-It- back down after Lisa charioted Yourself Frankenstein Heads) the floor while I was gone sick. Thank you guys for this year's Halloween Silent Thank you Mrs. Jeana Auction to help raise money for for going the Jones for organizing her kid's Cane Quest, extra mile. basketball team to become our Thank you Barbara Collins haunted hayride actors along It is highly for the “Day of the Dead” table with helping me get soda appreciated. cloth for the Fall Festival. donations from Coca Cola. Thank you Amy King for Thank you to Mr. Miles for switching a few routes with me. donating fire wood for the Thank you to all the s'mores fire pit for the Fall Maintenance Team for moving Festival. Unfortunately it was and reinstalling the Panther too windy, so we couldn’t Den sign for me, and all the actually use it that night, but we activities they did to help with will do our best to use it some the Fall Festival. other time. Belinda Thomas

EDITOR’S CHALLENGE In this edition I would like to challenge everyone to “MAKE SOMEONE LAUGH / SMILE (daily)”. I challenge you to make at least one (1) person laugh or smile per day. Share some positivity and see how it affects your personal life. I bet you will notice that your day/s just got a lot brighter. Let’s make a difference...

Page 18 Panther Pride November Birthdays Students Quanté Sellers Nov. 1 Levi Smith Nov. 10 Gerry Rodriguez Nov. 12 Brianna Brennan Nov. 13 Nick Jackson-M. Nov. 21 Julia Cisneros Nov. 25 Hunter Kelley Nov. 25 Holly Felkins Nov. 26

Staff Rita Echelle Nov. 21 Jeremy Jackman Nov. 23 Barbara Collins Nov. 27

Page 19 Panther Pride Schedule of Events Date Time Event Thur, Nov. 2 all day Supervisory Training at OSB Tue, Nov. 7 8:00 am School Picture RETAKES 5:30 pm Spaghetti Fundraiser Dinner @ Masonic Lodge, Muskogee w. Jazz Band performance, silent auction and desert auction Wed, Nov. 8 2:35 pm Veterans’ Day Program @ Auditorium Wed, Nov. 15 tbd Panther Prowl Race Thur, Nov. 16 10:00 am Cane Quest Nov. 20- 24 THANKSGIVING BREAK — NO SCHOOL !!! Sun, Nov. 26 Dorms Open / Bus Routes run Mon, Nov. 27 8:00 am Classes Resume Thur, Nov. 30 10:30 am Future Shock Career Day - MS & HS students

Upcoming December/January Events:

Thur, Dec. 7 FCCLA District STAR Events at Sallisaw Tue, Dec. 19 Elementary Christmas Play Dress Rehearsal Wed, Dec. 20 Elementary Christmas Play LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - HOME GOING Thur, Dec. 21 - Jan . 5 - CHRISTMAS BREAK — N O SC HO O L Sun, Jan. 7 DORMS OPEN - BUS ROUTES RUN Mon, Jan. 8 CLASSES RESUME Mon, Jan. 15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day—NO SCHOOL Jan. 19-21 SCASB—hosted by OSB

Page 20 Panther Pride

Recreation Activities NOVEMBER 2017

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 Thank You Home Letter Craft Night Going at 6:30 pm Open Rec to follow

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Dorms Open Boy Scouts Spaghetti Swimming at Home 5:30—6:45 pm Fundraiser Muskogee Open Rec Workout Room 5:30 pm Swim and Going 6:30—7pm Rec Closed Fitness 6:30—7:45 pm Turkey Craft Night to follow

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Dorms Open Boy Scouts Happy Birthday Cane Quester Home 5:30—6:45 pm November Ball Open Rec Workout Room at 7 pm 6:30—8:45 pm Going 6:30—7pm Open Rec to in gym Seasonal tea follow Making Night

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Break Break Break Break Break Break Break

26 27 28 29 30 Dorms Open Boy Scouts Riddle & Trivia Autumn Leaves Home 5:30—6:45 pm Night 6:30 pm Dance at Open Rec Workout Room 6:30—8:45 pm Going 6:30—7pm Open Rec to follow Hot Cocoa and Open Rec

Recreation - 918- 781- 8 2 0 0 - E x t . 8 2 7 8 ALL Calendars are “subject to change”. - Please visit our website http://osb.k12.ok.us for updates. Page 21 Panther Pride Oklahoma School for the Blind OSB Employee / Staff Changes:

3300 Gibson Street Muskogee, OK 74403 Retirement:

st Toll Free: (877) 229-7136 David Likins, Fleet Specialist, November 1 Voice/TTY: (918) 781-8200 Fax: (918) 781-8300

It takes more than sight to have vision!

Please check out our website at:

UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS !!! - Save the Date/s !!!

NOVEMBER 2017: Tue., Nov. 7 5:30 pm Spaghetti Fundraiser @ the Masonic Lodge, Muskogee Wed., Nov. 8 2:35 pm Veterans’ Day Program @ OSB Auditorium Wed., Nov. 15 time tbd OSB’s annual “Panther Prowl Race” Thur., Nov. 16 10:00 am Cane Quest Thur., Nov. 30 10:30 am Future Shock “Career Day”

DECEMBER 2017: Wed., Dec. 20 time tbd Elementary Christmas Play

JANUARY 2018:

Fri-Sun, Jan. 19-21 SCASB (South Central Association of Schools for the Blind ) @ OSB Welcoming: Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia students.

Page 22 Panther Pride Page 23 Panther Pride Date: Time: Price:

Spaghetti & Meatballs S a la d - Garlic Bread - D e s s e r t

Jazz Band performance ~ 5:30-6:00 pm

Silent Auction (gift baskets, etc.) 5:30-7:00 pm - Silent Auction winners to be announced after closing of bids.- Dessert Auction after announcement of winner ~ 7:00 pm

(times are estimated and subject to change)

Masonic Lodge 121 S 6th St. W, Muskogee, OK 74401 (located next to the Muskogee US Postal Service)