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The Clarke Connection:
March
2018
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THE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER OF CLARKE SCHOOLS FOR HEARING AND SPEECH
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Clarke Boston Student Receives Youth Advocate Award
Congratulations to Austin, a Clarke Boston student who is receiving a Youth Advocate Award from the Massachusetts State House! Austin, who wears hearing aids and benefits from Clarke's Mainstream Services, has learned to appropriately advocate for himself throughout his transition to middle school, and has made it his goal to help others with hearing loss through tough times. Austin has also mentored younger students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and created a series of educational videos for local parents about some of the challenges faced by children with hearing loss. In February, Austin presented at a workshop hosted by Boston Children's Hospital with his teacher of the deaf. Congratulations, Austin!
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Clarke Philadelphia Team Member Appointed to AG Bell Pennsylvania Chapter Board
Abigael Brimhall, a teacher of the deaf at Clarke Philadelphia, was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Chapter of AG Bell, an organization that works globally to ensure that people who are deaf and hard of hearing can hear and talk. In the Board announcement, Abigael shared, "I was diagnosed at 10 months of age with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss. I received hearing aids the next month to learn to listen and talk and received my first cochlear implant at 11 years and second 10 years later. I pursued an undergraduate degree in special education at Utah State University and a graduate degree in deaf education at Washington University in St. Louis. I am in my fifth year as a teacher of the deaf." Please join us in congratulating Abigael on this achievement!
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Kilwins Annual Ice Cream Run Draws Hundreds!
Saturday, March 3, 2018 | St Johns Town Center, Jacksonville, FL
On Saturday, March 3, hundreds of Clarke friends and fans showed up for the annual Kilwins Ice Cream Run at St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville, FL. Some ran, some walked, some dashed... but all joined together to enjoy ice cream in support of Clarke Jacksonville's work teaching children with hearing loss how to listen and talk. Highlights of this family-friendly event included the Kiddie Dash, in which Clarke students ran a 100-yard dash after all the 5K runners crossed the finish line. We are so thankful to all those who donated and joined us at this fantastic event! See the
event photos and
race results >
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Scholarship Available to Clarke Alumni: Submit your Application by May 1, 2018
The Caroline A. Yale Memorial Fund was established in 1937 by the Clarke School Alumni Association in memory of Miss Caroline A. Yale for her distinguished contributions to Clarke. Yale was a pioneer who supported oral education for students, firmly believing that they should be given every opportunity to develop the skills they need to succeed. Any former student who has attended one of the five Clarke locations for at least one year, regardless of whether the applicant graduated or mainstreamed early, may apply for a scholarship from the Yale Fund. The application deadline is May 1, 2018. Email
[email protected] with questions. Apply with the
online application >
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Clarke Jacksonville Students Enjoy New Playground
In November 2016, Clarke began actively fundraising for a new and improved playground. The Clarke Jacksonville community joined together and secured funds to close the financial gap needed to start building in August 2017. Clarke recently hosted a soft grand opening of the new playground
designed to be functional for all ages, and structured to support listening and spoken language skills. The incredibly generous donors who made the new playground possible are just one more wonderful example of a unique way to support Clarke children!
Read more >
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Clarke Northampton K-8 Students Visit Local Seniors
Every month, first and second grade students from Clarke's K-8 Program in Northampton, MA, spread some cheer by visiting residents of Linda Manor, a local senior living facility. According to School Psychologist Cynthia Forsythe, students enjoy various group activities with residents, including decorating cookies, playing bingo and creating themed crafts. During a recent visit, students and seniors were inspired by their wintery surroundings and created snowmen together. The K-8/Linda Manor partnership was developed to give students an opportunity to connect with and give back to seniors in the community. According to Forsythe, "Both the seniors and students seem to really like it!" Thanks to Linda Manor for participating in this valuable partnership with our students!
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The Case for Comprehensive Educational Evaluations
Learn more about the value of an independent educational evaluation for your child or student. Independent evaluations can inform students' IEPs and help families keep educational goals on track. Clarke's Comprehensive Educational Evaluation (CEE) Program brings together experts in audiology, language, academics, speech and psychology to help students with hearing loss, families and members of the student's educational team navigate the academic journey from kindergarten to high school graduation and college.
Read more >
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Clarke New York Supporters to be Recognized at Insider's Night at Citi Field
Tuesday, May 1, 2018 | New York, NY
Donors who sign on to sponsor a Clarke New York student are giving children who are deaf or hard of hearing a powerful gift -- the opportunity to build a foundation of listening, spoken language and academic skills that will help them reach their full potential. Clarke New York's Sponsor a Child donors will be thanked at our exclusive Insider's Night at Citi Field event, held in the owner's private suite on Tuesday, May 1, when the New York Mets play the Atlanta Braves. For details, please contact Christina Danese, development associate, at [email protected] or 212.585.3500 x4228.
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For the Cost of a Pizza You Can Make a Meaningful Impact at Clarke
Did you know that you can make a monthly gift to Clarke? For a minimum of $15 a month, you can sign up to make automatic contributions through a checking account, savings account or credit card. Clarke's monthly giving program is a convenient and affordable way to maximize your support for our students. As with all donations, monthly gifts are fully tax deductible. Find out more information and sign up for our monthly giving program >
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Children Listen, Learn and Grow with Clarke
For 150 years, Clarke has been teaching children who are deaf or hard of hearing to listen and talk. The first school of its kind in the country, Clarke has evolved to meet the needs of children with hearing loss and their families across the country and around the world.
Today a child's time at Clarke is brief, but the impact of what they learn lasts a lifetime. After just a few years of receiving services from Clarke, children are prepared to attend neighborhood schools from kindergarten through 12th grade; on to college, and beyond. More than 1,200 children will listen, learn and grow with Clarke this year, and their families will realize the world of possibilities ahead. With your support, visions for more bright futures will take shape!
Your support is critical to ensuring Clarke can continue to serve more children, in more places and in more ways than ever before.
Please make a tax-deductible gift today >
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Although Clarke receives some public funding in support of the life-changing services we provide, the gap between the cost to provide such services and the public funds received is more than $5,000 per child per year. By sponsoring a child, you join a community of donors that is passionate about helping to change the lives of children with hearing loss. For more information, contact Gloria Pugliese, senior development officer, at [email protected] or 267.499.3525. Learn more >
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Support Clarke with a Gift of Life Insurance
Did you know that you can make Clarke the beneficiary of a life insurance policy? Naming Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy is an excellent way to make a charitable gift. Through a relatively small annual cost (the insurance premium), you can make a far larger gift to Clarke than might otherwise be possible. This sizeable gift can be made without impairing or diluting the control of a family business or other investments. You can make a significant legacy gift to Clarke while keeping assets earmarked for family members intact. Your financial advisor can help you determine how a gift of life insurance might best fit in with your comprehensive estate plan. For more information on how to name Clarke as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, or to notify us that you have already done so, contact Gloria Pugliese, senior development officer, at 267.499.3525 or [email protected].
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FOR PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS
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39th Annual Conference on Mainstreaming Students with Hearing Loss
October 18 & 19, 2018 | Sponsored by Clarke Mainstream Services at Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlborough, MA
SAVE THE DATE! This year's two-day conference will be held in Marlborough, MA, and will once again feature a full line-up of impressive speakers. We are thrilled to announce keynote Nolan Gardner, American Ninja Warrior competitor who will be delivering a talk called "Trekking Through the Hearing World," and keynote Mary Ellen Nevins, EdD, who will give a presentation titled "Effective Communication Skills for Interprofessional Conversations: What's in YOUR Toolkit?"
Gardner, who was born deaf and uses a cochlear implant, will also be co-leading the 16th annual "Making Connections!" program for students with hearing loss in grades 7-12!
Learn more about our keynotes and conference activities >
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Love and Logic Series at Clarke Philadelphia
Last in Series: Tuesday, April 10 | Clarke Philadelphia
The Love and Logic series, made up of four classes, teaches parents how to raise happy and well-behaved children using positive, loving
techniques and strategies. The series is led by Clarke's own education support specialist, and certified Love and Logic facilitator, Sherri Fickenscher, MS LSLS Cert AVEd. The approach is built around the science of crafting caring and respectful relationships, and developing an authentic, loving connection between parents and their children.
The final class will take place at Clarke's Connelly Suite funded by the Connelly Foundation on Tuesday, April 10 from 10:00 - 11:00 am. The series is geared toward parents with toddlers or preschoolers at Clarke. For more information contact Sherri Fickenscher at
[email protected].
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Parent Education Series at Clarke Jacksonville
Last in Series: Tuesday, April 17, 2018 | Clarke Jacksonville
A well-informed parent or caregiver is crucial to the success of a child's listening and spoken language journey. Clarke Jacksonville is very pleased to offer a Parent Education Series for all current and alumni families this year. The series consists of four presentations by local professionals, or a panel, and covers important topics that pertain to raising and educating a child who is deaf or hard of hearing with listening and spoken language. The first three presentations were a success, and we hope you'll mark your calendars for the final one: Meet the Alum Panel on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. For more information or for opportunities to underwrite the Parent Education Series, contact Tina L. Morris, development associate, at [email protected] or 904.479.6699.
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Parent Workshop Series at Clarke Northampton
Last in Series: Thursday, May 10, 2018 | Clarke Northampton
This informative workshop series is designed for parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing from birth to age seven. The first three evenings were held in September, November and March and were well attended, particularly with families whose children are soon to turn three and transition to preschool educational settings. Mark your calendars for the final workshop on Thursday, May 10, 2018 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. For more information, contact Marian Hartblay, director of Early Childhood Services at Clarke Northampton, at [email protected] or 413.582.1144.
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Clarke Buddies: Meet-ups for Children and Teens
Next Meet-up: Saturday, March 24, 2018 | Clarke Northampton
Clarke Buddies provides terrific opportunities for tweens and teens to meet and connect on a regular basis with other students who are deaf or hard of hearing. At our Saturday meet-ups, children ages six to 17 share their experiences being deaf or hard of hearing, participate in team-building activities and foster a sense of community. Clarke Buddies has two meet-ups left on Saturday March 24 and Saturday, April 28, both from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. There's still time to sign up on our
Clarke Buddies page >
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Register Now for Clarke's THREE Listening Walks!
Sunday, May 20, 2018 | Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA
Sunday, June 3, 2018 | Bronx Zoo, New York, NY
Saturday, June 16, 2017 | Southwick's Zoo, Mendon, MA
It's time to register for one, two or all THREE of Clarke's Listening Walks! At each Listening Walk, children of all ages will have great fun listening for all the amazing honks, hoots, squeals and squeaks one can only find at a zoo. Each Listening Walk will be a full-day event for the whole family and a celebration of all that is possible for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Register now >
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There's Still Space in Clarke's Summer Camp!
July 8-20, 2018 | Easthampton, MA
Clarke Summer Camp is a two-week, theme-based camp for nine- to 17-year-old children with hearing loss who utilize hearing technology (such as hearing aids or cochlear implants) and listen and talk. This renowned program, which runs July 8-20, 2018
, offers campers the opportunity to interact with other children with hearing loss from all over the country, make new friends and have lots of fun! This year's theme is "Free to Be!"
Space is limite
d;
register today >
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Clarke and Frost Valley YMCA Partner to Offer Mainstream Camp for Children with Hearing Loss
Summer 2018 | Claryville, NY
This summer, for the second year in a row, Frost Valley YMCA Summer Camp in Claryville, NY will partner with Clarke to provide programming for campers ages eight to 15 who are deaf or hard of hearing. Interested campers can select from Frost Valley's on-site camp programs during
Session 3: July 29 - August 10
. Frost Valley staff will be trained in advance to work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and a teacher of the deaf from Clarke will be on site for the entirety of Session 3. Camp is filling up quickly, so select a program
and register now >
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Join Team Clarke at the 2018 Falmouth Road Race
Sunday, August 19, 2018 | Falmouth, MA
Calling all runners! Clarke is excited to be a Charity Partner in the 46th Annual New Balance Falmouth Road Race. The Falmouth Road Race is a seven-mile road race on Cape Cod from Woods Hole, a village in the town of Falmouth, MA, to Falmouth Heights. Clarke runners will raise a minimum of $750 to support the organization so we can offer the best listening, learning and spoken language services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing. To learn more about joining Clarke's Falmouth Road Race Team and to secure your spot, please contact Jennifer Sophis, development associate, at [email protected].
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Clarke is Hiring: Make a Difference and Join Our Team
To learn about exciting career opportunities at Clarke, visit our employment page. With locations along the East Coast, the perfect fit may be waiting for you.
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Free Wednesday Webinar Archive Online
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Support Clarke with Your Everyday Purchases Using AmazonSmile
AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of your Amazon purchase price to Clarke at no additional cost to you! Signup is easy and AmazonSmile does the rest. Find out more >
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Clarke Voices
We close each issue of The Clarke Connection with a special quote from a member of the Clarke Community. To become the next featured Clarke Voice, send your quote to
[email protected]
.
"Thank you so much for providing a fun and nurturing environment for Amaya and other children to prosper. As a parent I can give her love, but you have given her voice. And I don't mean just the words I mean A VOICE, a personality, a way TO BE. She is growing into a wonderful little human being because of what you do and who you are."
-Parents of Clarke preschooler, Amaya
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Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. As an IRS qualified charity, gifts to Clarke are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Celebrating 150 years of teaching children who are deaf or hard of hearing to listen and talk.
Children served by Clarke use advanced technologies, including cochlear implants or hearing aids, to maximize their access to sound. We work with children and their families from infancy through their teen years. Our teachers of the deaf, speech-language pathologists and audiologists have the background, training and experience to prepare children academically and socially for a world of limitless possibilities. Clarke children listen and learn in the classroom, run and laugh with their friends on the playground and have lives filled with music, sports, family and community. Most children who come to Clarke are ready to attend their neighborhood mainstream schools by kindergarten.
Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech | 45 Round Hill Road, Northampton, MA 01060
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