Dear TSD Community, - Edl · zones, often watching endless video footage of our fellow Texans in such dire straights. We launched a social media

From the EditorWelcome, I hope you enjoy the stories portrayed in this Issue. We are always looking for interesting articles for our magazine. If you have a TSD story, community event or person that could be interviewed, let us know. Thank you.Want to find past issues or more information? Please visit us online: www.tsd.state.tx.us/lonestarE-mail: [email protected] South Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78704

Table of Contents3 ��Message from the Superintendent

4-5 �� Opening of School “Stronger Together”

6-7 �� Alvetta Vinson

8-9 �� Oliver and Bobbye Meek

10 �� Spelling Bee Competition

11 �� PIP Home Visit

12 ��Sons of the Republic of Texas

13 ��STEM Activities

14 �� Battle of the Books

14 �� Weather Safety by NOAA

15 ��Communication Skills Workshop

15 �� Home of the Rangers

www�tsd�state�tx�us/lonestar

VO LU M E 1 3 8 , N o . 1S U M M E R 2 0 1 7( I S S N 0 8 9 3 - 2 9 6 4 )

Lone StarEditor: Avonne Brooker-Rutowski

Art Director: Fernando MuñozContributors:

Claire Bugen, Karl Hummel, Diana Poeppelmeyer, Kristy White, Lauren Gau, Rachella Moore, Michelle Halvorsen,

Laura Wilson, Wess Smith and Chris Hamilton.

Special thanks to: Cynthia Foss, Diana Poeppelmeyer.

Photography:Fernando Muñoz, Steve Baldwin, TSD staff and students.

Subscription InfoA one year subscription to Lone Star, the quarterly journal of the Texas School for the Deaf, costs $10. Send check and mailing address information to:

Lone Star EditorTexas School for the Deaf1102 South Congress Ave

Austin, TX 78704

AdministrationClaire Bugen

Superintendent

Wilmonda McDevittDirector of Student Life

Russell O. WestDirector of Student Support Services

& Campus Operations

Justin WedelChief Financial Officer

Governing BoardEric Hogue,

President

Shawn P. Saladin, Vice President

Angie Wolf, Secretary

Sha CowanRyan Hutchison

Tyran LeeSusan Ridley

David Saunders

J O U R N A L O F T H E T E X A S S C H O O L F O R T H E D E A F

Printed by TSD Students at Ranger Presswww�rangerpress�org

Front CoverElementary School Spelling Bee Competition� Russell O� West with student Huey Z�

“Stronger Together” our motto for the 2017-2018 School Year.

Follow Us: #WeAreTSD

Facebook & Instagram: @texasschoolforthedeaf

Twitter: @TSD_Main

2 Lone Star • Summer 2017

Dear TSD Community,After a very high-spirited Welcome Back event we soon turned our thoughts and actions to Hurricane Harvey and the devastation it brought to our state. Naturally our Houston area students and families were prominent on our minds as we desperately tried to make contact with them and learn of their status. Many experienced catastrophic losses and many experienced less severe losses but everyone was impacted in one way or another.

TSD, like the rest of this nation, responded to this unprecedented devastation by being jolted out of our comfort zones, often watching endless video footage of our fellow Texans in such dire straights. We launched a social media campaign specifically for our families and raised upwards of twelve thousand dollars in less than a week. This is a reminder of something we sometimes fear might be extinct: that aspect of our country and our community that brims with compassion and doesn’t discriminate. Sadly, sometimes it takes a disaster to see each other’s humanity.

I don’t know how to express our appreciation for all of you who gave not only financially, but those who brought school supplies, clothing, toiletries and gift cards to support our students. I have to give a special shout out to our Austin-based Deaf owned businesses who rallied behind our cause and heeded our request for help.

I hope you all remember to pay it forward when you have the opportunity.

I also want to thank our students and parents who collected everything from pennies to dollars, and our Culinary Arts program that hosted a special barbecue lunch to raise funds for our families. Help also arrived from friends across the country including Gallaudet University and our Foundation supporters here at home. Little did I know how important our theme of Stronger Together would be.

We were finally able to get our buses into Houston after Labor Day and by now we are almost back to full enrollment of our kids from the impacted areas. In closing, I read a quote that I will share with you: “The endless array of gentleness in the way rescuers helped strangers was riveting. And no one cared whom these people voted for, the color of their skin or their sexual identity. No one thought or cared if they thought confederate statues should be removed or should remain. Instead they said, I’ve got you. You’re O.K. I’m going to pick you up now.” Hopefully we can capture some of that humanity to make all of us better at what we do.

Claire Bugen

Journal of the Texas School for the Deaf 3

By Claire Bugen

The week before Hurri-cane Harvey hit our fac-ulty and staff returned

to school and spirits were high at the 20th Annual Back to School Celebration. Our 2017-2018 theme—STRON-GER TOGETHER—set the stage for a series of fun events and important messaging with LEGOS EVERYWHERE.

We heard about changes in the Lego Landscape from our

Foundation and our PTSO. We had our Executive

Leadership Team demonstrating the importance of project based co-

operative learning, having a shared vision and team-

work in the building of a missile defense system to protect Ranger Na-tion from attack!

We had Lego movies, Lego songs, and ‘Min-

ute to Win It’ Lego games such as Leaning Tower of Legos,

Pop Goes the Lego and the Elephant March. Check out these photos of staff at play!!!

Amidst the fun and laugh-ter we connected the Lego bricks for year two of our Strategic Plan focusing on action plans for Com-munication, Academic and Personal Achieve-ment, Staff Support, Data-Driven Decision Making, Statewide Outreach for Maximum Impact, and Campus Facilities as well

as a review of upcoming events for this school year.

Our Instructional, Residential and Student Sup-port Leadership staff gave a great performance of “Everything is Awesome when you’re part of a Team.” They provided sage advice on welcoming differing viewpoints, expanding your circle be-yond “like-minded people,” recognize that lead-ers exist at all levels of the organization, creating a ripple effect of involvement, viewing mistakes as learning moments and sharing openly and au-thentically.

Welcome Back CelebrationMonday August 21, 2017 The cast of TSD’s Stronger Together Celebration.

4 Lone Star •Winter 2016 - Spring 2017

Our new social media gurus went live to introduce us to TSD’s new so-cial media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. #WeAreTSD is alive and well across the campus. We also welcomed our new staff with our personalized version of the Identity Game. A month later do you remember which of our new staff…

Once dreamed of being a rodeo clown…

Traveled 11,000 miles across America in a car with broken AC…

Slept through a hurricane that ripped down one wall of his home…

Always wears an apron while grilling…

Is distantly related to Mark Twain…

Used to jump rope competitively?

Our traditional finale did not disappoint with a performance of Stronger Together by the Ranger Rockettes (aka TSD interpreters) and a rousing visual display of black light confetti, glow lights and booming cannons.

Hopefully your workplaces are decorated with our Stronger Together posters courtesy of our master graphics designer and Ranger Press.

Pictures from our Instagram...

Follow us:Instagram: @texasschoolforthedeaf

Facebook: @texasschoolforthedeaf

Twitter: @TSD_Main

TSD’s own Ranger Rockettes steal the show!

TSD Volleyball and Football Athletes join the fun.

New Staff play the Identity Game. Transportation staff build their Lego Tower. Students welcoming TSD Staff.

Security in charge of Darth Vader and Storm trooper.

New TSDF Executive Director, Laura Duran Villa and President Jack Busenbark.


By Karl Hummel, High School Principal

It is my honor to spotlight Alvetta Vinson, our most recent graduate and our newest alumni of the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD). I do so because I feel that this individual is a humble person that reflects the Ranger spirit that we have come to expect from our students.

Alvetta started her journey at TSD when she first came to us as a 6th grader from T.H. Rodgers, a mainstream program in Houston. She shares that she had deaf teacher, Ms. Sugiura, who saw in her potential and encouraged her to be at TSD, a school where a signing environment was provided. Alvetta related that her 6th grade experience here was a blur but recalls that Ms. Kimball was her first TSD teacher and that she taught her English.

According to Alvetta, Ms. Kimball made a long-lasting

impact on her. Aside from the simple fact that Ms. Kimball was one of her favorite teachers at TSD, she also recognized Alvetta’s potential and pushed for and encouraged Alvetta’s promotion to a higher level of academic rigor. A move that Alvetta promptly declined because she felt that the honors kids just seemed way out of her league. Did that deter Ms. Kimball? According to Alvetta, Ms. Kimball’s persistent gentle nudging and sage wisdom in encouraging her to give the honors level class a try for a week won out. That was all that she needed to help her realize that she loved the class. She finally felt that she was in a class of peers where she was at the right level. Alvetta shares that if it wasn’t for Ms. Kimball, she would not be the person she is today.

Alvetta mentions that there are many other teachers who have helped her in her journey as a student. She shared accolades for Mr. Vita who is, according to her, an “impressive teacher.”

One of our 2017 GraduatesAlvetta Vinson

High School Principal Karl Hummel with Alvetta Vinson.


She said his teaching style is incredible and credits him for helping her “understand math.” She also praised Ms. Holaday for teaching Forensic Science where there were a lot of activities (staged murder/crime scenes) for her to solve.

However, the journey here at TSD wasn’t always smooth sailing. She said that she struggled with her identity. She shared that this mostly stemmed from the fact that she was the only African American student in her honors classes. This created new challenges for her as she felt she was being seen as a token student by others. Gradually this subsided when the students starting to see her as “Alvetta and not some ‘smart’ black kid.”

Alvetta was able to quickly cite some of her key accomplishments as a High School student:

• Participated in a strong academic program with honor classes.

• Took Dual Credit (high school and college credit classes) courses at Austin Community College.

• Participated in an strong athletic program.

• Contributed to a vibrant student life program where

there are many student organizations: Jr. NAD, Black Deaf Student Union, Hispanic Club, etc.

• Took a Yearbook class where she served and excelled as its editor-in-chief.

• Competed in the culinary bowl competition between several deaf schools and placed 2nd nationwide.

• Toured Thailand and visited several deaf schools there as part of her international studies course.

When quizzed about her commitments and what personal quote motivates her to stay on top of her academic studies while juggling her extracurricular activities, Alvetta emphasized that she lives by the following mantra - a quote written by Maya Angelou that inspires her:

“We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.”

Alvetta feels that this applies to her as she has faced various obstacles/challenges in life.

Alvetta looks forward to facing new hurdles as college beckons. She plans on attending Gallaudet University to major in social work. She wants to empower deaf students of color because it has been her experience that sometimes there is a prevalent atmosphere of hopelessness stemming from their own individual experiences. This may lead them to believe that they cannot achieve what they set out to do. She would like to change that perspective and build on her experience as an honor student of color and inspire others to believe that whatever defeats we may encounter, we must not ever be defeated.

Alvetta credits the Texas School for the Deaf for changing her, for molding her into the person she is today and most importantly - giving her the confidence to be a successful young woman. However, it is her we should credit for embodying the Ranger spirit of working hard and never giving up!

We wish you all the best and if your time with us is any indication, we know that you will do well in life. We ask that you continue to bring that Ranger spirit and spread it to the deaf youth of tomorrow.

Supt. Bugen awards Alvetta’s diploma.

Alvetta and fellow graduate Damon Rush take a selfie.

Dress like a local. Alvetta in Thailand as part of the international studies program.


By Diana Poeppelmeyer

Oliver always knew about TSD because his parents Herbert V. Meek and Edith T. (Jones) Meek were students there. His mother, Edith Jones, was in the

first yearbook TSD published. Oliver’s mom and dad would tell him stories about the school as they looked at the yearbook together. One interesting story Oliver’s mother shared was that she often got a ride to TSD from J. Frank Dobie. Mr. Dobie lived in Alice, TX and made many trips back and forth to Austin. He would stop in Beeville, Edith’s hometown, and pick her up and drop her off at TSD.

Oliver also had an early connection to TSD through the late Charles Horton. Horton used to travel to Denison once or twice a month to interpret at his family’s church and on these occasions, he would stay with the Meek’s family. The church in Sherman, TX had no regular interpreters even though there was a large Deaf community in the Sherman/Denison area.

Oliver lost his parents to a tragic accident on Feb 25th, 1968. His mother had become ill during church so his dad decided they would leave early and go home. They were both killed when their car collided with a train about three blocks from their house. Oliver had turned 16 on Feb 11th so he was only a sophomore in high school at that time. His grandmother didn’t

have the heart to require him to move to San Antonio, where she lived, so Oliver went to court and emancipated himself and lived in the family home until his graduation from high school.

Upon graduation from high school Oliver got accepted at the University of Texas and in order to pay his way through school he had to get a job. TSD provided him that opportunity. He was hired as a houseparent the fall of 1970 and started working on the south campus in cottage 566. He was hired by Bob Hoover, the Superintendent, and later he worked for Charles Horton on east campus. Charles Horton had become the interim Superintendent and lived in the home that is now the Toddler Learning Center.

Oliver also encouraged a schoolmate from Denison, Bobbye (Sickles) Meek to get a job at TSD. They knew each other in high school but they got to know each other better at TSD because they worked with the same age group of students and did a lot of activities and parties together. Then at a frat party at UT, they had their first kiss. Though they fell in love on south campus, they got married when living and working at the east campus. Oliver proposed at a dinner theatre one evening and Bobbye’s mother and church arranged a wedding for the following Saturday in Denison, TX. After the wedding they honeymooned one night in Dallas, and then had to be back to work at TSD the following Monday!

- An Interview With Oliver and Bobbye Meek.

“Our Connection toTexas School for the Deaf”

Oliver and Bobbye Meek.


Both Oliver and Bobbye have many fond memories of working at TSD. They recall the many times they walked with students to Barton Springs pool as there was no air conditioning in the cottages in their first year. They remember the great cooks in the cottages and the sense of family that developed among students and staff. They recall collecting and selling pecans from the trees on east campus and using the proceeds for cottage parties. They also remember building BBQ pits on east campus for everyone to enjoy cookouts.

When asked about favorite memories, Oliver said it was the time Mr. Spradley, another houseparent, decided that all the boys should build model airplanes. It took weeks to build the planes and when they were all finished, they took them out to the baseball field to fly. He said it was pure fun watching them assemble the planes from scratch and then see them airborne!

Bobbye’s favorite memory was when, in 1972, Ruth Seeger organized a road trip to take TSD swimmers to the Deaf Olympic tryouts in Morgantown, North Carolina. Bobbye and Brandy, another staff person, drove one station wagon and Ruth drove the other. Bobbye recalls it was a marvelous summer trip. Bobbye was also touched that she continued to receive graduation invitations from some of her students after she left TSD. She said her experience at TSD taught her what an impact you can make on students and what an impact they can make on you.

Reconnecting with TSD

When asked how he got reconnected to TSD, Oliver explained that he and Bobbye attend church with Hal and Jackie Caldcleugh. Hal is Kathryn Caldcleugh’s (a former TSD employee)

brother and he has been active on the TSD Foundation (TSDF) for a number of years. Bobbye worked on a church committee with Jackie and in conversation TSD came up and the connection was made. Hal approached the Meek’s about getting involved and they then went to their first TSDF Gala.

Oliver was happy to get involved with the TSDF because he was grateful to TSD for his parents’ education. He shared that his Dad became a successful businessman with the shoe repair skills he learned at TSD. In Denison, he owned and operated the Rialto Shoe Shop next door to the Rialto Theater and earned a good living serving the shoe repair needs of the community. His mother ran the front desk as she had great interpersonal skills and could interface and communicate with the public. One mainstay for the shop was retro fitting the boots (with zippers instead of laces) for all the airmen from nearby Perrin Air Force Base.* Oliver said his parents partnership and the opportunities for the deaf in Denison helped them create a thriving business.

Oliver hopes that with assistance from the Foundation, TSD can reach more deaf and hard of hearing children statewide through outreach. He is particularly interested in early intervention. Bobbye added that it is so inspiring to see what young children can learn with a good education.

TSD is grateful for the dedication of all the TSD Foundation Board members and know that though many are connected to TSD through family ties, others are involved out of the goodness of their hearts and the belief in the value and work of Texas School for the Deaf.

*Perrin Air Force Base was between Sher-man and Denison and is where Oliver and Bobbye’s high school classmate, Ches-ley Burnet (Sully) Sullenberger learned to fly. “Sully” Sullenberger “is a former US Airlines pilot, who successfully ditched his passenger plane on the Hudson River after it struck a flock of Canada geese, thereby saving all 155 people aboard.” https://www.biography.com/people/chesley-sullenberger-20851353

The “Yellow Jackets” flag football team with house parents Lois Spradley and Oliver Meek.

Students enyoing the cottage parties that Oliver and Bobbye Meek helped host.


By Kristy White, Elementary Teacher

PTSO president, Antonia Singleton, and Elementary teacher and Spelling Bee chairperson, Kristy White, worked together to host our first annual ASL Spelling Bee at the auditorium in April. We had 45 participants from Kindergarten to Fifth grade. The

spelling bee was divided by grade levels. Every student had a chance to spell words that we retrieved from the National Scripps Spelling Bee word list. Every student had two months to practice those words. They had to sign, spell, and then sign again the word presented. Our moderator was Russell West and we had three judges, Christina Sicoli, Heather Lightfoot and Oscar Ocuto. We also had volunteers. We would like to truly thank Rachel Harris and Heidi MacGlaughlin for their involvement. Every grade finished with a first, a second, and a third place winner. It was a wonderful way for the community to come together and support those students on stage. The participants celebrated after the competition with a pizza party and desserts donated by PTSO, parents and teachers. It was a very successful event.

The winners are as following:

Kindergarten: 1st: Huey Zhang 2nd: Estrella Hummel 3rd: Ja’Riyah Hammond

First Grade: 1st: Izaiah Flores 2nd: Ciara Svenningsen 3rd: Alyssa Winegard

Second Grade: 1st: Zyle Singleton 2nd: Malinda Shayman 3rd: Kiera Vincent-Rose

Third Grade: 1st: Branson Laird 2nd: Delilah Moore 3rd: Sean Winegard

Fourth Grade: 1st: Jeanique Davis 2nd: Zami Thompson 3rd: Celeste Yevich

Fifth Grade: 1st: Madelyn McGann 2nd: McKenna Brentham 3rd: Adan Sluyter-Coffey

Spelling Bee Competitionin Elementary

Russell O. West and Madelyn M. First Place 5th Grade.

Zyle S. First Place 2nd Grade. Izizah F. First Place 1st Grade.

Russell O. West and Ja’Ryiah H. 3rd Place Kindergarten.


By Lauren Gau, Parent Infant Teacher

Many people are aware that here at TSD we have a won-derful Parent Infant Program (PIP). Each morning during the school year, our Toddler Learning Center is abuzz with the play and learning of Deaf and hard-of-hearing tod-dlers ages 18 months to 3 years old. Our school program focuses on experience-based learning in a group setting and offers toddlers the opportunity to socialize with their peers and with teachers. Some might not realize, though, that the Toddler Learning Center is only one part of our Parent Infant Program! In addition to school services, we offer home visits to families of D/hh babies and toddlers birth to 36 months.

Every family enrolled in PIP has the option to receive home visits. Although children cannot attend classes at the Toddler Learning Center until they reach 18 months, home visits can begin from birth. Visits vary widely, and are dependent upon each family’s needs and goals. Some families might choose to focus on learning ASL during their visits, other families might want to work on estab-lishing routines for their child. The ultimate goal of home visits is to support caregivers as they learn how best to support and monitor their child’s development.

I have been fortunate enough to be the PIP’s home visit teacher for the past two years. In that time, I have had the privilege of walking alongside a wide variety of parents as they navigate the early months and years of their child’s life. I have worked with first-time parents, experienced parents, parents who had never met a deaf person until their son/daughter was born, and parents who have been involved in the Deaf community for years. That is one of the things I love most about my job - the needs of each family are unique, so every workday is different! Every day I am humbled by the opportunity to support families as they do the most difficult, most important, and most rewarding job of raising a child.

What is a “PIP”

home visit?


by Rachella Moore

Did you feel a BOOM, BOOM, BOOM on TSD campus back in late April? Former Texas Rangers came

to our campus and fired a couple of black powdered cannons several times! How cool is that?

On April 27th, 2017, the President of the Sons of the Republic of Texas, Michael Young, brought a group of former

Texas Rangers to TSD. One of them happened to be related to the first three hundred families

who moved to Texas from the East. Pretty impressive

lineage!

The purpose of the visit was to teach a group of 45 fourth and seventh graders about the Texas Rangers’ lifestyle and demonstrate the weaponry of that era. To share a little about how Rangers lived, they explained how they created candle wax from animal’s fat and kept themselves warm through long cold winter nights with deerskin and fur. The students were taken aback that even a very thick needle could not pierce through deerskin.

After sharing stories like those above, the visitors gave an artillery demonstration with two different black powdered cannons. That was, obviously, the best part of the entire presentation for the students. Four TSD teachers participated in the artillery exhibition with close supervision by the former Texas Rangers members. Teachers and students enjoyed the demonstration very much and showed a lot of gratitude toward Sons of the Republic and the Former Texas Rangers Association for making the event possible.

Special recognition goes to Michael Young for making this possible for TSD students.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Steve Baldwin

President of the Sons of the Republic of Texas Visits!

Top: Former Texas Rangers came to our campus and fired a couple of black powdered cannons several times!

Right: President of the Sons of the Republic of Texas, Michael Young, brought a group of former Texas Rangers to TSD.

Bottom: A Five Dollars bill from the Republic of Texas featuring Deaf Smith (1840)


By Michelle Halvorsen

Eleven high school students from across Texas spent June 18th-23rd immersed in Science, Technology, Engineering and

Math (STEM) activities at Texas School for the Deaf. The 4th annual DeafTEC Summer STEM Camp allowed students the opportunity to explore the areas of drones, rockets, engineering design, aeronautics and more. Community partners from the University of Texas, Austin; University of Texas, Tyler; and Texas A&M University all helped provide students with engaging, hands-on experiences throughout the week.

During the first day of camp, students spent time with UT Tyler’s Mobile Engineering lab, led by Tim Kennedy. Students were able to experiment with drones; create small rockets and test their flight paths; write with a 3-D pen and compete

in an engineering design challenge to create a ramp system to get a marble from the top of a peg board to the floor the most slowly.

The second day of camp was spent at Texas A&M University. Students received tours of

various engineering and design labs across the campus and learned about the variety of engineering degrees offered at Texas A&M. The students also competed in an engineering design challenge involving ropes, two plastic containers, and popcorn kernels. The team had to work

together using their materials to overturn one container full of kernels into an empty container.

On the third day of camp, students visited Austin’s Stunt Ranch and learned about the science behind stunts in movies. The students participated in fun activities such as a ropes course and an obstacle course. Then students viewed various demonstrations explaining the science behind stunts in movies. The highlights of the day were jumping off a tall platform onto a large cushion and viewing the pyrotechnics of a van being “blown up.”

Students visited Houston’s NASA museum and Downtown Aquarium on the fourth day of camp. Students learned about the history of Johnson Space Center; viewed an airplane that transported shuttles across the country; learned about various jobs in the aeronautics industry; and viewed a working NASA lab. At the aquarium, students learned about the great diversity of aquatic life in Texas and around the globe.

On the final day of camp, students visited the University of Texas, Austin to learn about solar energy. Students heard from researchers who work on solar panels and created their own small solar cell in the lab. Students also learned about the variety of careers in the booming alternative energy field.

Special thanks to all of our community partners, camp coordinator Michelle Halvorsen, teacher Sean Moore, and camp assistant Rachella Moore for all their hard work in helping make the fourth annual DeafTEC Summer Camp a huge success. The DeafTEC Summer STEM camp will be offered again in 2018, so watch for information about how to apply!

High School Students Spend Week Immersed in STEM Activities

Students competed in an engineering design challenge involving ropes, two plastic containers, and popcorn kernels at Texas A&M.

Students were able to experiment with drones; create small rockets and test their flight paths.Students at UT Tyler’s Mobile Engineering lab.


By Laura Wilson, Middle School Teacher

Throughout the school year, the middle school department had a total of thirteen students compete in Gallaudet University Youth Program’s

Battle of the Books. The thirteen students represented three teams. Each read three books and competed with other Deaf schools or programs across the country. Students developed literacy skills, but even more so, they exhibited critical thinking and text analysis in a fun, collaborative, and competitive environment!

Three TSD Middle School Rangers battled their way to the National Battle of the Books Competition at Gallaudet University from April 22-25, 2017. Students Trey John-son, Jadella Mitchem, and Zara Thompson answered com-prehension questions, thought critically, signed elabora-

tive essay responses, read a total of seven novels, and rep-resented shining Ranger Pride in Washington DC! While in DC, they competed with seven other schools who made it to the National competi-tion, and they re-ceived fourth place. Eighth grader, Zara Thompson, was also recognized as being the “All Star Player” for TSD.

By Rachella Moore

Have you ever wondered how you would prepare yourself in a weather-related emergency situation as a Deaf/ hard of

hearing/ hearing loss individual?

On Wednesday, April 5th, 2017, National Weather Service (NWS) Austin/San Antonio and multiple partners across the Austin area teamed up to host a weather safety town hall for the Deaf/ hard of hearing/ hearing loss communities in the Greater Austin Area. The audience was made up of roughly 60-70 Deaf or hard of hearing individuals from the Austin Deaf Senior Citi-zen Group and the Texas School for the Deaf.

The town hall consisted of Austin area partners including broad-cast partner KXAN-TV, the Austin Flood Early Warning Sys-tem (FEWS) group, Travis County Emergency Management, Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) and Travis County EMS. The town hall was organized jointly by NWS Austin/San Antonio meteorologist Trevor Boucher, and Rach-ella Moore from the Texas School for the Deaf. Topics included weather notifications accessible to the Deaf, captioning services on television broadcasts, and new services including Text-to-911 to be launched soon in the Austin area.

In February the Texas School for the Deaf joined Gallaudet University (the national University for the Deaf ) in Washing-ton D.C. as Weather-Ready Nation Ambassadors. This event is the first of many events to come as the NWS Austin/San An-tonio office has begun a multi-year partnership with the Texas School for the Deaf. Projects in the works include injecting Weather-Ready Nation concepts in their primary school curriculum, pro-viding SKYWARN Spot-ter Training geared for the hearing loss population, and even working towards making the Texas School for the Deaf a Storm Ready school.

Trevor Boucher- NOAA National Oceanic Atmospheric Representative

Battle of the BooksWeather Safety

Our students received fourth place at the National Battle of the Books Competition, presented by President of Gaulladet University Roberta J. Cordano and Director of Youth programs, Jesse Saunders.

R-L: TSD 2016-2017 Buff Battle of the Books Team: Trey

Johnson, Zara Thompson, Jadella Mitchem and teacher

Laura Smith (front).


Our Girls’ Softball Team Nailed It AGAIN!

By Wess Smith

How do you explain the complex and intricate components of an engine without diminishing

from the beauty and majesty of the functionality and ultimate power of the beast? My guess is that you look at the Communication Skills Workshops (CSW).

Texas School for the Deaf has the honor of hosting the highly acclaimed statewide training that is funded by support of a federal grant from the Educational Service Center at Region XI and is partnered with various state and local entities proving that we are stronger together.

This year, as almost 600 people descended on the TSD campus, CSW purred like a high end roadster from the past; at least one from 29 years ago. The work that goes in to having a seamless workshop is often overlooked but ultimately appreciated by the many participants who attend such an intensive training.

On Saturday of each week interns from various college and university programs arrive at TSD ready to set the stage for the magic that will occur. With attitudes that are positive and energy

that if bottled would be priceless, they begin to move around furniture, set up registration tables, count chairs, clean dorms, connect computers/projectors and copy materials that the Ringmasters and entertainers bring. The comparison to a circus, with all three rings happening at the same time, is apropos.

Participants had the opportunity to be immersed in a signing environment. They got to experience the TSD campus as residents and attended classes throughout the high school. When they were not in classes they were in our gyms, auditorium and cafeteria where they continued to be wowed and entertained by the best of the best.

60 hours of training that included (but wasn’t limited to) Health Education, Global Communications, Scientific

Terminology, Anti-Bias in Deaf Education and of course Expressive, Receptive and Sight Interpretation. As Metonyms and Mouth Morphemes became second nature to these statewide participants, so did Visual Vernacular, Teen Slang, Math and Numbers. Classes were long and hard but the laughter, joy and tears that continued long into the evening activities proved that these participants and spectators were in it to win it.

As we close the doors to the big top we see hundreds of educators of the deaf leave our campus with more knowledge, skills and tools that will benefit children who are deaf for years to come. The clown car that brought the masses is packed a little tighter as it travels home filled with new ideas, more education and reinvigorated passengers.

H O M E O F T H E

Communication Skills Workshop

By Chris Hamilton, Athletic Director

It is my greatest pleasure to announce that National Deaf Interscholastic Deaf Association

has again picked our Texas Lady Rangers softball team as Team of the Year! It is our third consecutive year that our TSD softball team has been recognized as ToY among Deaf schools.

Check out the NDIAA website (www.NDIAA.us) for more information.

Congratulations to the TSD Lady Rangers softball team for a stellar season!

Game Night.

Texas School for the Deaf Lady Rangers.

Classroom.


Documents

Dear TSD Community, - Edl · zones, often watching endless video footage of our fellow Texans in such dire straights. We launched a social media