The Maryland Regional Braille Challenge is an annual event usually held at the end of January or the beginning of February at Maryland School for the Blind and this year we had a student place 1st at the national competition!

Challenge participants pose for a group photo

What is the Braille Challenge you ask?  To start, it’s a program of the Braille Institute. Check out their description – “The Braille Challenge® is an academic competition unlike any other. This two-stage contest is designed to motivate blind students to emphasize their study of braille, while rewarding their success with fun-filled, but challenging, local and national events. Any visually impaired student who reads braille is eligible to participate in the preliminary Challenge contest events, which were held from January through the end of March throughout the U.S. and Canada. Contests are proctored by volunteer teachers for visually impaired students and scored locally according to our national guidelines by volunteer transcribers. Each contestant receives a brailled certificate of appreciation and general feedback on their performance, which will be sent to families and educators in May.”

At the Maryland Braille Challenge parents attend workshops that can range in a variety of topics while students are testing. The 2018 Braille Challenge will focus on workshops for family members regarding the integration of Braille to complete daily living skills. After the challenge students participate in a variety of fun activities which in the past have included face painting, making Braille jewelry, and interacting with a professional balloon artist. There is also an opportunity to meet with vendors, the MSB Bee, and take advantage of a braille book exchange. Each student who participated in the 2017 Challenge received prizes and a medal that had the words “Maryland Braille Challenge” in Braille.

The 2017 Maryland Regional Braille Challenge also started a new program for those students who are just learning Braille and are elementary aged. It’s a non-competitive program for students to practice their Braille skills by participating in a variety of fun activities. This program will return for 2018.

Come be a part of the Braille Challenge community! It’s an exciting day of networking, hard work and fun! We hope to see you at the 2018 Maryland Regional Braille Challenge. Please contact Jackie Otwell jacquelineo@mdschblind.org with any questions you may have.

 

To learn more about the Braille Challenge check out the link: http://www.brailleinstitute.org/braille-challenge-homepage.html

Participants talk with Tim: MSB’s adaptive gym teacher.

Superintendent Rob Hair presents prizes and medals.

Does your child love ANIMALS? How about ROBOTS? What about the ENVIRONMENT? If any of these are true, or even if not, consider The Maryland School for the Blind Outreach Services’ First LEGO League Summer Course.

Ignite interest in robotics, STEM, and our relationship with animals! Watch the thrill of learning through hands-on discovery! See your child develop their teamwork and problem solving skills and learn to think creatively!

 

 

First LEGO League immerses kids in real-world science and technology challenges. Teams of kids are challenged to design their own solution to current scientific problems, and then build LEGO robots that perform autonomous “missions.” In the process, they develop valuable life skills and discover exciting career possibilities in science and technology. They even discover that they, too, can make positive contributions to society.

This summer program will provide step-by-step introduction to LEGO robotics; all skill levels are welcomed and NEEDED, technical or non-technical! There will also be trips to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in D.C. and the NASA Goddard Center. 

First LEGO League’s positive impact on participants is gratifying and well documented. Over 87% of participants are more interested in doing well in school, and 88% have more interest in attending college.

This year’s theme is “Animal Allies” where participants will identify a problem when people and animals interact, design a solution that makes the interaction better for animals, people, or both, and share your problem and solution with others, all for ANIMAL ALLIEISM! Participants will learn to think of people and animals as allies in the quest to make life better for everyone. Sometimes people help animals and sometimes animals help people. The Project mission this season is to make our interactions with animals better – hopefully better for all of us.

Animal Allies will introduce opportunities to participate in First LEGO League throughout the following school year and participants will get a LEGO souvenir to take home with them.

The Maryland School for the Blind is the first blind school to compete in First LEGO League and is working in partnership with LEGO to create a program using the tactile nature of LEGOs to aid visually impaired youth.

Fill out your REGISTRATION FORM now and send it to KerryM@mdschblind.org

For more information please view the following videos, check out the FLL Website, or reach out to us at 410-444-5000 ext: 1249.

Swing like a monkey, fly like a bat, or hop like a frog into the FIRST LEGO League Jr. CREATURE CRAZE season. Whether in zoos, on the farm, or in your own back yard, we all encounter animals in our lives.  In the 2016-2017 CREATURE CRAZE Challenge, over 40,000 children will dive into the wonders of the animal kingdom.  What will you learn about our furry, feathered, and finned friends?

This summer the Maryland School for the Blind Outreach Services Department is introducing First LEGO League Junior, a robotics program designed to help elementary aged students discover the excitement of STEM and teamwork while inspiring them through a brand they know and love – LEGO!

This year’s theme is “Creature Craze” where children will learn about Maryland School for the Blind’s mascot, the bee; including its habitat and role in the world. This will include a trip to a beekeeper and a sampling of tasty bee snacks.

This course will tap into your child’s creativity and provide an introduction to programming including moving motors and simple machines! Students will also create a poster and presentation showing what they learned, that parents are invited to view on July 7^th.

Creature Craze will introduce opportunities to participate in First LEGO League Jr. throughout the following school year and participants will get a LEGO souvenir to take home with them.

The Maryland School for the Blind is the first blind school to compete in First LEGO League and is working in partnership with LEGO to create a program using the tactile nature of LEGOs to aid visually impaired youth.

Fill out your REGISTRATION FORM now and send it to KerryM@mdschblind.org

For more information please view the following video, check out the FLL Jr. Website, or reach out to us at 410-444-5000 ext: 1249.