Work Study Wednesday! Today we are highlighting Chris and his work at Heifetz. Chris creates song lists and plays live piano music on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays at Heifetz in downtown Staunton. He draws in locals and tourists with his music into the shop. If you are in or around downtown Staunton on the afternoons Chris is playing, stop in for a treat - you'll be glad you did! Another highlight of our work-study program and our wonderful City of Staunton is that our students are taught to navigate a route to their Downtown Staunton job sites and work toward becoming fully independent. Our campus is lucky to be so close to the downtown shops and allows so many of our students this opportunity to further their independence and self-confidence.
over 2 years ago, Julie Saum
male student standing in nfront of the VSDB school building smiling and holding his white cane
male student playing piano in a small music studio
male student holding his white cane and smiling in front of his work site
male student walking cross the vsdb courtward coming back from his work site
male student sitting at a piano with his fingers on the keys and a braille song list in front of him
We are so excited to announce our lineup for the next Connect! If you haven't been to Connect before, this is a great session for your first experience! Join us for open conversations about IEPs, Supported Families ➡️ Successful Students, and Social Emotional Learning with Blind/VI students. (Flyer text ⬇️) CONNECT is a virtual round table for families and professionals of children in Virginia with sensory impairments including all degrees of hearing loss, vision loss, or both. CONNECT gatherings will have subject matter experts to lead discussions, offer support, answer your questions, and help you connect! IEP Success - Karen Kaminski-Joyner, VSDB Special Education Coordinator Supported Families, Successful Students - Lynn Odom, VDDHH Community Services Manager Social Emotional Learning with Blind / VI Students - Laura Fricker, VSDB Teacher of Visual Impairments | April 25, 2023 | 7 pm -8 pm I Register Here https://bit.ly/vsdbconnect ASL/English interpreters provided Spoken language interpreters available by request Questions? Please contact Julie Saum, VSDB Family Engagement Specialist julie.saum@vsdb.k12.va.us or 540-324-8316
over 2 years ago, VSDB
flyer for connect with images of three females. description of text on flyer is included in the post
When our residential program took a group to the Staunton Fire Department, they checked out the 9-11 memorial and learned about what happened. Thank you to the residential staff who led this trip and explained everything for our students!
over 2 years ago, VSDB
9-11 memorial outside the fire department. a bent beam on a stone with a platform in the shape of a pentagon with the number 93 etched into it
a plaque about the 9-11 memorial and the events of that day
students standing around the 9-11 monument with male staff standing in front explaining
group photo of staff and students in front of the memorial
a metal replica of a firefighter helmet with the number 1 on it
Our students recently went to Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center to participate in their "Winter Games" events. Many of our students brought home medals for winning first 🥇, second 🥈, or third 🥉 place and one of our students brought back the sportsmanship🏅award! 🏆
over 2 years ago, VSDB
two vsdb students and one WWRC student stand on platforms for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place
group of vsdb students wearing their medals
one WWRC student standing on first place platform and one VSDB student standing on 3rd place platform
one WWRC student standing on 1st place platform and VSDB student standing on 2nd place platform
vsdb student on 1st place platform and WWRC students on 2nd and 3rd place platforms
VSDB student on 1st place platform and WWRC students on 2nd and 3rd place platforms
vsdb female student wearing the sportsmanship award
group of VSDB students showing off their medals
VSDB students playing an egg race
VSDB students playing egg race
Last week, one of our residential halls took a trip to the Staunton Fire Department to meet the firefighters and have a full tour of the fire department. They also saw the small museum with the oldest small motor firetruck and several other items. They saw where the firemen sleep and the pole they slide down to leave quickly. The boys had chance to see one guy dress in the full fire suit. They let each boy try on the oxygen tank, to feel how heavy it was. They were able to hold the heavy jaws and some tools, to get an idea of how heavy their equipment was. Outside the Fire House, they saw a big piece of steel from the Twin Towers and a 9/11 plaque. The two firefighters explained so much to the boys about their training and job and answered so many questions. Thank you Staunton Fire Department for your time and working with our boys. And THANK YOU for all you do for our city!
over 2 years ago, VSDB
several students stand in a fire station looking towards a firefighter. part of the fire truck is visible to the right
two students and one staff look at firefighters protective clothing
group of male students looking at male staff as he completes the sign for “important”. a fire truck is behind him
male student sitting in a fire truck
male student sitting in a fire truck
male student sitting in a fire truck
male student sitting in a fire truck
male student sitting in a fire truck
male student sitting in a fire truck
2 male students sitting in a fire truck
We would like to wish a happy, safe, healthy, FUN and RELAXING break to ALL of our students, families, and staff. See you next week!
over 2 years ago, VSDB
image with spring graphics of flowers and bees surrounding a frame of text that reads “enjoy your spring break 🤍 VSDB. March 27-31, 2023"
Last week closed out our month of VSDB Reads! Our students loved having so many staff from so many departments across campus share the joy of reading. THANK YOU to all the staff who volunteered. It seemed that you all enjoyed it just as much as the students did!!
over 2 years ago, VSDB
male staff signing part of a story. librarian kneels next to him, holding the book open for the students to see. students are sitting on benches arranged in a circle
female nursing staff reads a story to two high school students and the librarian. they are sitting around a wooden table
female nursing staff reads a story to two students who are alighting. they are all sitting around a wooden table
male staff reads to a group of four students sitting around a wooden table
male staff reads a story to a group of students who are sitting on benches arranged in a circle. the students are laughing
Kindness week in the library was full of excitement! Check out these students enjoying the various stations Ms. Michelle had set up throughout the week.
over 2 years ago, VSDB
two female students coloring
three female students taking care of plants
one male student building with Lego bricks
one male student reading a book
two male students eating Candy
one male student eating Candy
one male student building legos
one female student building legos
Our Kindness week finished off with a kindness block party! All of our students enjoyed games, music, and snacks to close out their week of fun. Each student also received a "Be Kind" t-shirt with "be" in Braille, "kind" in ASL, and "Be Kind" in print underneath. Thank you to all our students and staff for an awesome Kindness Week 2023!!
over 2 years ago, VSDB
all vsdb students and some staff in a large group picture. most students and staff are wearing the be kind T-shirts
students sitting at a table with crafts and eating snacks
three students and one staff dancing
two students smile for a photo
three male students smile for a photo
student sitting around a long table playing a game
students playing cornhole
student doing limbo
student doing limbo
students eating snacks and playing uno
Our Kindness week finished off with a kindness block party! All of our students enjoyed games, music, and snacks to close out their week of fun. Each student also received a "Be Kind" t-shirt with "be" in Braille, "kind" in ASL, and "Be Kind" in print underneath. Thank you to all our students and staff for an awesome Kindness Week 2023!!
over 2 years ago, VSDB
group picture of all vsdb students and some staff. most are wearing the be kind tshirt
students sitting at a table with crafts while they eat their snacks
three students and one staff dancing
three male students standing together and smiling
two female students standing together and smiling
students sitting around a long table playing a game
students playing cornhole
student going under a limbo pole
student going under a limbo pole
students sitting together at a table playing uno
We clearly had a TON of fun during kindness week!!
over 2 years ago, VSDB
three staff stand in front of the kindness backdrop for a photo
one female student holds up the be kind photo frame
one female student smiles behind the be kind photo frame
three students smile behind the be kind photo frame
one student smiles behind the be kind photo frame
one student poses in front of the kindness week backdrop
one student poses with his decorated bag in front of the kindness week backdrop
one student poses with the be kind photo frame
one student poses with the be kind photo frame
three staff stand together with the be kind tshirts
We sure had a lot of fun on St. Patrick's Day. Pre-K had a visit from an ornery leprechaun who knocked over chairs, left his footprints all over the place, and got into other sorts of mischief. Our blind elementary students made a St. Patrick's Day rainbow and shamrock craft. AND our very own Leprechaun (Arron) brought some fun and smiles to the beginning of the Goalball tournament!
over 2 years ago, VSDB
pre-K classroom with chairs knocked over
green “leprechaun footprints” on the dry erase board
green “leprechaun footprints” on the tables in the pre-K classroom and a female pre-k student leaning over the table to point at and look at them
one male pre-k student being held by one female staff. they are both wearing green shirts and the boy has a sequined green hat on
a foam craft of a rainbow with glittery green shamrocks stuck to it and a green hat that says happy st Patrick’s day. at the end of one side of the rainbow is a pot of gold. the other side has a white cloud with green shamrocks attached to it
male student holds up his completed rainbow craft
male student smiles with his rainbow craft on the desk in front of him
male staff dressed in a full leprechaun outfit. he has a natural red beard, a black hat, a green vest over a long sleeve white shirt, black trousers, black shoes with gold buckles, a cane, and a black pot full of “gold"
Check out our current job openings! https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/jobs/search?page=1&query=vsdb
over 2 years ago, Julie Saum
flyer: "we are hiring. multiple positions open" four illustrated people stand together wearing black, white and teal
Work Study Wednesday!! Some of our students go off campus for their work experience but some are able to have an on-campus work placement and give back to our school community! Here, Bri is helping sort books in the library so they will be easier to put away.
over 2 years ago, VSDB
female student pulls books off a cart and arranges them into piles on a table
During Kindness Week, our students led a "Kindness Parade" where they traveled the whole campus and spread kindness to each department in the form of encouraging signs, bubbles, whistles, and goodie bags with candy. Our staff and students really enjoyed the parade and positivity!
over 2 years ago, Julie Saum
female staff wearing a tan sweater blows bubbles while walking
female staff and male student smile at the camera while holding up a bubble wand
students line the balcony waiting for the parade to begin. one female staff holds a sign that says "you are a ray of sunshine"
four female students walk along a walkway. one has a white cane, one is blowing a whistle, and two are laughing
group of students walking between buildings
several students using white canes walking along the basketball court
female staff helps a female student blow a whistle while the student laughs
four female staff from human resources stand outside their building waving at the parade of students going by. the director of human resources holds a bag of candy that was given to their office.
long line of students walk across the basketball court
long line of students walk across the basketball court
The student vs. staff Goalball game was SO MUCH FUN! Congratulations to the students for beating the staff in every match.
over 2 years ago, VSDB
boys and girls Goalball teams with coaches standing in front of the goal
staff Goalball team sitting on bleachers after playing two games
We have been lucky to enjoy a few BEAUTIFUL days sprinkled in with the days that remind us it's not quite spring yet and our residential students always take advantage of the nice weather. Here, the Deaf department residential halls all joined together for a game of kickball!
over 2 years ago, VSDB
students playing kickball on the courtyard
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Our older Deaf boys celebrated by making shamrock shakes during their evening group counseling session with Ms. Alysha and residential staff. Looks tasty! ☘️
over 2 years ago, VSDB
two male students pose with their shamrock shakes
group of residents and staff pose with their shamrock shakes
two students smile and drink their shamrock shakes
two shamrock shakes sitting on a table
one student leans over the table to drink his shamrock shake
Kindness week updates!! Our students have been working to fill their pompom container to resemble their kind deeds during this week. Let's see how many more we can get before the week ends! Also, our boxes for Augusta Dog Adoptions are filling up. We still have another week to collect items for them! Also, check out some of our students and staff enjoying the Photo Booth area!
over 2 years ago, VSDB
male staff squatting behind a photo frame attached to a window
male staff squatting behind a photo frame attached to a window
female student posing with the be kind photo frame
male student posing with a vase of yellow flowers. the kindness week photo backdrop is behind him
sign with white letters on a black background says Augusta dog adoptions donations. three boxes with food, bowls, and toys for dogs sit on a table
tall rectangular container is about 1/4 full of pompoms
The deadline to order your yearbook is April 1... You don't want to miss this!! We are trying something new this year for full accessibility. Each yearbook will have a QR code that links to videos with audio descriptions of each page!
over 2 years ago, VSDB
flyer with watercolor background and several students faces with various paint colors painted on their faces. text says “2022-2023 yearbook. buy one now. $35. last day to order is April 1."