Updated 02/29/2024

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*For Spanish translation, click on the language option button (American Flag or Flag of Spain) in the lower left corner of our website. You can find the flag on all pages.

* Para la traducción al español, haga clic en el botón de opción de idioma (Bandera estadounidense o Bandera de España) en la esquina inferior izquierda de nuestro sitio web. Esto se puede encontrar en todas las páginas 

A poster with a group of people in front of a blue background.
A poster with a group of people in front of a blue background. Please complete the Maryland Special education Parent Involvement Survey. Your opinion matters! Available February 12 to May 24. Start now. www.mdparentsurvey.com

2023-2024 School Year Photo Albums:

Featuring: Jr. Choir at Oak Crest

Mar. 5th

  • Senior Portrait Retakes – 9am at West Dorm

Mar. 7th

  • Senior Breakfast – 9am at Russo
  • Goalball match VS Virginia School for the Blind – AWAY

Mar. 15th

Mar. 19th

  • Family Visitation Day!

RSVP: forms.gle/MSB

Mar. 20th

Mar. 29th – April 1st

  • School Closed

Announcements:

SAVE THE DATE – The MSB Spring Concert is May 8, 2024
The Music Therapy Festival is May 6-9, 2024, More info to come!

UPCOMING MSB EVENTS:

Outreach and Statewide Services:

Registration Now Open for MSB Outreach Summer Programs!

Moment of Outreach Videos

Mar. 2 – Envision at Great Mills High School 21130 Great Mills Road, Great Mills, MD 20634, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Envision flyer.

  • Practice independent living skills
  • Learn orientation and mobility techniques to promote safe travel
  • Play Goal Ball and other blind sports
  • Gain information about community and financial resources

Mar. 5 – MSB Parent Transition Support Group, from 6-7:30pm, For parents of middle and high school students
This is the rescheduled meeting from January that was cancelled due to inclement weather. It will again be offered in a hybrid format, with in-person and virtual options.  
This session we will be joined by Muttasim Fadl with the Maryland Division of Rehabilitation (DORS) Office for Blindness and Vision Services to provide information about their services and how to access them. Dareen Barrios with the MSB Career Education Department will join us to provide information about the MSB Career Education Program. Kelly Gealy, MSB Transition Specialist, will also be present to answer your transition questions.  
In addition to being a wonderful source of information, this group is a great way to meet other parents who are experiencing the joys and challenges of the transition journey, gain support, and get to know the MSB transition team.

Mar. 14 – Phone and Internet Safety for Parents, 6-7:30 pm, For ALL Parents
We will be hosting Joseph Dugan, Internet Safety Specialist with the Maryland State Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) to present on the topic of Phone and Internet Safety for Parents. This presentation will provide information about the risks to youth using the internet and ways to help keep them safe. This presentation will be offered in a hybrid format, so parents may participate in-person or virtually.
Spanish version flyer.

Sign up TODAY!

Year at a Glance Registration

Be sure to check out the monthly educational and professional events for students, staff and parents on the

MSB TVI Portal Calendar

Maryland TVI Portal.  There are many wonderful opportunities for all! 

Additional Events:

Funding Available for Vanderbilt University’s Visual Disabilities Program

For informational purposes only:

People choose to become teachers of students with visual impairments (TVIs) from many different walks of life and often as career changers. Through a funded federal grant, Vanderbilt University has substantial scholarship options for individuals seeking a TVI/vision endorsement and a master’s degree and for individuals seeking initial teaching licensure as a TVI.  

Learn more about Vanderbilt University’s Visual Disabilities Program and funding options on the university’s website, by attending an informational session held at 5 pm on February 22nd or March 20th, or by reaching out to head of the program Dr. Rachel Schles (rachel.schles@vanderbilt.edu) or admissions coordinator Mrs. Kelly Limina (kelly.limina@vanderbilt.edu).

BISM’s Preparing for College Life Program (STAR)

Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) is excited to run a week long program regarding college life for students. This residential program will provide participants with multiple college tours, conversations with disability service counselors, and discussions surrounding college life and accommodations. Students will reside in dorm style housing while experiencing a myriad of colleges across the state. 
Program Dates: Friday, June 14 to Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Ages Eligible: 14 to 21
Location: Baltimore, MD

Interest Form

With any questions, reach out to Juhi Narula at 410-737-2642 or jnarula@bism.org.

BISM’s Gold STAR 2024 Summer Program

Have you ever wanted to gain experience in the working world before formally entering it? Or wished you could get paid for learning instead of the other way around? 
Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) is excited to introduce the Gold STAR Program! This fully residential program will provide participants with a 4-week Work Based Learning Experience. Students will reside in apartment style housing with their peers while working in a professional environment and receiving nonvisual skills training from competent Blind professionals. 

This work experience will provide you as a student with a first-hand perspective of professional environments and the responsibilities that come with a career. Additionally, the nonvisual skills (i.e. Braille, Technology, Orientation & Mobility, Independent Living, and Job Readiness) will help you learn how to become independent while maintaining a job. 

Applications should be submitted by April 1, 2024

Student Application
Staff Application

Reach out to Juhi Narula at 410-737-2642 or jnarula@bism.org with any questions or concer

Careers & Canine Connections – Free Week Long Program

This week of excitement, learning, and personal growth is an innovative  collaborative effort between Guide Dogs for the Blind and APH Career Connect, a program of the APH Connect Center. Get ready for a weeklong exhilarating deep dive into career exploration and how a Guide Dog fits into your future employment. Mark your calendars for August 2024 and discover a variety of career options you may not have considered, the value of networking for both work and greater independence, compare mobility possibilities for travel to and from work and while on the job, vocational and employment resources and mentorship, and unique hands-on experiences with dogs. There will be ample time to connect with one another and make new friends, and to enjoy the beautiful Pacific Northwest!

August 9-14, 2024, for transition-age young adults ages 18-24 who are blind or have low vision. The program will be held at the Hull Foundation & Learning Center in Sandy Oregon which is seven miles from our Oregon Guide Dogs for the Blind’s training campus. Please visit our Careers & Canine Connections page where you will find our 2024 Participant Application form! The deadline to submit your application is April 1, 2024, and we recommend you apply early as summer programs are popular and fill up quickly.

Jane Flower MSG | Youth Outreach Specialist
jflower@guidedogs.com |  415.492.4176