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1 Principal Serrano

1&2 The Fall of 2011 in

Review

2 Samara Jansen

3 Language For All!

4&5 2011 DeafDigest Sports

Recognition

6 IBM Technology/Stem Camp

7 Career Decisions & Planning

8 Shelley OishiTH

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Ranger Press

Texas School for the Deaf

FROM THE DESK OF PRINCIPAL SERRANOI hope you’re having a good 2012 so far. We recently completed our SAT 10 testing and we still have more testing coming up. Please refer to our testing calendar for future testing dates. As you know, we are now into our first year of the new state assessment program called STAAR which stands for State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness. However, we still have a majority of High School students who will continue to take TAKS and only the current 9th graders will be taking STAAR End-Of-Course exams. Eventually, TAKS will be phased out by 2015.

As you might or might not know, it is with regret to announce the departure of our High School Administrative Assistant, Claire Champagne as she is now a full-time interpreter at TSD. We are appreciative and grateful for her

hard work and dedication during her tenure. We are working on

finding a permanent replacement and it’s my goal to have the position filled by the end of February. I will share more details as soon as we hire a new administrative assistant. In the meantime, if you wish to contact High School Office via email, please use HSOffice@tsd.state.tx.us.

Karen Salvo, Administrative Assistant for Office of Director of Education will cover the High School Office on a part-time basis until we find a permanent replacement.

The annual ARD season is now in full swing and this year, we are trying something new. As a part of our goal to empower our students to become more involved in their ARD meetings, we are now requiring all High School students to develop PowerPoint presentations focusing on their transition plan. Their presentations will include their goals, their interests, their strengths, areas of needs and other transition-related items, and by doing this will set a positive and meaningful tone for the ARD meetings. It has been very successful so far and it’s inspiring to see our students take charge of their future.

The Fall of 2011 in Review.Wow! Another school semester gone in a blink. As fast as it may have been, it certainly doesn't mean that it was without accomplishments! We dubbed the 2011-2012 School Year the year our students would "Be The Difference." A theme derived from Mohandas Ghandi who once said "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." We've stressed this in various ways and with various people through-out the fall semester and will continue to do so through assemblies, HS TV, advisory group, teacher/staff reminders, 1 on 1 meetings, staff meetings, staffings, and more. (Continue Page 3)

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documents (Report Cards, Progress notes, IEPs), and

weekly contacts. I interpret English-Spanish-English at meetings, graduations, ceremonies, presentations,

etc. I am the liaison and first point of contact between Teachers, Nurses, Counselors/Social Workers, Residential Staff and Hispanic families. When I started this job, I had very limited knowledge of ASL, but I am happy to say that I have improved in this area; although I still need to learn a lot more : ).

My family moved from Mexico about 10 yrs ago. We lived in Illinios for 6-7 years and then moved to Austin. Why Austin? Well, because of TSD. I have a deaf son who is 15 years old and TSD is the best school for him, so we decided to have him join TSD, and here we are! We also have a 6 year-old son and both my boys are my life.

Samara Jansen

Hispanic Family LiaisonEnlace de Familias Hispanas

Some of the DIFFERENCE we saw this year are highlighted below for your benefit:        - A donation from Sorenson VRS allowed us to purchase "Be The Difference" shirts for all students/staff.

       - Advisory Groups were set up to allow our students to develop better relationship with their teachers and allow our students to become better empowered.

       - A record of nearly consecutive 3 weeks of no student placement in ISS.

       - A/B incident report numbers down from last year's 123 A/B incident reports to 59 A/B incident reports- a staggering 50% reduction!

       - New iPad initiative where teachers are given the opportunity

to use the newest and hottest technology in the classroom.       - HS TV now has it's own channel where student and school relevant information are being posted for the benefit of the HS department.

As you know the year isn't over yet and we invite your help as we've challenged our students to make a difference during the 2nd semester and below are some of the challenges we've made to the student body:

       - A challenge was issued to the students to be the difference and get on the Gold Honor Roll. As a result, we had more Gold Honor Roll recipient for the most recent Honor Roll assembly than we had at the previous 6 week grading period.

       - A challenge was issued to the students to be the difference and reduce last year's spring semester 195 A/B incident reports by half.

We look forward to a year of accomplishments all because students and school community members alike are stepping up and making a difference one step at a time.

Mr. Karlin Hummel Texas School for the DeafHigh School Assistant PrincipalKarl.Hummel@tsd.state.tx.usVP/Phone #: 866•948•1793

My name is Samara Jansen and I am the Hispanic Family Liaison at Texas School for the Deaf. I have been working for TSD for almost 4 years. My job is to help hispanic families with various types of support, such as translating all school information,

! [3]!

The Foundation’s goal of raising $5,000,000 over the life of the campaign needs your support! Please friend us on FaceBook (http://www.facebook.com/LanguageForAll), check out our Language for All tab at the TSD Foundation website (www.tsdfoundation.org), make a donation or get involved! For more information please contact Anne Adams, TSDF Executive Director, 512-462-5750 or anne@tsdfoundation.org.

Texas School for the Deaf FoundationP O Box 42727 Austin, TX 78704 (512) 462-5750 | info@tsdfoundation.org TSDF is a 501(c}(3) tax-exempt nonprofit corporation

January 2009

Language for All! What’s that? Maybe you’ve seen the posters, the banner or even the flag hanging on the front wall of TSD. Maybe you were at Homecoming and saw the t-shirts, or perhaps you were strolling down South Congress on the First Thursday in September and saw a million bright yellow fans with Language for All blazing across the front in bright red letters providing a much needed breeze for people shopping in the 104 degree heat. Maybe you haven’t heard or seen any of this, but just wait, because you will!

With the start of the 2011 school year, the TSD Foundation launched an ambitious awareness and fundraising campaign designed to inform all Texans about TSD and the challenges faced by our children.

“Language for All is a cry for understanding, an appeal for support and a mission for self-determination on behalf of deaf and hard of hearing children in Texas. We want all Texans to understand that language and literacy are fundamental human rights, no less for our deaf and hard of hearing children than for those who can hear” explains Diana Poeppelmeyer, Director of Outreach at TSD.

The fate of Texas School for the Deaf and students state-wide depends on support from the Texas community. The TSD Foundation wants one million Texans to declare that deaf and hard of hearing children are an important part of this great State by donating to our cause.

The campaign officially kicked off with a benefit concert at the Mohawk in

Austin on November 18th, featuring 8 bands on 2 stages with all music professionally signed by LotuSIGN, the premier music interpreting group which handles major events such as Austin City Limits Music Festival and Lollapalooza in Chicago! Also on hand were Rivers Krueger Audiology offering free ear scans, KVRX Radio, Mr. Gatti’s who donated 50 pizzas, and folks selling merchandise for each of the bands. The event was a wonderful success with over 300 people in attendance.

The Language for All campaign is a public-professional partnership between the Texas School for the Deaf Foundation and SicolaMartin, a premier Austin-based advertising and marketing agency, who awarded TSD’s Foundation a pro bono campaign and have designed and help create the logo, mission statement, and launch party. Keep an eye out for our PSA (Public Service Announcement) and other upcoming events.

Funds raised will be allocated to three primary initiatives:

• 0-3 Program – focus critical efforts targeting infants 0-3 years old, providing language and communication exposure starting at birth.

• Statewide Outreach Program – advance the school’s Outreach programs to students in all areas, proven to be a lifeline to underprivileged deaf children with little-to-no access to language in often isolated environments.

• Technology – deaf students are visual learners, and technology is essential to their education.

Like us on Facebook.Join us at

LanguageForAll.org

SPREADTHE WORD!

State budget cuts are threatening access to language for deaf children. Unite with

us as we transform lives through our language and education services. Join the

Texas School for the Deaf in our relentless crusade to fight for Language For All.

SMAPRO615690_SK_posters_11x17_07_RGB.indd 2 9/19/11 1:02 PM

Language for All!

[4]

2011 DeafDigest SportsAll American

11-Man Football Team

Guadalupe CastellonChristian Davila

Dalton EtkieJonathan Ford

1st Team Offense

1st Team Defense

Jonathan FordRB

Zack YoungWR

Cristian Morales

DL

Guadalupe Castellon

PChristian

Davilacb

DaltonEtkie

LB JonathanFordLB

OmarValdovinos

CB

Zack Young

[5]

All American Volleyball Team

&1st Team All District

Kylene Etkie

Erin Lambert

2nd Team All District

Jade DeLao Alyssa Castro

Honorable Mention

2nd Team Offense

CarltonMoore

RB

Guadalupe Castellon

K ChristianDavila

WR

DaltonEtkie

QB LUIsHuerta

OL

JoshuaMoore

OL

2nd Team Defense

ErickSotelo

LBTrevor

WilliamsDLP

ZackYoung

CB

[6]

IBM Technology Camps around the world are designed to foster a new generation of scientists and engineers and encourage the thousands of young people who have participated in these programs to pursue careers in math, science and engineering.

The number of jobs requiring science and math skills is exploding. From May through December, programs are held across the United States, Asia, Latin America, Europe and Africa for middle school age girls taking part in IBM’s EX.I.T.E. (EXploring Interests in Technology and Engineering) Camps; boys and girls

Technology/Stem Camp

involved in the company’s IGN.I.T.E. (IGNiting Interest in Technology and Engineering) programs; and people with disabilities participating in IBM’s S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) EntryPoint workshops.Beginning with the first EX.I.T.E. Camp in 1999, more than 10,000 young people have taken part in IBM Technology Camps.

23 TSD students were selected and participated in this IBM/STEM Technology Workshop Camp on

December 1st and 2nd. On Dec. 1st the students visited UT Chemical Engineering/Nano-Particle. They also participated in a seminar on Flood Predication Technology by a professor. Research tour including a quick peek in the UT football field.

They boarded the bus after lunch and went to IBM Assistive Research Center up north. They went on a tour and learned more about IBM Data Center with many mainframe computers. They enjoyed the workshop on different electricity apparatus .

On Friday, these students participated in PowerUp Activity which is a 3D Virtual Educational game. The

workshop ended with a panel of three deaf IBMers sharing their experience in high school, college and work world. Big thanks to IBMers Seth Bravin and Bill Huber who received the grant and coordinated the program. Another IBMer and a TSD teacher who escorted our students for two days areEric Rybczynski and Paul Stropko. Currently, Mr. Stropko is teaching Robotics and Automation.

Susan Sien, CTE Principal &Paul Stropko, High School Math Teacher

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Do you know what you want to do after you graduate from High School? Do you know which jobs have the brightest job outlook 10 years from now? Do you know what kind of careers you can have with specific certificates and college degrees?  Do you need help with your ACT, college and/or scholarship applications? Do you have a career goal set?  If you answered “no” to any of the above questions, we want to encourage you to visit the Career Center located in the CTE building to meet your career counselor.  Currently, there are two of us, Karen Henry and myself, Alicia Borgongo.  I am responsible for all students whose last names fall in the A through K category, meanwhile Karen Henry is responsible for all students whose last names begin with L through Z.  We, as career counselors offer career counseling and transition planning for all students from 9th through 12th grades.  We will also work in partnership with your parents, teachers, principals, dorm staff and outside support services such as Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) to ensure a smooth transition to college, employment training or directly to employment. Career Counseling services range from helping out with developing your

individualized transition plan, selecting appropriate courses, providing career, personality and interest assessments to help you better understand yourself and see which careers best suits your personality, interests and skills. We also coordinate Application Hour events every other Wednesday after school where Karen, myself and other Career and Transition Services staff provide guidance on completing ACT, college and scholarship applications. We also coordinate college tours to visit different colleges in Texas and many more.  I always like to tell my students and others that anyone can do what she/he dreams to do someday. To reach your dream job, you cannot just wait for the job to come to you. It’s the other way around. You have to GO to the job. You have to work and earn the appropriate education, experience, certification or degree to get the job you want. This process involves patience, hard work, great self-advocate skills, careful planning and determination to reach your career goal and we, career counselors are here to help you at any time with your career decision and planning!

Best wishes,Alicia E. BorgongoCareer CounselorCareer & Transition Services

CAREER PATHWAYSNeed Help with Career Decisions and Planning?

[8]

Happy New Year! I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce myself, my name is Shelley Oishi, I am Texas School for the Deaf’s new Parent Liaison!

Some people have asked what does a parent liaison do? My job is to help bridge the communication between school and home by helping parents get the information, help and support they need to ensure their children’s academic and social success in school. I am committed to working with parents and Texas School for the Deaf to provide the resources to see your children become successful adults upon graduation.

A little about me: I was born Deaf and raised in Canada. I attended a mainstreamed program at public school, and then attended Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) where I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in graphic design. I pursued my graduate education at Western Oregon

University in their Rehabilitation Counseling for the Deaf program. Since then, I have done mental health, advocacy, job development and sales in the last 10 years. I brought my family down to Texas over three years ago, and I have been with Texas School for the Deaf for almost two years. I have three hearing children attending Patton Elementary School.

Expectations: I strongly encourage parents to get involved with their children’s education. I welcome parents to contact me at any time with questions or concerns. I also rely on your feedback and suggestions you may have for me. Please keep an eye for many events planned for parents/students!

Contact information: Shelley.oishi@tsd.state.tx.usTelephone/VP: 512-900-1039Office is located in CTE building room number 204D

Parent Liaison’s Corner