OWL OBSERVER
Issue 13
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OWL OBSERVER
March, 2021
Spring into Service
The Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth
It is hard to believe that we were shuttering our in-person programming about a year ago due to the growing COVID-19 pandemic. Though the pandemic has not ended, we are making strides in returning to a state of normalcy. Beginning in the fall of 2021, we are expecting to be back to normal, pending any significant changes. During the past year, our staff and I have been very proud of the resiliency, safety precautions taken, and the effort everyone has made to keep one another safe. Our students have successfully attended classes for the last eight months under unique and challenging circumstances when compared to the year before.
Academy Announcements
EDITION 13
On May 1, 2021, we will be hosting our graduation. This graduation will be a point of great pride in honoring those that are graduating. Additionally, we look forward to having our students that graduated last year participate with us, too. More details about graduation will follow in the coming weeks.
KSU Home Football Game: Sat. March 20th 1 pm (Fifth Third Bank Stadium) Homecoming Spring All-Majors Virtual Job Fair: Tues. March 23rd 11am AILSG Graduation: Saturday, May 1 – 10 am KSU Convocation Center
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March is national Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. If you would like to know more about it, check out the Academy Podcast “Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover,” featuring our student Noelle Ford.
Academy Podcast
We are happy to announce that Spring 2021 Graduation will be held in the KSU Convocation Center on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 10 am. Due to Covid restrictions, students will be limited to four guests and there will not be a scheduled practice. If you have not already ordered your cap and gown, you can order those online through the KSU bookstore. Don’t forget to send your headshot in for the graduation program. You can email those to Celia Scragg. We are still finalizing other details regarding the ceremony so look for more information to come. Bookstore
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February Students of the Month Februar y 2021 ALCD Student of the Month: Jackson Hurst
What do you like to do in your free time? I like to attend and participate in state Department of Transportation (DOT) public meetings. For both Georgia and Florida! What is your favorite class or internship? Why? I like Introduction to Cartography because I get hands-on experiences with ArcGIS What are your greatest talents? My greatest talent is being able to memorize information that is important to me What is a fun fact about you? This is my second time getting Student of the Month. How does it feel to be student of the month? I feel just as proud as the last time! What advice would you give a peer to be student of the month? The reason I got student of the month twice is because I don’t do anything to show off. I do the right thing and stay out of trouble.
Our year 1 student’s getting ready for Professional Communications.
Part of our Podcast crew enjoying a St. Patrick’s Day planning session!
We have worked hard to try and keep as many things in person during this crazy school year. Since the inclusive and social components are such a critical part of the program, we have tried to maintain those elements as safely and frequently as possible. Check out a couple of them!
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Spring Has Sprung With the weather getting warmer, students are getting out on the campus green to get fresh air and participate in some fun activities. We are fortunate to have such a great space to socialize, exercise, and hang out. We are hoping to do a lot more of these activities with the arrival of spring. Some of the activities include corn hole, football, frisbee, whiffle ball, and much more. Check your KSU email daily for notifications. In most cases, these days will have a short notice since it is dependent on the weather.
Covid Vaccine Update Governor Kemp announced on Thursday, February 25, that the state of Georgia would be adding additional criteria for vaccine distribution, effective Monday, March 8. The additional criteria include adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers and parents of children with complex medical conditions. Students in the AILSG program do now qualify for the vaccine and have access to receive the vaccine on campus through student health services. You do need an appointment to receive the vaccine on campus. Please visit the COVID-19 Vaccination webpage to review more information about who is eligible and how these criteria are defined. KSU Coronavirus Information and Updates: https://coronavirus.kennesaw.edu/
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Rise Against Hunger The Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth was pleased to host our second annual meal packaging event with the global nonprofit, Rise Against Hunger. They provide a spectrum of services and programs to villages, communities, and nations around the world geared towards ending world hunger by 2030. While Covid did force us to move to a different location in the KSU Center, we were still able to provide the same level of support as last year. We value service learning as part of the curriculum and our student volunteers, interns, mentors, and staff members were a huge reason this event was successful. Rise Against Hunger partners brought food, packaging supplies, etc. to KSU where our students worked to label bags, weigh and package meals being sent around the world. We were able to package over 10,000 meals! If you would like to support Rise Against Hunger, check out their website for ways to donate and volunteer. https://www.riseagainsthunger.org/.
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nduchac@kennesaw.edu nswiersk@kennesaw.edu
cscragg@kennesaw.edu
ssever@kennesaw.edu
jjames48@kennesaw.edu
Crystal Bohannon Life Skills Educator cbohann4@kennesaw.edu
swyatt22@kennesaw.edu
jsorenso@kennesaw.edu skent12@kennesaw.edu
GVRA Information We are not a part of the GVRA organization and do not have information related to the release of funds or processing of benefits. We suggest reaching out to your local office for more information.
Atlanta: 404-206-6000 Norcross: 770-729 -5400 Athens: 706-354-3900 Marietta: 770-528-3435 Augusta: 706-650-5600
College Park: 770-909-2838 Canton: 770-720-3570 Douglasville: 770-489-3018 Tucker: 770-414-2602 Americas (Columbus): 706-649-7400