From the desk of our Board President, Francisco Chavez:

2021 is going at full speed.  Board members have been giving of their time and talent to fulfill our mission of serving the students, staff, and community at GMS. Great ideas have been shared and implemented, like our first ever virtual-hybrid event!  And our beautiful greeting cards, with artwork created by the students and a braille message by GMS staff.  All of these efforts to connect GMS to the community wouldn’t be possible without generous donations and support.  Thank you!

As we go into the fall, we’ll continue to work hard to provide the students at GMS with as full and fun a school experience as possible. I don’t know how to convey that the students deserve a typical, fun and exciting school experience like any other student.  Stay tuned for more exciting events and ways to get involved. Despite the current pandemic, we want to stay connected.

Foundation Aid

During the difficult 2020-2021 school year the Governor Morehead Foundation supported the students and faculty of GMS in several ways. For students living in rural areas with limited access to the internet, the foundation provided funds for Hotspots to enable them to log on and attend their virtual classes. With the return to campus this year, funds were authorized for three expenditures so far.  The first was the purchase of a dual recumbent bicycle so that students unable to ride a typical bicycle can now enjoy the pleasure of a bike ride. In addition, the foundation approved funding for airfare for a student and a chaperone to attend Space Camp for the visually impaired in Huntsville, AL.  The foundation also supported the purchase of small prizes for students who exhibit exceptional positive behavior.  The foundation board has two other school projects currently under consideration:  a fall festival and attendance at one, or possibly two, Model UN conferences on college campuses.  More to come on those!

Faculty/Staff Member Spotlight

Ms. Bacon is Retiring! Barbria Bacon, who joined the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in 2007 as School Director, is retiring this Fall. Mrs. Bacon has thirty-plus years of working with students who have hearing or vision impairments. She has worked at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind and the Maryland School for the Blind. Ms. Bacon has shared her love for education with the students of GMS and will be missed. She plans to relocate to Florida and join family there. Happy Retirement, Ms. Bacon!

School News

School is Open!  The Governor Morehead School is preparing for a smooth 2021–2022 year. Faculty and staff have been preparing for five days of in-person weekly instruction, following critical health and safety guidelines.  Registration for the academic year was held Sunday, August 15 and classes began August 16.

The Governor Morehead School has won a GO (Go Outside) Grant of $54,252 from the NC Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council. The grant will support projects including the creation of Tactile Maps to facilitate student movement on campus, upgrading of the GMS Greenhouse Project, creation of a Sensory Garden, and several additional projects that will take students outdoors.

Graduation

On June 4, 2021, Shawn Tucker graduated from the Governor Morehead School with a ceremony outside at his house with his beautiful family.  The ceremony was traditional in some ways, with Mr. Hutcheson as guest speaker presenting Shawn his diploma and his medallion from the Governor Morehead Foundation, the ringing of the school bell, and the Irish blessing.  Congratulations, Shawn!  We are proud of you!

Fundraising

Donating