The
TENNESSEE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
Volume 4, Issue 9
May 1, 2016
TSB’s “Fabulous Forensics’ Team” Receive Top Honors
On Thursday April 21, the Metropolitan Nashville
Public Schools held their 2015-2016 awards
banquet to honor the Metro Schools forensics
teams. As a member of the league, members of
Tennessee School for the Blind’s Forensics'
Team were present, and it was a good thing!
TSB’s Fabulous Forensics’ Team scored the
most amount of points for the year winning 1st
place in the Sweepstakes. In fact, TSB won 1st
place for the year for special events, 1st place
for events category, and 3rd place in congressional debates.
“The
trophies are
quite impressive,”
said
team
coach Hilary Murtaugh. “This is the first time in at
least the past 13 years, if not longer, that TSB
has risen to this level against all of metro’s
schools.” Individual members also won several
awards and in particular, Taylor Grenier won a
trophy for earning the most amount of points for
our school. Take time to congratulate our team on
this impressive accomplishment. They stood out
because they are outstanding! The team consists
of members: Anthony Bonetti, Mishon Breland,
Taylor Grenier, Marcus Johnson, Austin
Mayes,
Carlos Medrano, Tim Tanner,
Cham Tea, Corgan Waters and
Coach Hilary Murt
-agh.
Inside this issue:
SUMMER CHANGES 2
2
3
NEW STUDENT
3
GLITZ
4
4
NAT. MUSEUM
DIRECTOR’S DESK 5
STILLWATER
5
VOLUNTEER
6
RECREATION
6
COTTAGE CORNER 7
CHORUS
8
TEAMS GROWL
8
RESOURCE RICHES 9
CLASS OF 2016 10
SPOTLIGHT STAFF 13
LIFE SKILLS LOOP 14
TANNER TRACK 14
NCASB HOST
15
EVENTS CALENDAR 16
REOPENIING
SPECIAL SCHOOL
Members of the Forensics Team pose for a photo with trophies. L to R, Cham Tea, Marcus Johnson,
Carlos Medrano, Corgan Waters, Taylor Grenier, Anthony Bonetti and Coach Hilary Murtagh.
Forensics/Swim Teams Growl at Conference
In Tiger like fashion, the Tennessee
School for the Blind Swim and Forensics Teams charged into competition this past week-end. On April 29-30
the school was privileged to host the
2016 NCASB Swimming and Forensics Conference.
The swim team faced competition first
on Friday afternoon, taking on teams
from; Ohio, South Dakota, Missouri,
Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa,
and Kentucky. The Tiger Girls Team
won 2nd place in the 200 medley relay; 1st place in the 200 freestyle relay; and 3rd place in the 400 freestyle
relay. The girls came in 2nd place
overall. Taylor Grenier placed 3rd in
the 100 backstroke in girls individual
races. Members of the Girls Swim
Team are: Kayla Cross, Carrie Carlisle, Taylor Grenier, Corgan Waters and Isis Noneman. (cont. on pg. 8)
Roar of the Tiger
Summer Capital Projects Force Summer Changes
Amidst preparation and completion of two major
capital projects over the summer, the teachers,
staff and administration of TSB are in the midst
of changing gears. The two-story “A-Wing” building, housing the majority of the academic classrooms is set to have a fire sprinkler system installed. The building also houses the schools
administration, counselor and staff offices, media center and auditorium. It’s imperative for the
facility to be vacated after graduation and demolition immediately commence in order for work to
be completed prior to the beginning of next
school year. Most of the school staff have already vacated, or are in the process of packing
and moving their offices. Teachers and Educational Assistance are making ready the classrooms as the end of school winds down. The
complete building will be vacated and turned into a construction zone over the summer. In addition, the campus interior sidewalks are scheduled for demolition and replacement during the
summer months. These enhancement and safety projects are necessary in providing satisfactory facilities for the student and staff use.
Due to time restraints and various safety issues
involved, the Annual Alumni Week-end and
TSB’s Summer Enrichment Programs have
been cancelled. The TSB Alumni Association,
after looking at options has graciously cancelled
this year’s gathering. It’s with much gratitude
that the school administration extends appreciation to the school’s alumni and the Alumni Association for their understanding and corporation in this unavoidable scheduling of events.
Grand Reopening Makes for Grand Celebration
On April 8th at 2:00p.m., with the final touches,
paint and polish in place on TSB’s latest makeovers and projects, it was time for the celebration
to begin. Publicity and invitations had made the
event known far and wide. The signs, balloons
and banners were all strategically placed. And
plenty of delectable edibles were displayed in a
fashion to make even a hungry man wish he
would have skipped lunch in lieu of the midafternoon gala. The Grand-Reopening event
was a wonderful occasion to appreciate and
muse over the changes and improvements recently completed for the advancement of VI Ed-
Page 2
ucation. It’s great to experience the spirit and
excitement of accomplishment for the greater
good. Much thanks to all involved parties in the
accomplishment of the four projects: the remodel
of the Blue Roof Lobby, the makeover of the Instructional Executive Suite, the installation of
the New Musical Movement Floor and the creation of the Professional Development Hall. A big
thanks also to the many individuals involved in
putting on the celebration. Everything went perfect! And most of all, a very special thanks to all
of the friends and guests of TSB who came and
joined in the celebration!
Volume 4, Issue 9
Speaking of a Special School
Dear TSB Stakeholder,
I would like to start by thanking those of you who
were able to attend our recent Grand Reopening/Open House event. We were thrilled to be
able to share our updated spaces with you, and
we look forward to hosting more events like this
in the future. We are again indebted to the
Friends of TSB for their generous gift of a musical movement floor and supporting equipment.
Ms. Seay demonstrated the functionality of the
floor at the open house, and everyone was
amazed. We cannot thank you enough for your
continued support and generosity.
I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the alumni and Alumni Association of
TSB. Due to the scope of our capital projects
this summer, you made the ultimate sacrifice
and were willing to forego your Alumni Weekend
for the good of the school. Not only does that
demonstrate your flexibility, but it also shows
your unwavering support and commitment to our
school. We hope to make this up to you in some
way in the very near future.
the Class of 2016 Graduation. As you
come to campus for this event, please
overlook the misplacement of many of
our staff and the inconveniences created by the preparation for the summer construction. TSB graduations are
uniquely and traditionally special. This
year, they represent the determination and
achievements of 20 very special individuals. I
also recognize the dedication and sacrifice this
accomplishment means in the lives of our parents and families. I look forward to having all of
you on campus and meeting you during the time
of our graduation activities. Being able to assist
in the process of helping your child become a
“Contributing, Participating Member of Society”
has been both our joy and objective. Welcome
once again to our campus!
Respectfully,
Nathan Travis, Ed.S., NCSP
Interim Superintendent
In the midst of so much happening during these
last several weeks of school, I look forward to
Welcome This Month’s New Student
Welcome Madison Alvarnaz to Tennessee
School for the Blind. Madison enrolled on
campus as a residential student on March 7th.
She commutes on the school’s charter bus transportation system. Bethel Springs, Tennessee, a
small town south of Jackson, TN, in McNairy
County is where Madison calls her hometown
along with around a thousand other citizens.
Madison is in 8th grade and in Mr. Grafton
Cupid’s homeroom. Her favorite class at this
point is Ms. Fridgant’s English/Language Arts.
Madison looks forward to
spending free time reading
and states and she is enjoying being at TSB. She is also
enjoying the “new friendships that are being formed
here at the school. Someday
Madison wishes to aspire
to running a wholesale business. Introduce yourself and
welcome Madison!
Page 3
Madison Alvarnaz
Roar of the Tiger
Junior Senior Prom Covered with “Glitz”
TSB’s juniors and seniors will literally be covered by Glitz as they are “Puttin on the Ritz” at the
2016 Junior /Senior Prom. With a desire to see
the students adorned in attractive and updated
apparel, Noranda French brought a suggestion
before the Beta Alpha Psi (BAPsi), a prestigious
organization for accounting, finance, and information system students. As the group’s current
president, Noranda presented the need of donations for clothing for the TSB students attending
prom. “One of our members Kathy, knew this
wonderful angel Carmen at Neighborhood Publishing Partners
(NPP),” said
Noranda.
Kathy gave
Noranda
contact information for
Carmen and
a plan was
set into motion. “Carmen and I have worked very
closely together to make prom great for TSB this
year,” said Noranda. The owner of NPP, Tammie,
allowed Carmen to take this cause on in full force.
The owner of Glitz, located in Bellevue generously provided our 16 junior and senior girls with
FREE prom dresses! Glitz, a “stylish, fun, cozy
boutique,” caters to the needs of every one
looking to be the standout at their social, prom
or wedding occasion.
On April 12th the Glitz
crew arrived on campus
to measure the students.
“All of the girls were so
excited to come and try
on the dresses,” said Noranda. “ And these
dresses are theirs to
keep, as Demi mentioned,
FOREVER.”
While here, the Glitz crew also measured the
junior and senior boys for free tuxes. The boy’s
tuxes however, will be returned.
Carmen also provided TSB with the crowns,
tiaras, and sashes for the royal prom court. In
addition, an “anonymous donator” came through
providing corsages and boutonnieres.
This year’s prom is going to receive coverage
tin 5 local magazines! Stay tuned to see what
the big story is going to be about.
National Museum of African American Music on Campus
Students from the Social Studies classes at TSB
with auditory, bodily kinesthetic, and tactile exwere able to be engaged with “Visiting Musicians”
periences of learning. Students are often given
from the National Museum of African American
items to keep (spoons, box guitars) after
Music (NMAAM). Crystal J. Hardison, the mupresentations.
seum’s Programs Manager,
The collaboration between
serves as the coordinator for the
NMAAM and TSB will ineffort with school districts around
clude a session each
the state.
Wednesday at TSB from
The musicians come as part of
late March to early May durthe history course content taught
ing the 2016 school year. All
in both Mr. Lockhart and Mr.
interested teachers should
Humphrey’s classes. Other
consult with Dr. Dandy to
teachers, Mr. Gregory, Ms. Bradinclude the series of presenley, Ms. Williams, Ms. Salvato,
tations in their lesson plans
and Mr. Cupid, have also particifor approval. The NMAAM is
pated with enrichment visits for
scheduled to open in downpresentation of content. The
town Nashville, TN in
Students learn and are entertained by the
presentations provide students
2018.
banjo during the visit of NMAAM
Page 4
Volume 4, Issue 9
From the Director’s Desk
May 1, 2016
Hello All,
This school year is almost at an end. It went by
so fast; it seems like yesterday that I was moving to Nashville from Georgia. It has been a
year full of challenges, new adventures, new
relationships, and new dreams for me. I count
it a privilege to serve the students, parents,
faculty, and staff at TSB as your Director of Instruction. All of the new experiences and new
faces this year have given me opportunities to
learn and grow as a professional and as a person.
The Junior/Senior Prom will be held on May
5th. Tickets may be purchased from Ms. Kari
Harold. We look forward to an elegant night of
lifelong memories forged for students at prom
this year. Ms. Harold and many others, who
are too numerous to name individually, have
worked diligently to make this the best prom
experience yet for our students. They are to be
commended. A special thanks goes out to Glitz
Nashville for providing formal wear for our students this year and to all of the donors of formal wear from those who attended the TSB
Open House.
The time is near for us to graduate our Class
of 2016. Graduation is set for 10 a.m., May 27,
2016 in the TSB Auditorium. This is a bitter
sweet experience for our staff because we become so close to our students. We hate to see
them leave, but just like parents, we have to give
them wings to fly as they transition into the adult
world, and be successful in life using the skills
we have taught them. I salute the graduating
class of 2016 for their perseverance, hard work,
and completing their requirements for a high
school diploma. That speaks well of your work
ethic which you will need to continue into you
post-secondary pursuits. I wish all of our graduates the best of everything after graduation.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of
our parents and families, for allowing us to teach
your children. Without you, there would be no
reason for us to exist as a school. We are honored to be able serve you and your children.
Have a wonderful summer and see you back in
the fall on Sunday, August 7th for Open House.
More details will be sent over the summer about
the beginning of school.
Dr. Kathy Segers
Dr. Kathy Segers,
Director of Instruction
Stillwater In Harmony with Wonderful Opportunity
Tennessee School for the Blind was honored
on April 7th to host the Stillwater High School
Orchestra. Under the direction of Zach Sawyer, the orchestra has consistently earned
superior ratings at the MSHSL State Large
Group Contests. They performed a wonderful
concert for the students, staff, and community.
The program began at 6:30 p.m. and also engaged the students from the TSB musical programs.
The Stillwater Orchestra was touring the Nashville area on its annual Concert Orchestra
Spring Tour. Their itinerary included: a clinic
at one of Nashville’s Universities, attending a
performance by the Nashville Symphony, sightseeing around the Nashville area, and of course,
performances opportunities.
The Minneapolis, MN based group performed
a variety of classical music. The concert included demonstrations of the various stringed instruments. The TSB chorus, in turn, performed for
Stillwater. Following this “ joint concert”
there was a time of fellowship and sharing between the two groups. “Many TSB students were
able to touch and examine stringed instruments
for the first time,” said TSB choral director Judy
Denning. “ It was an exciting event for both
groups.”
Page 5
Above: Kari
Roar of the Tiger
School Benefits from being in the Volunteer State
TSB has been very fortunate to have many
supporters in the community who contribute in
various ways. Recently, an exceedingly generous
contribution has come in the way of volunteering
manpower.
Mt. Juliet Christian Academy organized four
groups to come to TSB to assist with boxing up
school items and transporting these boxes across
campus to a summer location. With the summer
Capital projects requiring the A Wing building
be emptied, the contents of the Media Center, located on the structure’s second floor, all had to
be moved. The private Christian school provided
us with the following:
28 ~ 9th Graders
36 ~ 10th Graders
52 ~ 6th & 12th Graders
The students came to campus three different
days in April, working from 9:00a.m. – 1:00p.m.
So let’s do the math, 116 students x 4 hours labor
= 464 hours of labor donated to TSB to help
pack up classroom items & library books. 464
hours / 7.5 hour day = 62 days-worth of labor
Since TSB has a deadline of May 27 for the
packing & moving to be completed, we realize
there was no way we possibly could have made
that deadline without the important assistance
from these
young people!
In addition,
on Friday,
April 22, 28
volunteers
from the
Tennessee State Department converged on
the TSB campus during various hours of the day
to assist the teachers and staff in getting their
belongings packaged and moved. These volunteers contributed over 85 hours of work and
were of tremendous assistance towards accomplishing the moving goal.
Our gratitude and appreciation, as always, goes
out to our many friends and supporters of the
school. What you do makes a difference in
changing the lives of our students.
Recreation Keeps Students Involved with Events
As the excitement began to fade away from the
beeping Easter Egg Hunt on April 5th, recreation
again was busy planning events and activities to
enhance the students’ lives. The Egg Hunt had
enabled many students to be involved in a campus wide event. Even with the help and participation of several other organizations and visitors,
this major event required much work from many
of the residential staff in order to be successful.
Seeing the smiles and laughter from the kids
made it all worthwhile.
The focus then shifted to activities being held on
a smaller group basis. Recently Cottage 9 held a
tasty event when cooking in the Cottage. Their
menu focused on foods from Mexico in putting
together a Mexican Fiesta. Entrees for the evening consisted of chicken fajitas, Spanish rice and
refried beans for the main dishes. To top off their
full bellies, their taste buds were smothered in
Mexican chocolate cream pie for dessert.
Cottage 8 took their students off campus on the
Page 6
12th of April to enjoy CiCi’s Pizza.
Cottage 9 traveled to Krystal’s and Whitt’s BBQ
on April 13th.
Cottage 1 enjoyed a night of bowling on
Wednesday April13th. They were anxious to
once again use the alley as it had been closed
recently for needed repairs.
Students 16 years of age and older enjoyed attending the Life Skills Center (LCS) with a pass
and not having to have the escort of their
houseparent. On April 20th the LSC hosted the
winners of our Kite Contest .The group celebrated with pizza and a movie! Congratulations
to our kite makers.
Volume 4, Issue 9
May 2016
we will have a mini-prom here on campus
with music and treats! All students are welcome to dress up and enjoy the festivities!
Welcome to Cottage Corner!
It’s time to start wrapping it up, folks! Seniors who have been in the apartments participating in the semi-independent living program will be transitioning back into the cottages on Monday May 2nd. All of the seniors did an impressive job juggling all of the
new responsibilities that come along with
living independently! Thank you Mr. Everett
James for facilitating such a great program
this year! Congratulations to all of the seniors, we are so proud of each of you!
This weekend TSB will be hosting the
Swimming and Forensics meet, April 29th
and 30th, so come and support our students
as they compete with 9 other schools for the
blind!
May 5th will be a busy day as we get our
juniors and seniors ready for Prom! Thanks
to very generous donations from Glitz Formal Wear, all of our juniors and seniors will
be headed out in style in beautiful dresses
and stylish tuxes! For our younger students,
We are enjoying the warmer weather that has
finally made its way to Nashville! As we come
to the close of the 2015-2016 school year, we
are making sure to spend as much time as
we can outdoors! Some of our younger students even spent time decorating our sidewalks with chalk! See photos below.
REMINDER: At the start of the year, all families of day students who stay on campus received a letter informing them of the daystudent cottage move out date, which is Friday May 20th, 2016. All students who have
access to daily bussing will be asked to move
out by this date in order to help staff prepare
for the end of the year cottage clean out.
Thank you in advance! Please contact me
with any questions.
Warmly,
Michelle Cormier
Michelle Cormier,
Director of Residential
Services
Cottage parent Jamie Fisher joins the students from her cottage enjoying a nice spring day. To her left is
Michelle Davis. To her right is Savannah Eubanks, then Mikayla Boutz, TaMyah Jordan, and Alexsis Ippolito.
Page 7
Roar of the Tiger
Chorus Makes Final Trips of the Year
The TSB Chorus enjoyed their final off campus
travels during April. On April 20th the chorus traveled to Hopewell Baptist Church in Springfield,
Tennessee where they enjoyed a delicious
meal provided by the church members. In turn the
students performed a concert for them. This trip
has been an annual event for many years and is
one of the highlights of the year. Many of the students anxiously await the arrival of this event.
“Church members at the Hopewell Church always
make us feel very welcome and special,” said Judy Denning, TSB Chorus Director.
On April 21st the chorus was honored to perform
at the Nashville Music City Center. Their performance was part of the awards ceremony for the
annual presentation of the 30th Annual Mary
Catherine Strobel Awards for volunteer service. “We were honored to meet members of the
Strobel family,” said Judy. She went on to
say, “The stories of the selfless volunteer work
being done by those who were finalists for these
awards were truly inspiring and a great tribute to
the city of Nashville. It was quite the experience
for the chorus to get to be a part of this event.”
The 30th Annual Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards
began with a special musical performance by the Tennessee
School for the Blind Chorus, which honored all of the Strobel
Award nominees. Photo and clip from Hands On Nashville
Forensics/Swim Teams Growl at Conference
(cont. from cover)
Breland, Cham Tea, Tim Tanner and Nathan
Desmarais. Collectively as a team, TSB placed
3rd. Congratulations Tigers!
The Tiger Boys Team won 2nd place in the 200
medley and the 200 freestyle relays; and 1st
place in the 400 freestyle relay. The boys came
in 3rd overall. Additionally in individual competition for the boys: Nathen Hurst came in 2nd in
the 200 freestyle; Garrett Meeks came in 3rd in
the 50 yard freestyle; Craig Heggie placed 3rd in
the 100 freestyle; and Garrett Meeks placed 2nd
in the 500 freestyle. Boys Swim Team members
are: Garret Meeks, Nathen Hurst, Carlos
Medrano, Christian Black, Anthony Bonnetti,
Craig Heggie, Marcus Johnson, Mishon
Page 8
The Forensics competition was held on Saturday.
The TSB Tiger Team placed 3rd overall with 95
points, three points away from 2nd place.
Individual placements were as follows: Carlos
Medrano: original oratory (3rd place in two
rounds and 4th in the third round), Corgan Waters: original oratory (placing 2nd in two
rounds and 1st in one round) and in political
speeches (1st place in two rounds and 2nd place
in one round), Austin Mayes: great speeches
(placing 1st in one round and 3rd in another), Anthony Bonetti: impromptu (3rd place in two
rounds) and poetry (3rd place in one round),
Tim Tanner: impromptu (1st place in one
round and 2nd place in two), Taylor Grenier: poetry (placing 3rd one round), and Marcus Johnson: serious prose (placing 1st in two rounds
and 2nd in one round). Congratulations to all our
team members for a weekend of accomplishments and our athletic department on a great job
Volume 4, Issue 9
Riches from the Resource Center
Hello from RCVI!
The staff is almost as eager in getting textbooks
out as the students are who receive them. Each
day I feel fortunate to supervise staff who are
devoted and find fulfillment in what they do at
the Resource Center. Hats off to Nick Sharp, the
newest staff member at the Braille Production
Center who has contributed the article to this
month’s newsletter.
Nick originally came to TSB as a young student from Illinois. After graduating in 2000, he
attended MTSU. Nick finished with a B.S. in
Recording Industry Management. He went
back in 2007 and received a B.A. in English with
certification to teach. Nick received his final degree with a M.Ed. in Education. Prior to the
braillist position, Nick was a substitute teacher
here at TSB.
As a person who is totally blind, becoming
proficient in reading and writing Braille was
one of those things that just came with the
territory. I have always been aware of the
complexity involved in the formation of accurate Braille and putting together the
books that I read both for leisure and scholastic purposes. However, until I was hired
as a full-time proofreader for the Braille
Production Center at the Tennessee
School for the Blind, I never truly understood or appreciated the effort that goes in
to making just one volume of one book accessible for a blind reader.
For example, there are numerous rules one
must adhere to when formatting a Braille
textbook. Additionally, it is difficult to keep
the differences between the old Braille system and the newly implemented Unified
English Braille Code straight. Fortunately, I have a wealth of manuals I refer to
when I encounter something that is unfamiliar to me.
Upon completion of proofreading the Braille
text, I put premade graphics onto special
types of paper using either a thermoform
machine or Heat Swell device. This results
in the
creation
of raised
line
adapted
versions
of illustrations
in the
book
which
Nick Sharp proofreads a completed book.
allows
blind students access to the same information as their sighted peers.
Once the graphics and Braille text are compiled into a volume, I then bind the book
and make sure that the graphics and Braille
pages are in the correct order. Depending
on the number of pages in the book, a
Braille reader may have multiple volumes
that comprise one textbook. Furthermore,
because Braille takes up much more space
than print, each volume of a Braille textbook
may be the same size as an entire book in
print.
My experience as a proofreader at TSB has
given me a deeper appreciation for those
who proofread and formatted the books that
I enjoyed growing up. Every book that I
proof now is a chance to say thank you to
those who allowed me to learn, grow, and
thus, grant me an opportunity to play a very
small part in the empowerment of future
generations of blind students. –Nick Sharp
For addition information on the Resource Center
contact:
email: [email protected]
Phone: 615-231-7301 or
615-231-7317
Fax: 615-231-7408
Elaine Brown,
Elaine Brown,
Director of RCVI and
LEA Support
Page 9
Roar of the Tiger
Introducing the Class of 2016 (Part 2 of 2)
The 2016 Class of Tennessee School for the
Blind is made up of 20 members. The April
edition of the Roar of the Tiger, introduced you
to ten members of the class. The remaining ten
members are presented below.
Miranda Sullivan
In 2003 Miranda enrolled at TSB from her
hometown of White House, located in Robertson County. As one of the
surrounding counties of Metropolitan Nashville, Miranda has both commuted
and lived in the campus cottages. During her time here
she has been a member of
the TSB Tiger Band. Miranda
will be taking with her many
great memories from the MuMiranda Sullivan
sic Department. She has
enjoyed the “amazing music” they have played
during her time in the band.
Timothy Tanner
Tim Tanner came to TSB
in the fall of 2013 from
Clarksville and has since
moved to Nashville, in Davidson County. He has
both commuted to school
Timothy Tanner
and stayed on campus. The
multi-talented senior has been involved in track,
goal ball, forensics, cheerleading, band and the
TSB Jazz Combo. Many of Tim's memories
center around his accomplishments in track. Besides contributing to TSB’s NCASB Championship Teams in 2014 and 2015, Tim has represented the United States on the Para Olympic
Team. This journey took him in April of 2015
to the 57th Annual Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, California. Tim has trained numerous times at the
Olympic Training Center (OTC) in San Diego,
California. Tim competed in The Desert Challenge Games on in May 13-17, 2015 in Phoenix,
Arizona. There he received his International
Page 10
and National Classification for Track and Field
leading him to become a member of the US Paralympic Team. In 2015 he represented the United States at the 2015 IPC Athletics World
Championships in Doha, Qatar. Tim hopes to
participate in the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic
Games later this year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In addition to Tim’s track accolades, VSATN honored Tim in February of 2015 for his talent playing the drums. Tim’s plans are to study music
education and business in the fall. He currently
is awaiting responses from Fisk, MTSU and Belmont University.
Chamroeun Tea
In the fall of 2014 “Cham” enrolled as a residential student,
from the town of Jackson, in
Madison County. He has
stayed very busy, being involved in cheerleading, track,
swimming, forensics, band,
Chamroeun Tea
The TSB Jazz Combo and
as President of the Student Council. Cham
has great memories of becoming acquainted
with all of his teachers. His plans for the fall are
to attend Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths & Adults.
Anthony Townsend
Originating from the town of
Elizabethton, in Carter
County, “A.J.” has been a
residential student at TSB
over the past four years. One
of his favorite memories from
TSB is meeting his friend
Josiah Hearn. A.J. has been
A.J. Townsend
involved in swimming, track,
woodshop, band, art and as the Wrestling Team
Manager. As a recipient of the TN Promise
Scholarship, A.J. will be attending NE Community College in the fall studying Business.
Elle Tuetken
Volume 4, Issue 9
Introducing The Class of 2016 (cont. from pg. 10)
Elle Tuetkin enrolled at TSB
in 2010. She has made the
local commute over the past
six years from her home in
Franklin, located in Williamson County. Elle has participated in track, chorus and
art. Her painting of a cat staring into a fish bowl entitled
“What's On the Menu" , was
Elle Tuetken
selected for the cover of the
2016 APH InSights Calendar. The painting
was chosen from 450 entries submitted from
across the nation. Elle’s fondest memories from
TSB include winning 1st place in track in the
tandem race. Elle’s hopes to teach H.S. Art will
have her using her TN Promise Scholarship in
the fall at Columbia State. Upon completion of
her courses she plans to transfer to MTSU.
DeShawn Turner
A 2010 enrollee of TSB,
DeShawn lives in Nashville
here in Davidson County. His
local commute has not kept
him away from being involved
in goal ball, wrestling, swimming and art. DeShawn enjoyed the memories created
DeShawn Turner
at the “end of year celebration” at a local lake. The activities centered around the use of one of the
teacher’s houseboats. DeShawn will use his TN
Promise Scholarship to pursue an Associates Degree in Business at Nashville State
Community College. He hopes someday to
own and operate a restaurant.
Shelby West
Doing the local commute
from Nashville since 2013,
Shelby has stayed involved
in a host of extracurricular
activities. Her energy has
contributed to success in
Shelby West
goal ball, track, chorus and
student council. Her memories include passing
Algebra II with Mr. Cupid. Shelby will pursue
the study of Early Childhood Education at Nashville's TCAT in the fall. She has been awarded the TN Promise Scholarship.
Stephanie Wilson
Munford, TN in Tipton
County is the home of
Stephanie Wilson. Arriving
at TSB in the fall of 2012,
Stephanie has been involved with chorus, art and
Stephanie Wilson
goal ball. She lists as special
memories, her trip to the Space and Rocket
Center with Mrs. Engelhardt. In the fall
Stephanie will attend the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center.
Brittany Wolfe
Corgan Waters
In the fall of 2005, Corgan
traveled from her hometown
of Dayton, in Rhea County to
TSB. As a residential student she has kept busy with
involvement in track, goalball,
cheerleading, swimming, forensics, golf, student council,
Destination Imagination, Space Camp and
art. Her accomplishments and accolades for her
art projects are many and include a mural on the
school wall. Corgan’s favorite memories also include a celebratory time at the lake. Corgan’s
plans are to study Biological Science (pre-med)
at the University of Tennessee this fall.
Corgan Waters
In 2012 Brittany enrolled at
TSB from Sweet Water in
Monroe County. Over the
past four years she has been
involved in track, goal ball,
swimming, cycling, chorus,
voice, piano, TSB Jazz Combo, and Mid- (cont. on pg. 15)
Page 11
Brittany Wolfe
Roar of the Tiger
May Spotlight on Staff
Grafton Cupid
Grafton Cupid has been at TSB for two years
as a Middle School/High School Math Teacher.
“One of my favorite things about TSB is the students’ willingness to learn,”
said Mr. Cupid. “That is a
rare quality in this day and
age of technology.”
When not at TSB, Mr. Cupid likes spending time
with his family, watching
sports, and coaching his
son’s Flag Football team.
One of his hobbies is cooking. Mr. Cupid enjoys
cooking Caribbean dishes,
Grafton Cupid
Italian dishes, and Southern Soul Food dishes.
Mr. Cupid and his family live in Gallatin,
Sumner County, but he is originally from Willingboro, New Jersey, near Philadelphia. He
earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Rutgers University, a Master’s
degree in Industrial Engineering from the New
Jersey Institute of Technology, and a Master’s in Visual Impairment Special Education
from Trevecca Nazarene University. Mr. Cupid
taught math for two years in New Jersey, just
shy of one year in North Carolina, and one year
in Tennessee before transitioning back into Corporate America. “ I went back to do Engineering work, but I realized that you don’t miss
something until it’s gone. I really missed being
back in the classroom and working with students.” Mr. Cupid saw an opportunity to teach
math to visually impaired students at TSB and
decided to take a chance! “I remember my father losing some of his vision when I was
younger. I thought it would be a challenging opportunity to teach someone who was blind, especially something as visual as mathematics!”
Mr. Cupid has been married to his
Page 12
“awesome” wife, Corena, for almost seven years
and the couple have two “amazing” children,
said Mr. Cupid. Little Grafton is 5 and their
daughter Sydney is 3.
One thing you may not know about Mr. Cupid is
that he lived in three different states in one year,
2011: New Jersey, North Carolina and Tennessee. This was all due to his wife’s job opportunities. “I knew I could go anywhere and
make my mark in education. Therefore, I was
okay with the idea of moving. We love Tennessee and will stay here for a while.”
Charity Christian
Charity Christian has
been a Youth Service
Worker (YSW) since 2011,
and was promoted to at
YSW II in August, 2012.
She currently serves in Cottage 1, with the senior
girls. Her favorite thing
about being at TSB is
teaching ADL (Activities of
Charity Christian
Daily Living) skills. ADL
includes such things as
making beds, cooking, cleaning, and personal
hygiene. “I enjoy watching the students grow
each year as they continue learning new skills,”
said Ms. Christian.
You will frequently find Ms. Christian on campus
after hours, helping with special events. “I just
loving being around the kids,” she said. They’re
terrific!”
When not at TSB, Ms. Christian keeps herself
fit and active playing racquet ball. She and her
husband Chris, frequently use the courts at Patterson Park Community Center in Rutherford
County. A sports enthusiast, Ms. Christian
has always been involved in some team activity
including basketball in middle and high school,
and softball from the time she was 8-years old.
She also enjoys the more leisurely sport of fishing, and once caught a catfish that was at least
Volume 4, Issue 9
May Spotlight on Staff
(cont. from pg. 10)
three feet long, she said. “We didn’t get a
chance to weigh it, but I can tell we got a lot of
fillets out that one!” She also enjoys spending
time with her family most of whom still live in
Lebanon, her home town.
Ms. Christian has been married to her high
school sweetheart, Chris, for 28 years. The couple have one son, Christopher, who is active duty in the US Airforce. They also have roughly 13
other children, one with fur and a dozen with
feathers. Raz, the one with fur, is a JackRat (a
Jack Russell/Rat Terrier mix) and the other
12 include Puff, Cheddar, Rocky, Bullwinkle and
others, who provide fresh eggs for the family.
One thing you might not know about Ms. Christian is that in high school she was a “ real
snob” – or at least that was the perception. The
reality is, she was wall-flower shy! Still, she got
the courage to try out for the high school choir
and performed at various other high schools and
colleges, including Old Castle Heights Military
Academy, which closed in 1986. “ We were
probably one of the last classes to perform
there,” said Ms. Christian.
Laura Smith
Laura Smith has been a Life Skills 1 teacher
at TSB for 5 years. However, she began working
at the school in 1992 as a companion to a student who was deaf/blind. When her student
graduated, Mrs. Smith
stayed on as an Educational
Assistant. At the encouragement of Elaine Brown,
former teacher, now Director of the Resource Center
for the Visually Impaired,
Ms. Smith returned to
school to obtain her teacher’s license. She graduated
from Cumberland University
in 2011 with a bachelor’s
degree in Special Ed., and
Trevecca University in
Laura Smith
2012 with a Master’s degree in the Education of
the Visually Impaired.
“Over the years, my favorite things about TSB
have always remained the same – they are the
students, and the staff with whom I have had the
pleasure of working,” said Mrs. Smith. “The students give me laughter, joy, and excitement. The staff gives me help, support,
knowledge, and laughter as well. When I
walked through TSB’s doors in 1992 I knew I
was home!”
Any spare time she has, Mrs. Smith enjoys
spending it with her family. “They are my peace
of mind, they keep me grounded, and most of
all, they are my life,” she said. Mrs. Smith has
been married to her “best friend” Dwayne for almost 27 years. The couple has two daughters: Emily, 24, who is a first grade teacher in
Sumner County, and Autumn, 16, a sophomore in high school. The Smiths also have four
other “children,” Lenny, Lucy, Ricky, and Molly,
who are furry and have canine-like features, but
who will not tolerate being called “dogs.” “I
wouldn’t dare,” said Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Smith and
her family have lived in Gallatin for 22 years, but
she is a Nashvillian, born and raised.
One thing you might not know about Mrs. Smith
is that she is petrified of snakes! “Even talking
about them makes my heart speed up and
makes me sick to my stomach,” she said. So, no
rubber snakes in Mrs. Smith’s room – we don’t
want to lose her!
Catch This Month’s Live Streaming
Unable to be on campus this month? Catch the
events live from the school website. The Live
Streaming link is located on the
bottom left corner of the homepage
at www.tsbtigers.org.
May 12th- Athletic Awards, May
13th- Spring Music Program, May 24th-Spring
Solo Recital, May 26th– Graduation Concert,
May 27th– 2016 Graduation Ceremony
Page 13
Roar of the Tiger
The Inside Scoop in the Life Skills Loop
If you wander near Atrium Two on a Thursday
afternoon you are very likely to hear some beautiful music. The Life Skills On-Campus Field
Trip program has delighted students and
staff with a wide variety of musical genre and
instruments. With the assistance of a local volunteer and musician, Ms. Lori Casteel, the program is nearly a year old. Ms. Casteel has extended the invitation to her friends in the music
industry to play a short performance at TSB. It
has been a tremendous addition to the curriculum for the Life Skills
students. The brainchild of teachers
Deedra Finch
John Mock plays the guitar, then mandolin, concertina and
penny whistle during a recent “field trip”. His self-composed
music was inspired by his travels in the British Isles.
and Vic-ki DeSalvatore, the concept has been
to provide regular opportunities to “practice being an audience”. “Our students need multiple
opportunities to be in attendance without being
disruptive to the performance,” said Vicki . The
regular exposure to live music has helped the
students learn many skills that may otherwise be
taken for granted. “The students have learned
that a program has an introduction, a performance and conclusion,” said Vicki. “And at intervals when the music stops, they have learned to
applaud appropriately.”
The artists are welcomed and briefed on the
characteristics of the audience since it is not a
typically quiet crowd. Many have never been to
or heard of TSB and are delighted to come perform. They are alerted to the fact that while enjoying the music the students may laugh, clap or
sing! The students have also learned that live
music is not repeatable like a CD and when it
stops it is over.
The diversity of the programs has been an enormous asset to our music education. Students
are frequently able to explore and try playing the
instruments. -Vicki DeSalvatore
Fox News Covers Tanner’s Fast Track
Nashville News Fox 17 carried the following
article recently about TSB’s Tim Tanner:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A competitive sprinter who
is legally blind is hoping to pass the Paralympic
Trials this summer to race in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
18-year-old Tim Tanner is the 14th fastest 100 meter Paralympic sprinter in the world. Tanner will
be running the 100 and 400 meter dashes in the
trial for Rio.
"I can hear footsteps, I can hear, I can sense how
fast everyone around me is striking the ground,"
Tanner said.
just have to figure out how it needs to be done."
Last year at the US Paralympic Track and Field
National Championships in St. Paul, Minnesota,
Tanner finished in second in the men's 100 meter,
200 meter and 400 meter dash.
On Tuesday April 26, Tanner will race against
high school sprinters from The Tennessee Homeschool Association, Mt. Juliet Christian Academy,
Watertown and Donelson Christian Academy.
http://fox17.com/news/local/visually-impairedclarksville-sprinter-sets-sights-on-rio-2016
Tanner is an official member of the US World
Team. In 2015, he was chosen to represent the
United States at the International Paralympic
Committee Athletics World Championships in
Doha, Qatar.
"I've always taught Timothy he can do anything
he wants," Aretha Tanner said, Tim's mother. "We
Page 14
Tim Tanner jumps out to a quick start in lane two.
Volume 4, Issue 9
TSB Honored to Host NCASB Conference
Excitement grew as the staff and students of Tennessee School for the Blind prepared to host
the 2016 NCASB Swim and Forensics Conference. Three years ago in the spring of 2013,
was the last time the conference meet was held in
Nashville. “It’s always an honor to host the
NCASB Conference, and of course, enough
can never be said about having the home advantage,” said Athletic Director Andy Joiner.
“Conference wide gatherings like this can give a
lot of positive exposure of our school to folks all
across the region.” This years conference saw a
total of nine teams arriving the afternoon of April
29th for the two day event. Joining the TSB Tigers, were schools from: Ohio, South Dakota,
Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa,
and Kentucky.
The teams competing were welcomed to Tennessee and greeted by a host of dignitaries. Letters of welcome were given from: Tennessee
Governor Bill Haslam, Nashville Mayor Megan
Berry, Assistant Commissioner of Education
Joey Hassell and TSB Interim Superintendent
Nathan Travis.
After getting settled in, the teams were off to a
quick start. Conference registration began at
3:00pm Friday afternoon, followed by supper and
warm-ups. The swimming competition was held at
the Gallatin Civic Center in Gallatin Tennessee.
The meet officially was under way at 5:00pm and
continued till late in the evening. Individual event
winners were handed medals and ribbons for their
placements directly after each race. Team results,
however were held in confidence until Saturday’s
Awards ceremony. The swimmers and teams arrived back at the TSB campus around 10:00pm.
Saturday morning, the attention focused on the
forensics competition. At
8:00am students began their
vocal performances and listened to their fellow
competitors. Judges provided the evaluations
and gave critique. All together three rounds of
competition took place beginning at 8:00a.m.,
10:00a.m. and 1:00p.m.
After the competition, the students enjoyed
some free time until the 4:30pm dinner. Edley’s
Bar-B-Que provided a tasteful supper to everyone's satisfaction.
At 6:00p.m. the Forensics Awards and Team
Swimming Awards ceremony was held in the
school auditorium. The awards event was followed up with a dance-centered social that
included its own dancing instructor.
In the course of the two-day event, 185 VI students were given the opportunity to compete
and display their talents and abilities. The students began and continued forming friendships
with peers from many other states. And everyone took away memories, many of which will
last a lifetime.
Class of 2016
(cont. from pg. 11)
state/All-State Chorus. Brittany has enjoyed
getting to meet and make friend with those with
“the same eye condition as me.” In the fall Brittany plans on attending East Tennessee State
University, where she has already been accepted. She will be majoring in Music Performance with a minor degree in Bluegrass.
Brittany will also pursue a job through the Vocational Rehabilitation Center.
Congratulations to all twenty of the 2016 graduates! Plan now to attend the graduation ceremonies May 27th at the school.
Page 15
Creating Contributing Participating Members of Society
TENNESSEE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
“Save the Date” for Scramble
115 Stewarts Ferry Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
Phone: 615-231-7300
The Annual (16th) Blindness Awareness Golf
Scramble, normally held each spring, has
moved to Wednesday September, 14th this year.
This exciting
fund raiser, cosponsored by
Murfreesboro
Breakfast Rotary Club and
Friends of
TSB, takes
place at Old
Fort Golf Club, Murfreesboro, TN. Circle this
date and make plans now to be involved. For information see AD Andy Joiner or Friends of TSB.
Tennessee School for the Blind is a state special
school established in 1844 to meet the unique needs of
visually impaired students living in the state of Tennessee. The school provides academic and professional
services tailored to benefit students placed in its care
through the Local Education Agencies across the state.
Beyond a tradition of academics, TSB specializes in the
instruction of expanded core-curricular areas such as
Braille, Mobility, Technology, Career Education, and Independent Living Skills. Students at the school also enjoy
the opportunity to participate in team sports, campus
clubs, organizations and many leisure-time activities. In
addition the school provides outreach services to visually
challenged students, their parents, teachers, schools and
other agencies assisting the visually challenged.
Upcoming Events Calendar
Th
May 5
Prom
TBD
Sa
May 7
Murfreesboro Jazz Festival
Murfreesboro, TN
M
May 9
No Classes/Monday Busing
TSB
Tu
May 10
Classes Resume
TSB
Th
May 12
Athletic Banquet
TSB
Th
May 13
Spring Music Program/Art Exhibit/Sale
TSB/Aud.
M-F
May 16-20
Semester Exams/Tests & BASI-Grades 3-12
-
W
May 25
Field Day /Awards Day/Jump for Heart
TSB
Th
May 26
Graduation Concert
TSB/Aud.
F
May 27
Graduation
TSB/Aud.
M
May 30
Memorial Day Observance-No School
TSB
Tu-W
May 31-June 1
Teacher Organization Days
TSB
M-W
Aug. 1-3
Teacher In-Service
TSB
M-F
June 6-10
Preschool Assessment
TSB
M-F
June 13-17
Preschool Assessment
TSB
M-F
June 20-24
Preschool Assessment
TSB
Th-F
Aug. 4-5
Teacher Organization
TSB
Su
Aug. 7
Registration/Parent Teacher Conference Day
TSB
M
Aug. 8
First Day of Classes
TSB
Th
Aug. 11
Thursday Busing
TSB
F
Aug. 12
No Classes
TSB
F-S
Aug 19-20
SibShop Workshop
TSB