Michigan School for the Deaf Parent Resource Center News

Transcription

1 Michigan School for the Deaf Parent Resource Center News CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2017! June 2017 Commencement exercises for the Class of 2017 will be held on Thursday, June 8, at 1:00 pm in the Jeter Center. We extend our best wishes to all the families! Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Parent Resource Center News issued monthly (except July) by the Parent Resource Center at Michigan School for the Deaf! Items of interest to families with a Deaf or Hard of Hearing child as well as professionals working with these families are welcome. Items may be edited for content and/or space and must include contact information from the submitter. Send contributions for consideration to calamanr@mischooldeaf.org. Many thanks to Janet Kelley for being the Editor of The Parent Connection Newsletter for several years. Your hard work and dedication is appreciated by all who benefited from your Tartar spirit! With this edition, The Parent Connection is being replaced by the Parent Resource Center News.

2 Vision Statement Michigan School for the Deaf MSD graduates students empowered with a positive Deaf identity and who demonstrate the knowledge, confidence and leadership to become contributing citizens in a diverse, technological and democratic society. Mission Statement To provide academic and social excellence - rich in ASL and English literacy for all students from infancy to graduation, to be the leader in educating Deaf and Hard of Hearing children in Michigan, and to provide services to their families and the community. Belief Statements We believe that cooperative partnership among the students, families, school, dorm and community is essential for student growth and development. We believe students have the right to the general curriculum and/or specialized programs as appropriate where reading, writing, and math skills are developed and where critical thinking, problem-solving, self-advocacy and decision-making can be fostered. We believe the acquisition of both American Sign Language and English language literacy is of paramount importance and should begin as early as possible at home, school and dorm to ensure fluency. We believe the needs of students are best met by staff proficient in ASL and English who affirm that all children can learn, do quality work, develop a positive self-image, and establish career goals that reflect skills and potential. We believe a shared accountability among all stakeholders ensures student outcomes and is the key to a successful academic and residential program. We believe exposure to and education about ASL/Deaf Culture enriches the lives of students, their families and staff. We believe the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities, both after school and in the community, are crucial to the personal development of an individual. We believe that competency in current technology is critical for information, communication and career opportunities. We believe diversity in school and community is to be embraced by nurturing respect, acceptance and appreciation for the differences among human beings. 2

3 With ASL and English, Your Child can Learn! Thrive! Succeed! The American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) is committed to empowering diverse families with deaf and hard of hearing children and youth by embracing full access to language-rich environments through mentoring, advocacy, resources, and collaborative networks. ASDC provides: The Endeavor Magazine, Annual Conference, monthly Blast, Information and Referral Line, Resources, and Parent Support. Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) FREE! Administered by the National Association of the Deaf and funded by the U. S. Department of Education Welcome to the VL2 Parent Toolkit! Our toolkit is intended to support families of deaf children (aged 0-5) in learning about American Sign Language (ASL). The site contains information on ASL language acquisition milestones, communication and language activities to use at home, and lots of other exciting resources for families to explore. The Parent Toolkit was developed with funding from the National Science Foundation. National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Established in 1880, the mission of NAD is to preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States. 3

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5 Congratulations! MSD Senior Jason Rakowski (second from left) and his team from the Genesee Career Institute (GCI) took second in the State on their project (May, 2017). Jason recently completed the advanced studies year of welding.at GCI and is a member of the graduating class at MSD. LEAD-K Michigan Rally at the Capitol Tuesday, June 13, from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm Lansing LEAD-K = Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids For more information, contact Lead-KMich@gmail.com Facebook page: LEAD-K Michigan 5

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8 Mark Bouvy State Administrative Manager Save the Date! Natalie Grupido, EdS Principal Alvin Shaw RCA Supervisor October 7, 2017 (Saturday) Deaf Celebration Day am 5 pm Southfield Civic Center Pavilion Southfield ShawA@michigan.gov Rebecca Calaman, MA, NCC, LPC Parent Resource Center (PRC) calamanr@mischooldeaf.org April (Date to be determined) MSD Charter Day Celebration Noon 6:00 pm at MSD Home of the Tartars! MICHIGAN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF 1235 West Court Street Flint, MI Main Office Phone: VP: Fax: