[accessibleimage] Re: Want to donate a tactile flag or two to the Louis Braille children's day school?

Steve Landau from Touch Graphics has a bunch of tactile flags from various
countries, but they are not on fabric.

Susan

-----Original Message-----
From: accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Kaizen Program
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 11:31 PM
To: accessibleimage@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [accessibleimage] Want to donate a tactile flag or two to the
Louis Braille children's day school?


Greetings all,

The Louis Braille School is a Private Day School for Children Who Are Blind
or Partially Sighted in Washington State, U.S.A. It offers a full-time
academic  and fully accessible school program for children from kindergarten
through the eighth grade of primary school.

The school currently has two tactile U.S. flags. They also have one tactile
Canadian flag and one tactile Mexican flag. They are all made of a variety
of fabrics and stitched threads, have a variety of textures setting off the
different parts of each, and the distinct colors appropriate to each
country's flag.
They are briefly described in the newsletter below.

The children and staff would very much like to have tactile flags of other
countries, so that the children can become more familiar with these too.
If you are interested in donating one or more tactile flags for other
countries, be assured that they will be greatly appreciated by the students
and staff of the Louis Braille School. This is a fun and useful project for
anyone who likes to sew.

Best regards,

Sylvie

Louis Braille School Newsletter Fall 2007

Louis Braille School A Private Day School for Children Who Are Blind or
Partially Sighted

http://louisbrailleschool.org/newsletter/fall-2007/

About Louis Braille School

about the School

We named our school in honor of Louis Braille, the Frenchman who devised the
raised dot method of reading and writing known today as braille.

The Louis Braille School is approved by the Washington State Board of
Education as a private school for children who are blind or partially
sighted. The School offers a full-time academic program September through
June. Students attend classes Monday through Friday, except for scheduled
holidays and vacations, and return to their homes in the evening.

A Braille Camp is available in July.

The Louis Braille School serves children from kindergarten through grade
eight.

Traditional school subjects such as reading, writing, spelling, math,
science, social studies, music, art, health, physical education, and
computer skills are taught during the ten-month school year.

In addition, students receive instruction in orientation and mobility,
social proficiency, and skills of everyday living that promote independence.
These skills are an integral part of every activity throughout the school
day.

Through use of creative teaching approaches and specialized tools and
equipment, every aspect of the curriculum is fully accessible to visually
impaired students.

Small classes, individualized teaching methods, and much praise and
encouragement create a positive learning environment in which students build
self-esteem and confidence.

Tactile Flags

What I hear from My Desk

by Carolyn Meyer

"I pledge allegiance to the flag ..."

Each school day starts with students and staff speaking these words while
facing an American flag proudly held by one of the students. The flags, we
have two of them, were designed and created by volunteers Zora Rockney and
Nora Schultz.

The flags are tactile so that those whose eyes do not see can discern the
various aspects by touch. The seven red stripes are of a smooth red fabric;
the six white stripes are of a bumpy white fabric similar to that used to
create tread on bedroom slippers. The piece d'resistance is the field of
fifty stars, each individually embroidered so that they can be counted by
feeling them with the finger tips. Arlo Rockney attached one of the flags to
a pole and crafted a stand. That flag resides in the school library. The
other graces the wall of our classroom.

We were pleased when some of our friends offered to make tactile flags for
our neighboring countries to the north and south, Canada and Mexico. Those
flags were presented to the school in September by Maida Pojtinger,
instigator of the project, and Chris Witzke, who, along with Sue Gregory,
designed and stitched the flags. Appliquéing the maple leaf on the Canadian
flag was fairly straight forward. The Mexican flag, with its eagle perched
on a prickly pear tree and devouring a serpent, presented a greater
challenge which the creative stitchers readily overcame. Now we are thinking
it would be nice to have flags for Japan and England.

A visually impaired student of ours once asked, very seriously and politely,
for a tactile flag of every country in the world. We have a good start!

Louis Braille School Welcomes Blues in the Schools to Summer Camp

Curley and Annette Receive Rousing Welcome

by Julie LeMay

Back again, AND AGAIN, by popular demand! James "Curley" Cooke and Annette
Taborn came to the Louis Braille School summer Braille Camp twice, much to
everyone's delight.

To start the second session off, Curley asked for some definitions of the
blues. Yes, it is a state of sadness and it is a color, but singing the
blues does not always mean that one is sad or melancholy. As Annette
explained, you can sing a blues song to cheer you up.

The first song on the agenda was one written in the 1920's called "Working
Blues." Curley requested that the children stomp their feet in time with the
rhythm. As soon as the first note was struck, campers wasted no time in
clapping and stomping and laughing. Annette sang the lyrics and played the
harmonica between stanzas.

Harmonicas for each child were passed around, and Annette explained that the
low notes were located on the left side and the high notes on the right. She
taught them that the sounds you make when you draw your breath in were
different than the sounds when you blow out. The cacophony during the
"practice" session was quite amusing. "Hound Dog," the ever-popular song
that was a hit when the Blues visited the Louis Braille School last year,
was greeted with the same excitement. There was howling and barking aplenty,
along with all harmonicas sounding off at once.

"Who wants to play the guitar?" inquired Curley. Explaining how the pick
works, he strolled around the room as each child had a turn at strumming.
There were many proud faces around the circle.

Annette explained about her case which held eight harmonicas, all the same
in appearance, but with different musical keys.

Percussion time! The children chose a tambourine or a gourd. Curley and
Annette performed "I Got My Mojo Working." Annette explained that a "mojo"
was a Southern term for a magical charm. The children joined in on the
chorus while furiously shaking and banging on their instruments.

Whew!! Time for the last song. "Iko, Iko" is a rousing New Orleans song
performed during Mardi Gras. Again, the children joined in with their
harmonicas.

Thanks, again, Curley and Annette, for another great blues session.

The Blues in the Schools program continues to be a part of the curriculum at
the Louis Braille School.

You Shop, School Wins

Help the Louis Braille School by enrolling in Washington Mutual's WaMoola
for Schools program. You can make a difference simply by signing up to earn
points each time you use your Washington Mutual Debit MasterCard. There is
no cost to you to enroll in the WaMoola for Schools program. No funds are
taken from your account. The donation is made by Washington Mutual.

Use your card for everyday purchases. Every time you make a purchase with
your card, the school earns a point. The points accrue and are converted to
dollars at the end of the year. The Louis Braille School can use the money
for anything it needs.

Supporting the school is as simple as: Opening a Washington Mutual checking
account (if you don't already have one) Signing up for a Visa Check Card
Enroll for free in the WaMoola for Schools program and select your favorite
school (Louis Braille School).


You can enroll on line at

http://wamoolaforschools.com/

stop in your local Washington Mutual financial center, or call 1-866-WAMOOLA
(926-6652).

Any questions or if you require more information please contact the Louis
Braille School at 425-778-2384 or email Christina

Lions Sponsor Fishing Derby

Information provided by Everett Central Lions Club

Once again the Everett Central Lions is sponsoring our annual Fishing Derby
for the Blind, continuing the tradition of fishing after Labor Day, this
year Sunday September 16, 2007, at 5:30 AM at the North Marina, in the Port
of Everett.

Many of you have participated in the past, and we very much look forward to
you being able to attend this year as well. Participants need to get
registered as soon as possible as space may be limited. Also, participants
need to make sure they are registered with the Washington State Department
of Fish and Wildlife to enable us to get a disability-fishing license and
Harvest Card, many of you are already registered, we can help out with those
that may not be registered. Please call or email Ken Beecher at the home
number as soon as possible (not the Cell number) to confirm your
availability, and to let us know if you need a ride. If you know anyone that
would like to participate, please let us know and we will contact them.

Ken Beecher President, Everett Central Lions Chair, Fishing Derby for the
Blind 5720 14th Drive West #B Everett, WA 98203 Cell 425-923-3062 (Day of
Derby only) (H) 425-407-0717 (H) Email klbeecher@xxxxxxxxxxx (H) Email
kbeecher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (W)


Fishing Derby Information

The Derby is being held again this year at the 14th Street Dock, Gate 1,
North Fuel Dock/ Dock A, at the Milltown Sailing building, in the same
parking lot of the Everett Yacht Club. We will again be meeting at the hall
starting at 5:00 AM, and assisting with the boat loading between 5:00 to
5:45, with the goal to get all the boats out on the water by 6:00 AM. We
will also be on hand to assist with unloading at noon. A continental snack
breakfast "to go" will be provided to take out on the boat, with lunch
served and the awards ceremony at 12:00 pm to about 1:00/1:30 pm, at the
Milltown Sailing association building. We will be providing coffee (bring
your thermos) and continental snack breakfast "to-go" to help get you out
fishing, there will be no sit down breakfast. Please allow more than enough
time to get to the Milltown Sailing Hall/Fuel Dock/Dock A by 5:15 to 5:45
a.m., as this can sometimes be hectic. Please try to come prepared, and
bring warm clothes. Rods, reels, tackle, and bait is normally generously
provided by the skippers, and plastic bags will be provided to carry the
fish in. Some of you have skippers that have fished with you for years, and
often participants "request" a specific skipper. Additionally, you may have
someone you prefer to fish with. Please let us know, and we will do our best
to accommodate these skipper/blind/friend boat assignments. We try to award
a "derby prize" to everyone, so if you cannot come to lunch, please let us
know so we can recognize you early.

Fishing generally stops about 11:00/11:30, to get back for weigh by noon,
with the lunch and the awards ceremony running from 12:00 to about 1:30 PM.

We will be at the dock assisting, and we try to be very organized with the
boat assignments, there may be "no shows" with skippers and/or blind
participants. Please be patient with us as we sort these out with any
re-assignments.

Auction 2008 Alert

Seeking Volunteers

It is time to begin planning for our second annual auction. We have secured
the lovely Edmonds Conference Center again. The date is Saturday, May 17,
2008. The silent and live auction will be held from 1 pm to 4 pm. A
selection of auction items will be available on our website.

If you or a friend would like to be a member of our planning committee call
425-778-2384 or email Christina. We are inviting potential sponsors to come
forward and assist us with the costs of presenting this auction.

Our first auction in April of this year was a great success. We anticipate
even more fun, laughter, new friends and donors, amazing auction items, and
funds raised for the school during auction 2008.

How We Learn from Each Other

Outings with Christina

by Christina Ivanna

As you can see, in this issue of our newsletter my picture is more animated
than usual. I was caught totally enjoying and applauding the performers from
the Seattle Seahawks Blue Thunder Drum Line. They kicked off summer braille
camp this year for us at the local Civic Stadium.

Christina cheers the drum line

All of us, kids, parents, friends and members of the drum line, had a great
time. We also experienced the mutual warmth which comes with such generous
and caring give and take. The Drum Line members experienced the joy of the
smiles, clapping, and stomping to their music. The audience was overtaken
with the amazing beats and playfulness produced by these lovely people.
After the performance many of us shared a snack or soft drink together and
got to know that other person a bit more personally.

Camp is definitely about having fun! Summer Braille camp was about having
fun, and also about having the opportunity to be with and learn from others.
Several of our visiting presenters were new to a visually impaired audience.
Many of them expressed interest in returning during the school year. The
children learned much which was new and interesting. Our visitors learned
all children can be included in group activities, with some adjustments. No
one need be left out.

As an observer, what was most moving about the camp experience was the
genuine caring, love and respect displayed between campers, staff and
guests. Equally as touching was the response from children who appeared to
be shy during group activities. Then one day responds as if to say to us
all, "I have been paying attention! Thanks for including me, not forgetting
me. I have my special way, and I appreciate you allowing me the freedom to
be myself but also continuing to love me and engage me." A special place
like the Louis Braille School camp is where this is possible. The focus is
on building bridges instead of walls. The "other" is not so different after
all. And there is always an aha! to be found in the smallest of us.

Now it is the beginning of the second academic year at the Louis Braille
School. We look forward with anticipation to our new and former children
arriving. We also look forward to new guest presenters coming to teach, and
others to return.

Christina Ivanna is Outreach and Support Administrator for the Louis Braille
School. She can be reached at 425-778-2384 or by email.

Wish List

The Louis Braille School is expanding its library. If you have any
children's books for kindergarten through grade 3 you are ready to pass on,
think of us. Duplicate copies would be great.

A push broom for outdoor sweeping.

$50 to purchase the DVD of King-5 TV's delightful report of the puppies and
their trainers when they visited Braille Camp on July 16th.

The school can be reached at 425-778-2384 or by email

Thank you!!

Canine Visitors at Braille Camp

by Julie LeMay

Such joyful commotion arose as the guide dogs in training began arriving
almost simultaneously with the children on the first day of camp. Imagine
nineteen dogs of different ages, sizes, and personalities interacting with a
dozen children of different ages, sizes, and personalities! Such a
delightful mix was something to behold!

After the children had assembled in the play area behind the school, the
dogs were marched out to meet and greet them. They paraded around in a
circle, stopping by each child's chair to be introduced and get acquainted.

Maybe "adorable" isn't the proper word for a standard size dog, especially a
male, but I cannot help myself! Each one of these dogs is unique in its own
way. The breeds were Yellow Labs, Black Labs, and one Black Lab/Golden
Retriever mix with names like Reed, Voltaire, Lailani, Flame, Jedi, Rowan,
and Butch! Just to name a few.

Chloe Walking Dog: Walking with a dog at camp

The children's reactions were mixed; the girls in particular seemed to take
quite a fancy to them and spent much time petting and receiving many wet
kisses in return. The boys seemed to be a bit more cautious in their
approach, but just as taken in by the dogs.

After the initial petting, those who wished could take a leash along with
the trainer, and walk the dog around a small course set up for that purpose;
there was also the opportunity to practice some obedience lessons, such as
calling the dog to come to them. The girls were particularly delighted with
their proficiency.

Play time was followed by a bit of grooming. Chew bones and pull toys were
brought out, and the children could engage in an activity enjoyed by both
dog and child. Combing or brushing is always a calming time for both brusher
and brushee.

It was interesting to watch how the dogs interacted. There was lots of
sniffing and awareness of each other, but all were on their best behavior
and no tussles ensued.

Guide Dog Training Facts

The puppies are born on "campuses" located in several states. When they
reach 8-9 weeks old, they are taken to volunteer puppy raisers, who train
them in basic obedience and good manners, including socialization. After
14-18 months, the dogs are returned to the campuses for formal training.

The Guide Dogs for the Blind website is guidedogs.com.

Julie LeMay is a Louis Braille School volunteer

Can You See How I See?

On Saturday, October 6th, the Imagine Children's Museum in Everett is
offering a day devoted to learning about eye care.

Many interesting and interactive activities are planned. The Louis Braille
School will participate from 11 am to 1 pm and will invite visitors to type
write their names on a brailler, examine a braille watch, and examine
braille books with raised illustrations that can be felt with the fingers.

For more information about the event and directions to the museum, call
425-258-1006 or go to Imagine Children's Museum

A Few Lessons in Zoology

by Julie LeMay

There was silence and a quiet anticipation as the children sat around the
large table awaiting the arrival of Kyle and Nicole from the Woodland Park
Zoo.

To get the boys and girls off on the right track, Kyle asked what animals
they liked: the resounding answers were horses and dogs, with a few others
thrown in, such as the ring-tailed lemur, birds, and elephants.

One of the young boys with a very inquisitive mind kept Kyle busy answering
questions about animal behavior, and how they are cared for, kept clean and
fed.

Digging into their traveling box of "goodies," the first item to emerge was
the skull of a cougar. Oh, what large, nasty-looking teeth! Kyle took the
skull around the table so that each child could feel the cheekbone, eye
socket, and teeth. "Please keep the mouth closed," was the nervous plea from
one of the children.

Other objects that were passed around, much to the excitement and interest
of the children, were a beaver skull, jawbone of an elk and of a black bear,
and fur of the black and brown bear, which was surprisingly rough in
texture. The interest and attention span were a joy to watch. Many questions
were asked, and inquiring minds were fed with knowledge of the various diets
of the different animals.

Sniff! Sniff! Noses were put to work as small containers of plants commonly
consumed by the herbivores were passed around, and the children could
distinguish among the scents.

All in all, it was a wonderful learning experience. Kyle and Nicole left
with the fun assignment for the children to listen carefully for the sounds
of animals in their own backyards.

The Woodland Park Zoo Wild Wise Program will be returning to the Louis
Braille School for further presentations during this upcoming academic year.
Website: zoo.org.

Clay Play

by Julie LeMay

Edmonds ceramic artist, Michael Tanis, was on hand the last week of summer
camp to guide the children in making a "fail-proof" pot. He brought along
some very basic round pots, in which the children could place a round flat
slab of clay and press it down around the bowl, creating a lip at the top.
Taking a piece of clay and rolling it into a snake shape, then creating a
circle, the children placed that on the bottom of the pot as an attractive
finishing touch.

Some of the children chose to use their slabs of clay to make hand prints,
which, through the years, has been a wonderful keepsake for parents.

I watched as one of the girls created a pot from start to finish. It was a
joy to watch how thoroughly engrossed she was as her little fingers were
busy molding, shaping and smoothing her bowl. She did a good job of working
the base and shaping it for placement on the bottom. A job well done, and
one in which to take great pride!

While the cleanup was in progress, the children gathered in a circle and
discussed how clay is obtained and the various objects that could be made
from this much abundant product.


Christina Ivanna

christina@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Other related posts: