Learn ♦ Experience ♦ Thrive

Fall 2022 | Eagles #36

CSD Eagles conquered Panther Land (at Oregon School for the Deaf) during the National Deaf Prep Cross Country tournament! Our very own Sevan Ikeda won first place in the boys division with 17:27 (a new course record). Geneva Brock finished 2^nd in the girls division. Our boys won 1^st in team competition. We finished with 7 points over Oregon (they were 2^nd with 27 points) and Riverside (they came in 3^rd with 28 points). The meet was awesome!! Nice crowd there, too. Kudos to our cross country coach, Kristopher Hatch, and our awesome runners. Also, thanks to Joann Ikeda for helping out. See more photos

Scroll down for more student news

Message from the Superintendent

Greetings from the land of ORANGE and BLACK!

“Let's SOAR: Strive for Opportunities; Aim for Results!”

We are off to an exciting start for the 2022-23 school year! I hope that this newsletter brings you a sense of normalcy as you read about our students and staff becoming engaged, once again, in their various academic, leadership and athletic activities and events. This sense of normalcy has been long overdue, and I am so happy to see these opportunities returning to CSD after such a long hiatus.

During the Extended School Year program last summer, our students studied environmental phenomenon, as it was the central theme of the program. Students were challenged to think critically on how to make responsible choices that contribute to a better world, by conserving energy and learning more about climate change.

In addition to the ESY, our partner Bay Area Black Deaf Advocates hosted a week-long camp at CSD. It provided a great opportunity for campers to be part of our students’ activities while they were on campus. It is very important that we continue to connect our students with other students who are not enrolled at CSD, as they will eventually depend on each other after they graduate.

CSD is continuing to work on our facilities needs. Currently under construction is a new freezer for our nutritional services. A brand new Middle School Activity Center building is being built that should be ready for student activities during the next academic year. There are still ongoing discussions as we finalize plans for the perimeter fencing project which should be completed by 2024.

I would like to acknowledge our Support Services Division (Plant Operations, Nutritional Services and Business Office) for their continued commitment to the school mission by ensuring that the buildings are being well maintained for teaching and learning. Plus, the Technology Services Department has done an outstanding job of preparing our school for the new year. They have been updating our current computers; processing subscription orders; and attending to the day-to-day needs of our staff, as well.

You might recall that we had a working relationship with Monroe Pedagogy as Victorica Monroe provided our staff with multiple virtual trainings during the pandemic. After two years of working with her virtually, we were delighted to host Victorica for two days as she provided our Student Life, Pupil Personnel Services, and the Division of Instruction with an in-person staff development opportunity. We have really enjoyed the time with Victorica and wish her the best of luck as she pursues her Ph.D. at Gallaudet University.

CSD has also reviewed and updated its school safety plans and had a California Highway Patrol officer with us during our most recent staff development to address strategies on how to manage emergencies that involve an active shooter. We will be conducting frequent safety drills throughout the school year, including the Great Shakeout Drill.

Please know that our staff, teachers, and administrators are here to support you and your child. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you again for all of your support and let’s SOAR together.

Clark Brooke, Ed.S.

Superintendent

California School for the Deaf, Fremont

39350 Gallaudet Drive

Fremont, CA 94538

510-344-6010 Videophone

510-823-6071 Spanish Callers

A warm welcome to our new Director of State Special Schools and Services, Dr. Nancy Hlibok Amann. Here is her message to us...

“As the Director of the State Special Schools and Services Division at the California Department of Education, I look forward to working with you to promote accessibility and language equality/equity for Deaf students and their families in California. It is my intention to see that students obtain the best education possible, and that families continue to get the resources they need from our schools and centers. Together, we can continue to lead the way in Deaf Education in America.”

Honoring Ken Norton for his many contributions to CSD

Special thanks to Lisa Nunez and Maureen Klusza for photos and videos

See Program

Behind-the-scenes

Full Ceremony

Honoring Ken Norton's contributions to CSD as an alumnus, teacher, dean of students, coach, author of CSD history book “The Eagle Soars to Enlightenment”, historical museum volunteer, advocate for teachers in support of affordable housing... and beloved member of our community

The sculpture of Ken Norton “then and now” was sculpted by Trenton Marsh, CSD class of '91. The sculpture is located in front of the Student Life office, at the high school activity center. Students can look at this sculpture and realize that they can grow up to achieve great things in their future.

Pep Rally for Homecoming 2022

Spectacular cheer
Team spirit on display
Who was this year's eagle?

Video highlights

Photo credit: Lisa Nunez

Students learn about preserving our earth

Special thanks to Ron Bye (article) and Mark Carney (video)

"I hope that our students instill what they have learned over the summer and share their experiences with their families. Someday, they may become the conservators and protectors of our earth."

—Ron Bye

Extended School Year Coordinator

The theme for our 2022 extended school year program was Our Environmental Phenomenon. The coordinator of the summer school program, Ron Bye, had this to say: "We have encountered so many obstacles over the past few years, with the COVID pandemic, wildfires, a drought in the West, hurricanes in the East, flooding, and the climate changing in many different global regions. It is important for our students to be conscious about what is going on around them, on a daily basis, and what they can do about it."

Fifth grade class made a video

Since the fifth grade class was studying native plants and water conservation, the students made a video called "Preserve the Earth." It became their cummulative summer project.

Watch video

Early Childhood Education students learned basic concepts, such as how water comes from in the sky and why we have fire. Our youngest eaglets focused on ‘how’, ‘why’, and ‘what’.

Elementary classes did a cleanup project at Lake Elizabeth; interviewed a CODA park ranger, Rachel Baer from Yellowstone Park; created a 3D map of California; recorded daily temperature readings; created artwork of our vegetation; and planted and watered the crops near our career-technology education building.

Middle School students made artwork illustrating how they envisioned the earth should be. They discussed climate change in California and how mankind contributed to this phenomena.

High School students made several videos, ‘What if?’ to let us ponder what we can do about our reusable resources that should not be wasted; conserving electricity; recycling uses; water conservation, etc. Watch high school skits

Real World Program introduced many of our exiting seniors to their new program that will start this fall.

Summer fieldtrips included sightseeing and hiking in different parks including Coyote Hills, Quarry Lakes, Sunol Park, Henry Cowell State Park, Natural Bridges and Big Basin State Park.

See Newsletter

For the first time ever... Black Deaf/KODA Youth Camp was held at California School for the Deaf. Here's a message from Bay Area Black Deaf Advocates:

We wanted to provide a camp to address the various needs of our children. This year, we had 13 campers – 4 Deaf and 9 KODAs (Kids of Deaf Adults) – who were from Deaf families. We had a strong focus on our KODAs this year, but also Deaf kids from hearing families who may have experienced language deprivation or were Deaf plus (having an additional disability). Some of the kids came to the camp needing support with manners and self-esteem. Our goal was to take their weak areas and build them into areas of strength.

Sign The Show comes to CSD

Special thanks to Julie Rems-Smario for supplying article & photos

Matt Maxey and Cat Brewer, executive producer and film director of Sign The Show

Matt Maxey and Cat Brewer, executive producer and film director of Sign The Show visit CSD’s digital media class. See full story

On September 15, Cat Brewer, the film director of the award-winning documentary Sign The Show, came to visit California School for the Deaf. Sign The Show is a film about the importance of access to various forms of entertainment for the Deaf community, such as concerts, theater, comedy, and music festivals. While making the film, Cat Brewer was the person behind the camera interviewing Deaf people who shared their experiences going to performances—when they had access to the show through masterful ASL interpretation and when they were deprived of the opportunity to experience the show due to lack of access to ASL.

CSD students had the opportunity to learn about Cat Brewer’s filming and writing experience.

One of many students who enjoyed learning from Matt Maxey about developing branding in social media.

Read full story

Also visiting our school that day was Matt Maxey who is an influencer on social media. He is a good role model for our students to look up to. When Matt toured the school, the students at CSD loved him! They recognized Matt as the owner of the Deafinitely Dope business. As a co-producer of the documentary Sign The Show, Matt Maxey worked with Waka Flocka and others to help raise funds to make the documentary a reality.

One of CSD’s staff, Julie Rems-Smario, is a consultant for the film. Cat and Matt joined Julie for a tour of the campus, where they had the opportunity to meet the students. They visited the digital media class where Matt did a presentation on how to develop social media branding. The kids were fascinated with Matt’s presentation and asked excellent questions. After the tour, Cat showed excerpts of the Sign The Show to the high school students at the Klopping Theater. Before the day ended, Cat and Matt met with CORE and Instructional Management Team staff to discuss how the film industry can support Deaf education.

CSD represents at NorCal Gala

Special thanks to Frank Lester for the photo and article

CSD was well represented at NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing's 45^th anniversary gala in Sacramento. The theme of the event was “Haloo re Haloo.” The venue was owned by an Indian family. Indian food was served. Dance was Indian style. Parodi Charitable Trust sponsored a table and invited CSD staff who have Indian hereditary and who work in the CORE department.

Middle School quilt wins first place honors at CAL-ED conference

Last year, the 8^th graders led all of the middle school students in a community quilt making project. The “Show Up” theme for the quilt was chosen to inspire students to get through a challenging first year back to in-person learning. The quilt was entered in the 2022 CAL-ED art exhibit and took first prize! Congrats to the current 9^th graders who led the project, and all of the students who were involved in stitching the quilt. See more on CSD Eagles Instagram

Talon Media: Student-produced news vlog

Talon Media #1

BEGINNING-OF-THE-YEAR EVENTS

Talon Media #2

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE BIG GAME

Talon Media #3

WHAT'S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS?

Welcome to our Eagle Statue Ceremony

Special thanks to Julie Bella and Cindy Sasser for the photos

September 10, 2022 / Once An Eagle, Always An Eagle

Presenting the ceremony:

Fernanda Alvarez Barba, class of 2021, Mistress of Ceremony
Clark Brooke, Superintendent
Luke Bella, class of 2019
Cindy Martin Sasser, class of 1979, CSDAA Vice President
Jeff Mosher, Construction Technology Instructor
Sulghi Hong, Director of Instruction

CSDAA Officers:

President: Julie (Orr) Bella ‘89
Vice- President: Cindy (Martin) Sasser ‘79
Secretary: Melessa (Lancaster) Arellano ‘98
Treasurer: Margherita (Boccio) Bella ‘66

Congratulations to our many alumni who recently started new positions at CSD

Odunayo

Akintomide '10

Fifth Grade Teacher

Malik Amann '15

Counselor, Cottage 17

Tristan Boren '16

Youth Athletic Coordinator

Cristal Duenas '13

Counselor, Cottage 3

Michael Foust '12

Learning Support Center Coordinator

Rachel Guzman '14

Teaching Assistant (Preschool)

Farrah Harmount '16

Counselor, Cottage 3

Derrick Jull '95

Property Controller

Elena Jull '98

Admissions Assistant

Teija Kishna '16

Night Attendant, Cottage 10

Ty Kovacs '89

ASL II Teacher (High School)

Marcio Maldonado-Vega '18

Custodian

Jair Portillo '15

Mathematics Teacher

(High School)

Gurpreet Rai '12

Night Attendant, Cottage 17

Fredy Sanchez-

Ranero '13

Custodian

Teresa Truong '18

Teaching Assistant

(Pre-Kindergarten)

Jesus Zamora '92

Custodian

Department Newsletters

High School

Middle School

Elementary

Early Childhood Education

A visit from Victorica Monroe

See full post on CSD Instagram

Victorica Monroe signed stories with our first through third grade classes. The book was called Swishing, written by Victorica Monroe and illustrated by Shawn Richardson. Thanks to Victorica for inspiring CSD students about writing children books that represent diverse Deaf communities. See more photos and video on CSD Eagles Instagram

Students rewarded for good character

The students listed below were selected by their cottage counselors for their ability to show respect to others and make everyone feel welcome since school began.

Brianna Carrillo-Matias
Rosemar Gama-Camarena
Issac Garcia
Jamason Harmon
Jacelyn Harmon
Michael Hull
Keven Medina
Ritchie de la Rosa-Singh
Shaila Sams
Dulce Sanchez
Rishav Singh
Isaias Suarez Trillas

The theme for October is RESPONSIBILITY. We will encourage students to be responsible for their behavior, not only to be responsible for things, but also with their commitments. We want students to exhibit a responsible attitude in all areas of their life, including cottage, team, activities, and school.

See post on Instagram

Gizmos

Special thanks to Kathleen Mockus

Gizmos are fun little programs that provide math and science simulations to help our students visualize and think more deeply and critically about the content they're learning. This current training, more in-depth than our previous introductory ones, was about supporting our math teachers in meeting the Math Practices portions of the CA standards and encouraging more independent inquiry in our science lessons. Curious? Ask your child's teacher for more info.

See more on Instagram

Bay Area Community Volunteers support CSD

Thanks to the great Bay Area community for their unselfish time volunteering at Levi Stadium to support both International Studies and Culinary Arts students’ fundraising campaigns 🦅 We did two events and will volunteer for five more events to earn 💰💰💰 for CSD students’ trip expenses 🦅

California School for the Deaf

39350 Gallaudet Drive,

Fremont, CA 94538

(510) 794-3666

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Meta Metal, Editor

Clark Brooke, School Superintendent