West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

WVSDB Presents: Ready, Read, Write, Act! Summer Adventure Camp July 17 - 22, 2023 Students will experience the arts firsthand! Opportunities include exploring creative writing and illustration with local authors, participating in a performance of "The Secret Garden" with Missoula Children's Theater, and a special program presented by NTID's theater troupe, Sunshine 2.0. This week of fun is available free of charge to eligible students grades K-12. Bus transportation is provided from hubs around the state and housing is available in the WVSDB dorm. This week's activities will include: swimming, scavenger hunts, and crafts based on your favorite books. Students will be taking a field trip to Hovatter's Zoo. English/Language Arts and Math are built into the daily experience. Enrichment and support in ASL, O&M, and Braille are also provided. Register your child today! Questions? Contact us for more information: Melanie Hesse, Dean of Students 304-822-4800 or email: mhesse@k12.wv.us Current WVSDB Students: https://forms.office.com/r/zSbpWaW7qZ WV County students not enrolled at WVSDB: https://forms.office.com/r/gcSpcadDu9

WV Schools for the Deaf and the Blind present: Country Roads Dinner Show Summer Experience July 10 - 14, 2023 Students will embark on a journey using their senses as they explore the music and foods of West Virginia. Using the skills they learn, students will host a dinner show for families to attend on Thursday. This week of fun is available free of charge to eligible students in grades K-12. Bus transportation is provided from hubs around the state and housing is available in the WVSDB dorm. This week's activities will include swimming, cornhole, Campfire charades, hiking and goalball. Field trips will include a fishing trip as well as visits to the River House to experience local music, art, and poetry. English/Language Arts and Math are built into the daily experience. Enrichment and support in ASL, O&M, and Braille are also provided. Register your child today! Questions? Contact us for more information: Melanie Hesse, Dean of Students 304-822-4800 or email: mhesse@k12.wv.us Current WVSDB Students: https://forms.office.com/r/zSbpWaW7qZ WV County students not enrolled at WVSDB: https://forms.office.com/r/gcSpcadDu9

At last evening's meeting of WVSDB Boy Scout Troop #1870, the scouts discovered the leisure activity of metal detecting. The scouts made a grid with string and stakes. The members created an overlapping pattern to ensure not to miss anything. They learned how to use the metal detector, what places to hunt, and what ground is preferable to find more hidden items. #BlackBearScouts

What a beautiful evening on campus to enjoy the outdoor and letting the residents re-discover the excitement of bike riding. #blackbearfamily2023

CVRP has three great camps coming up! Check out these three links for more information and to register your child: Our Voice: The Sequel- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiPy4aUN-azky9tqTXfGTw52yBKALjLELUvtBes5UCDfaPiQ/viewform Career Exploration and Problem Solving Institutes of Learning: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZxyFldP-co47V0tDemAolClNijSUoIb2FY1KHUyMoRyeQ9A/viewform CVRP Day Camp: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUcBFKliEw1JpnTXuoC1An2d59OxN0DtJ3bYmGfhNrEKDDLQ/viewform

We're thrilled to announce the new app for WVSDB! It's everything WVSDB, in your pocket. Download for Android https://bit.ly/3yMJASx Download for iPhone https://apple.co/3Tk8t1c

WVSDB summer camps are returning and the deadline to apply is approaching! We offer four action-packed weeks, including special programming, guests, and field trips. We will have a focus on literacy and math each week to help keep up skills during the summer break. Deaf, hard of hearing, blind, low vision, and deafblind students from all over West Virginia are welcome to join up to all four weeks! Each week will have a different theme: July 10-14—Country Roads Dinner Show: Students will embark on a journey using their senses as they explore music and the culinary arts. Opportunities will be provided to make both music and food. Using the skills learned, students will host a dinner show for families to attend. July 17-22—Ready, Read, Write, Act: Students will experience the arts firsthand. Opportunities include exploring creative writing and illustration with local authors. Students can also participate in a performance of "The Secret Garden" with the Missoula Children's Theater July 24-28—Rising to the Challenge: Students will focus on career exploration and readiness. Younger students will explore careers and even have the opportunity to learn basic first aid. Ages 14+ are invited to participate in the 360 Degree Academy's Pre-Employment Transition Clinic including topics such as job exploration, self-advocacy, and education/training after high school. For more information, visit www.360degreeacademy.com/wv-camp July 31-August 3—Full STEAM Ahead!: Students will discover how to solve real-world challenges and everyday problems by integrating science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Topics and activities will include lego robotics, drone experiences, weather, transportation, and geology. All registration forms are due by April 21. The brochure and paper registration forms are available here: https://bit.ly/3JqfUzq. There are separate forms for WVSDB students and county students so be sure to select the correct one. OR you can register online at the links below. Online registration links: Current WVSDB Students: https://forms.office.com/r/zSbpWaW7qZ WV County students not enrolled at WVSDB: https://forms.office.com/r/g8Gga4MWH5 https://www.360degreeacademy.com/wv-camp

At last week's boy Scout meeting, the members received their troop shirts and discussed the meaning of the logo. Later in the evening members worked on team building skills. Each team had to figure out how to get a tennis ball across the room as a group while attached together #BlackBearScouts.

Season 2, Episode 13 of the Bear Necessities is ready for your information and viewing pleasure. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/k7Ra1BM3woU

The Parent's Day Program is this Friday at 10:00. All are welcome to attend in person, but if you can't and would like to attend virtually, please use this form to register for the Zoom link. If you register, you will receive the link by Friday morning at 9:00 am. https://forms.office.com/r/WT3gAC8Bxq

Last week, the Boy Scout troop learned how to tie different types of knots and ropes and make tent corners.

The West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Spring Dinner Show ticket sales have begun! Place: Sevigny Building MPR Date: April 20, 2023 Time: 6:00 p.m. Price: $20 per ticket Your ticket includes dinner prepared by WVSDB ProStart students, performances by WVSDB students, and entry into a drawing for hand-crafted, burnt park benches and cutting boards made by WVSDB carpentry students. Tickets can be purchased at FNB Bank, Main Branch, Bank of Romney, Main Branch, or by calling the WVSDB office at 304-822-4861. ONLY 80 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD. Deadline for ticket sales is April 10th.

Congratulations to WVSDB Goalball teams that competed in the tournament at VSDB! The girls placed second in the tournament. The boys place third. The players made lasting friendships with other players in the Eastern United States. #BlackBearsAreFierce

WVSDB Girls advance to the Championship Game tomorrow vs. VA! And our boys will be playing in the bronze round. Good Luck to both teams! You can access the games on the VSDB YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@TheVSDB

Residents celebrated the luck of the Irish on Thursday evening with the annual St. Patrick's Day Party. Musical chairs and the photo booth were the main attractions of the evening along with many residents pretending to be a Mr. and Mrs. Leprechaun. #BlackBearFamily2023.

Follow this link to access the goalball tournament at VSDB this weekend! Go Black Bears! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VW37PXvmhDc

WVSDB Day buses will not run tomorrow due to impending weather. Homegoing buses will run as scheduled. Staff should report as usual or use leave. The PBIS event for tomorrow will be postponed until next Friday.

On Tuesday, WVSDB Tapestry and Mountaineer Melodies students performed for the WV Legislature. In case you missed it, we have added the performances to our YouTube channel. Way to go Black Bears! We are very proud of you! https://youtu.be/ud0HQCRKlkg

West Virginians receiving continuous Medicaid coverage was one of the benefits of a pandemic-era law, proving to be a lifeline to children and families and helping to bring down the overall uninsured rate. The provision however is set to expire on April 1, and the regular Medicaid renewal process will resume. Now, even eligible children could lose coverage due to difficulties in the renewal process, like staffing. Parents: Be on the lookout for mailed renewal notices so that you can complete and submit them in a timely manner. Our students cannot afford to lose coverage. What does “unwinding” mean? “Unwinding” is the process by which states will resume Medicaid eligibility renewals for all enrollees and states will be able to terminate Medicaid enrollment for individuals who are no longer eligible. How are my healthcare benefits affected? Individuals enrolled in Medicaid since March 2020 are still enrolled today, and will be at least through April 1, 2023 when the continuous enrollment provision ends. When states resume redeterminations and disenrollments, individuals may be at risk of losing Medicaid coverage or experiencing a gap in coverage, even if they remain eligible for coverage. It is very important to complete and return your renewal form when received to prevent any delays in coverage. What needs renewed? The Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) will send renewal notices and requests for information to enrollees. When enrollees respond, agencies will process the cases, renew coverage for those who remain eligible, and notify those who are no longer eligible that their coverage will end. If enrollees don’t respond, their coverage will end. When will Medicaid enrollees begin receiving notifications for renewals? Enrollees will begin receiving renewal letters in February 2023. Medicaid renewals will be staggered over the next 12 months. Enrollees will receive notices sent to their current mailing address when their renewal is due. Be sure to watch for letters from DHHR and to complete the renewal forms. What happens when you don’t renew in time? Failure to complete renewal can result in loss of your healthcare coverage. Under federal law, individuals have 90 days from the date the case was closed to provide the Medicaid agency with all required information, Medicaid benefits can be reinstated without going through the application process if the individual continues to meet the eligibility criteria. If the required documentation is not submitted within the 90 day period to complete the redetermination process, the individual will be required to reapply for Medicaid benefits and a gap in healthcare benefits is likely to occur. Where can I find more information about the Marketplace? If you were found ineligible for Medicaid and/or WVCHIP, your application has been sent to the Federally Facilitated Marketplace to be evaluated for healthcare coverage. The Marketplace will be sending you a notice with information about how to apply. If you would like additional information about the Marketplace process or next steps, West Virginia also has a program called WV Navigator that can provide free enrollment assistance in Marketplace health insurance plans. You may contact WV Navigator at (304) 356-5834 or visit the WV Navigator Website. https://acanavigator.com/wv/home

Check out these summer opportunities to increase braille skills in students. These camps are offered by the NFB: https://nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-bell-academy