THE MARYLAND SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
THE WINDOW, SUMMER 2016 

Hats off to the Class of 2016 
After a long school year, the 18 members of the Class of 2016 celebrated their graduation on June 1 and joined the ranks of the proud MSB alumni that have preceded them for the past 162 years.  The senior class certainly lived up to their class motto: “We’re loud. We’re proud. We’ll live the dream.  We’re the class of 2016!”     
The commencement ceremony consisted of the conferring of diplomas, certificates and awards, with remarks from Dr. Michael Bina, MSB President and Marcella Franczkowski, Assistant State Superintendent of Schools.  The program also featured commencement speaker, Gary Lay.  Mr. Lay serves on the MSB board of directors and is a Baltimore County Public School teacher.  His daughter Carman was a student at MSB before her untimely death at the age of eight.  He and his wife, Tricia, established the Carman Lay Foundation in her memory.  In his address to the graduates, Lay praised the students for overcoming adversity and encouraged them to make their own way in the world by using their talents and skills.  “Start where you are, use what you have and do what you can,” said Lay. 
Other highlights included Class President, Timothy Jones’ address to the class of 2016 and the singing of the school song by Jones and fellow graduate, Benjamin Major.  Special awards were presented to several seniors, who exhibited leadership qualities and academic excellence throughout their years at MSB.  Benjamin Major received the B. Franklin Newcomer Award, which recognizes a student who demonstrates, through leadership and citizenship, a positive influence in both school and residential life.  Both Major and Colin Prettyman were awarded with State of Maryland Merit Scholastic Awards. Prettyman scored a perfect 800 on the verbal portion of the SAT tests.
Commencement is always the culmination of an exciting year for the seniors which included many activities and highlights. Special activities included the annual senior breakfast with the President, which was held in the fall at The Harp restaurant. Later in the school year, the class officer elections and senior gala were held. This spring the seniors received their class rings and class awards. The class crowned a king and queen at the masquerade themed prom at Heritage Gardens.  The seniors also took a class trip downtown to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor for a lunch cruise on the Spirit of Baltimore. Despite the rainy day, they had a great time eating, sightseeing on the ship’s deck and dancing under the DJ’s disco ball.   
Saying goodbye to the graduates is always bittersweet for the staff, many of whom have taught the students since they were young children, but they know it is all part of the journey toward independence. The school’s mission is to prepare students to be as successful, contributing members of their communities as is possible. Graduation is not the end, but the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. We wish them all the best as they reach for their goals.  Congratulations Class of 2016!  
Photos and Captions:
The Maryland School for the Blind Class of 2016

Devonte Lowery and Jermaya Taylor are crowned prom king and queen

Benjamin Major receives one of his two awards from Carol Bogue, Education Director, at MSB’s graduation 

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
The end of the school year is always a time to look back and reflect on the accomplishment of goals and to celebrate successes. As I mentioned in my message at the beginning of the school year, the theme for this year was “SOAR”, an acronym for goals centered around student independence. “S“ is for self-determination, “O”, orientation and mobility, “A”, activities of daily living and “R”, respect for independence.  I am proud to say that our students “soared” to new levels this past year.  I asked staff to submit examples of how their students became more independent. I received hundreds of emails throughout the year with wonderful success stories.  
As our graduates this year prepare for their future plans, it is my hope that they will take with them the skills they learned and continue to become more independent.  
The MSB campus continues to evolve with the construction of new state of the art facilities. The Autism-Blind residential cottages and a learning activity center will be ready when the students return to school in the fall. We will also be renovating one of our existing buildings and transforming it into a “small town community” for our early learning and pre-school outreach services. This project is scheduled for completion for the 2017-18 school year. 
Your support of our students, programs and mission allows us to continue to provide our students with the skills they need to become as successful, independent, contributing members of their communities as is possible. For this we continue to be most grateful.  
Sincerely,    
Michael J. Bina Ed.D. 
President

Photo and Caption: Tim Jones, Class of 2016 President receives his diploma from, Dr. Bina, MSB President

SPOTLIGHT ON Norene Hinson – Recreation Specialist  
After 41 years as a recreation specialist and director of the annual theatre productions at MSB, Norene Hinson took her final curtain call following the final performance of The Fantastic Five, an original production written by none other than Hinson herself, and performed by the students on May 2, 3 and 4, 2016.   
The musical was based on the princes from five popular fairytales, including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, The Little Mermaid and Once Upon a Mattress.  According to Hinson, the idea behind the story was to focus on the princes who never get the credit they deserve.  The audience at every performance was filled with students, parents, staff, alumni, family and friends who came out to bid farewell to one of the most loved and popular teachers at MSB for the last four decades.  
The once shy girl from Watertown, Massachusetts, arrived in Baltimore in 1975 to take a job as a recreation specialist at MSB, not knowing it would become her lifelong career.  She recalls fondly how she got involved with students who are blind and visually impaired at the age of 12.  “I volunteered with my church and part of that involved escorting youth who are blind to church on Sundays.  We would take them on a bus, sit with them in church and assist them during the Mass.  I became friends with the girls that I assisted and two of them eventually went to the same college (Emmanuel in MA) that I attended.  I loved being with them so much that I continued to volunteer with students who are visually impaired at Perkins School for the Blind while I was in college, but my true passion was art.”  
She received her Bachelor’s degree in art with a minor in music and education in 1973.  Her dream of becoming an art teacher was quickly realized when she landed a job at her high school alma mater, but it didn’t work out as planned and after two years, she decided to apply for a job as a recreation specialist at MSB. The rest is history, as the saying goes.  Hinson got the job, moved to Baltimore and never looked back.  
Over her 41 years at the school, she has worked with thousands of students teaching art, music and theatre arts. She started directing the musical productions her first year at the school and has put on 41 shows.  Through the years, she has adapted popular musical productions like The Lion King, The Sound of Music, The Jungle Book , Grease and Annie (to name a few) for students who are blind or visually impaired, so that all students could participate, even those with multiple disabilities. “If a student wanted to be in the play, I made sure they got a part.  The plays were based on popular movies or Broadway shows, but most of the script and dialogue was ad-libbed by the students, which means we didn’t have to pay copyright royalties.” This added to the fun for Hinson.  “Every show was different and I never knew what the students were going to do even though we rehearsed for months ahead of time.  If a student messed up, the audience always thought it was part of the show, like the year Tinker Bell jumped off of the stage, ran to the bathroom and then returned when she was finished.” But according to Hinson, that is what made it so interesting. “My job was never boring. Every day and every year was different, so it was like starting over. I loved the challenge of working with new students and coming up with innovative and exciting ideas.  MSB allowed me the opportunity to use my creative talents and accomplish things that I never thought I would have the opportunity to do.”   That included her secret desire to be on (not behind) the stage. Too shy to ever try out for a show, she says “directing and being behind the students on the MSB stage fulfilled that dream for me.”  
Her retirement plans include traveling cross country with her husband Ralph, spending time with her children and grandchildren, volunteering in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the local hospital and at a food pantry.   The theatre may be calling her name as well!   .

COMMUNITY SUPPORT  MSB Athletic Sports Complex Officially Opens With A Visit From #8
MSB officially dedicated the school’s new athletic sports complex with a ribbon cutting and opening ceremony on April 7. 
The rainy weather could not dampen the spirits of MSB students and staff as they celebrated the occasion with special guests, baseball’s Ironman and former Baltimore Oriole, Cal Ripken, Jr. and representatives from the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Lewis Contractors and Baltimore County.  These organizations, along with MSB, provided the funding for the project, which includes beep baseball and soccer fields, a basketball court and surrounding track.  
Students and staff showed their enthusiasm and MSB pride by wearing the school colors and waving their yellow and black pom-poms during the event. Several classes made baseball themed posters, and several MSB students participated in the ceremony as ribbon holders, gift bearers and singers A few had the opportunity to meet and talk to Mr. Ripken. The event included an audience sing along to the popular baseball tune “Take me out to the ballgame,” and the singing of the National Anthem, led by a group of talented MSB students. The highlight was Mr. Ripken’s speech in which he said he was most impressed with the MSB students’ school spirit.
The athletic complex will be used for Physical Education classes, athletic events, recreation and other activities, including MSB’s Camp Abilities this summer. The school recently hosted the Eastern Athletic Association of the Blind (EAAB) Track and Field Championships in May and athletes from seven schools for the blind were able to utilize the facilities.    
Photo and Caption: MSB students and staff cut the ribbon with Cal Ripken, Jr. and members of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation

MSB STAFF HONORS
Congratulations to Kathleen Johnston, MSB Residential Curriculum and Staff Development Specialist, for receiving the Inspiring Dreams, Changing Lives Award from the Maryland Association of Non-Public Special Education Facilities (MANSEF) for her work in the field of special education for the past 30 years. Johnston has been on the staff at MSB for the last 22 years, providing leadership and guidance to the staff and students. Her most important role has been as an advocate for students with special needs. Her “Back to Basics” program has guided staff and students using the most basic of routines to a bigger end – student independence.  She has helped lead the charge for student independence and the belief that “independence is a student’s right.” Johnston received her award at the MANSEF annual awards luncheon on June 6.  

Congratulations to MSB President, Dr. Michael Bina, who has been chosen to represent the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  Dr. Bina serves on the board of directors of the USABA and was chosen “because of his commitment to USABA’s mission and our athletes,” according to Mark Lucas, Executive Director.  Dr. Bina will be attending the games and the closing ceremonies this September.  

Photos and Captions:
MANSEF President Jodi King, Kathleen Johnston and Maureen Bisesi, MSB Residential & Related Services Director 

Thanks to Lewis Direct for sponsoring this edition of The Window
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The Maryland School for the Blind, 3501 Taylor Ave, Baltimore, MD 21236, 410-444-5000
www.marylandschoolfortheblind.org