The Clarke Connection:  January 2017
THE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER OF CLARKE SCHOOLS FOR HEARING AND SPEECH
NEWS
Clarke Celebrates 150 Years of Teaching Excellence!
As we celebrate the beginning of a new year, we are excited to share this momentous milestone with you -----  the start of Clarke's 150th year. This is no small accomplishment. We are immensely proud of the children and families we serve, all our professionals and staff and the donors who support what we do. It is truly a new day for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Your stories and accomplishments are our stories, and we thank you for allowing us to be a part of them. We wish you health and happiness in 2017 and beyond!
Giving Tuesday 2016 Breaks Clarke Record
Clarke embraced the international day of giving known as Giving Tuesday on November 29 to raise awareness about the work we do. Our #MakeSomeNoise campaign celebrated Clarke's mission of teaching children who are deaf or hard of hearing to listen and talk. Through social media and email, the #MakeSomeNoise campaign raised $13,080 for our programs! We exceeded our fundraising goal by 382% and crushed previous Giving Tuesday totals. We are deeply grateful to all those who accepted this particular call to action. Watch this video to see the direct impact of your support on the children we serve. Thank you!
Clarke Wins 2016 Blackboard Technology Grant
Clarke was among six non-profit organizations from around the nation recognized as Blackboard's 2016 Charitable Giving Award recipients during a ceremony at Blackboard's Washington, D.C. headquarters in December. The grant from Blackboard, an educational technology company, will support technology upgrades in Clarke's classrooms, including the purchase of laptops, innovative Smart Boards (interactive white boards), iPads and apps specifically designed to support the education of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. In addition to enhancing Clarke's curriculum, this technology will help to improve students' technology literacy, preparing them for success when they enter mainstream schools, colleges and eventually, the workforce. Each Clarke location will benefit from these exciting upgrades. Thank you Blackboard!
Winter Issue of Mainstream News Now Online
Clarke's newsletter, Mainstream News, continues to be accessible online and free of charge thanks to sponsorship from our friends at Oticon Pediatrics. The Winter 2017 issue is now available! The latest issue features an article about encouraging student participation in their IEP process and fostering resiliency in children with hearing loss. In addition, the topics of overcoming listening fatigue and performing daily listening checks are covered. Archived issues are also available online.
New Clarke Preschool Classroom Opens in Orlando
Clarke is proud to announce the opening of a new preschool classroom, which will serve children ages two to four who are deaf or hard of hearing and use listening and spoken language in the Orlando/Central Florida region. Clarke's program in Jacksonville, FL has been providing vital services to children and families for 20 years, and Clarke is pleased to now expand these direct services to reach a wider geography within the state. Read more >
A Full House at Sing for Sound 2016
Julie Weyne, Diane Lutz and their band put on a stellar show at our Sing for Sound event on Friday, December 2. The NYC venue was packed with over 250 people, helping us raise $25,000 in support of Clarke New York! We are grateful to the talented performers, guests, donors and event sponsors whose support helps children who are deaf or hard of hearing learn to listen and talk and reach their full potential. A special thank you to the event's Diamond Sponsor, Columbia University Medical Center. Whether you were with us in person or in spirit, we know you will enjoy the  Sing for Sound photo album > 

18th Annual Holiday Open House for Clarke Jacksonville
For 18 years, Alumni Grandparents Ray and Susannah Wolford have opened their home to host a Holiday Open House to benefit Clarke Jacksonville. This year's holiday spectacular did not disappoint and, as always, their hospitality was outstanding. We are deeply grateful to the Wolford's extensive network of loyal friends who support this event and the Clarke community who comes out to give testimony about the work we do. Donations received totaled more than $12,000 and will go toward replacing Clarke Jacksonville's playground. Every donor who attended the event received an engraved silver bell. A heartfelt thank you to Ray, Susannah and their daughter, Elizabeth, for their devotion to hosting this event every year. View the photo album >
SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT
Comcast Hosts Cookie Party at Clarke Philadelphia
Seven Comcast employees recently volunteered their time-and cookie decorating talents-to an excited group of preschoolers at Clarke Philadelphia. One of the volunteers read the story Mmm, Cookies! to the children and then the Comcast team held a cookie decorating party, all decked out in their finest aprons and chef hats. The Clarke students had a wonderful time and loved taste-testing their creations. Thank you to the MyAbilities Team from Comcast for your support of Clarke! View the photo album >
Clarke Boston Celebrates the Season at Cornerstone Senior Center
Clarke Boston's pre-k/kindergarten class continues to have fun and enriching visits to the Cornerstone Senior Center in Canton, MA. On a recent trip, the children and seniors collaborated to decorate cookies, make snowflake crafts and bracelets and sing songs! The friends all had a lovely time and are looking forward to their next visit. Santa even made a surprise appearance!
Tabor Community Partners Read to Clarke Philadelphia Students
On Wednesday, December 21, Clarke Philadelphia received a visit from some terrific readers from Tabor Community Partners (TCP). TCP works with the Philadelphia Department of Human Services to provide important community-based services to children and families in Northwest Philadelphia. A big thanks to Roshia Furnace, father of Clarke student Dominic, who organized this fun event and was one of the readers. And thank you to TCP for all your crucial work in the region!
Clarke Boston Alums Shine in their Neighborhood Schools
We are so proud of two Clarke Boston alumni who recently won awards at their neighborhood schools! Jack Darcy (pictured left) was the recipient of the Principal's Award at his new school and Cait Gallant won the Bucket Filler Award! Both awards recognize special acts of kindness. Congratulations to Jack and Cait, and to all of our Clarke alumni who are working hard and succeeding in their own mainstream schools.
Saturday Morning Connections at Clarke Philadelphia
Though it was quite frosty on a recent December morning in Philly, the smiling faces inside Clarke Philadelphia warmed everyone right up! Originally intended to draw Early Intervention (EI) families together, especially those who are not available during the week, the monthly Saturday events have become a favorite. Children nestle in their parents' laps exploring the day's theme together -----  through play, singing, dancing, fun projects and books.   
Parent-to-parent connections are critical to developing a friendly support network in which families can share their experiences. Stories and strategies are swapped, and email address are exchanged over a cup of coffee or Lego tower. These monthly get-togethers give parents the chance to practice their listening and language skills with the help of Clarke professionals, create memories with their child and kick off the weekend knowing what an important part of the Clarke community they are! For more information contact Jeana Novak at jnovak@clarkeschools.org or 610.525.9600.
FOR PROFESSIONALS
Call for Proposals for the 38th Annual Mainstream Conference: Supporting Listening, Language and Literacy in the Mainstream Classroom!
Deadline for Submission: Monday, February 27, 2017 
Please submit your proposal to present at Clarke's 38th Annual Conference on Mainstreaming Students with Hearing Loss, October 19-20, 2017, in Marlborough, MA.
Spring Workshop: Children with Hearing Loss and Additional Challenges
April 28, 2017 | Sponsored by Clarke Mainstream Services and hosted by CREC Soundbridge, Wethersfield, CT
This special day-long training designed for speech-language pathologists and teachers of the deaf will be presented by Christina Perigoe, Ph.D, CCC-SLP, C.E.D., LSLS Cert. AVT. Other professionals and parents of children with hearing loss are also welcome. Registration will open in the coming weeks, so look for updates in your mailbox soon!
Clarke Specialist to Travel to Ecuador to Train Medical Professionals
Clarke Philadelphia Education Support Specialist, Sherri Fickenscher, MS, LSLS Cert. AVEd, will be traveling to Ecuador with the Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss for almost two weeks at the end of January. Sherri is part of a team of professionals who will be working in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador to train medical and therapy staff in developing listening and spoken language skills for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. This training program is the launch of a multi-year program in Ecuador. 
UPCOMING EVENTS
Clarke Buddies: Seasonal Fun and Friendship
Once a Month | Northampton, MA and Canton, MA
Next Meet-up: Saturday, January 21 in Canton, MA
The school year's first meet-ups of Clarke Buddies were big hits in both Northampton and Canton, MA!  In November, students met in Canton to develop fun skits and art projects as they built new friendships. They also made and enjoyed Rice Krispy treats!  In December, students in Northampton were inspired by a holiday theme and the spirit of giving. They made gingerbread cookies, created holiday cards and assembled over 35 packages of winter clothing to be donated to local chapters of WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children). 
Clarke Buddies is a program designed to help students (ages 8-17) with hearing loss make connections and build a sense of community. The next meet-up will be at Clarke Boston in Canton on January 21. There's still time to join in on the fun! Register now >
Clarke New York's 11th Annual Family Reunion
January 29, 2017 | Barnes & Noble, 150 E 86th St., New York, NY
Join us from 1:00 - 3:00 pm at Barnes & Noble for good food, live music, plenty of fun and a Barnes & Noble bookfair to support Clarke!  Clarke New York Alumni ages 12 and up, please join us for our tween/teen meet-up at the Barnes & Noble CafĂ©! All current and alumni families are welcome. A suggested donation of $20 per family will help to cover our costs and is greatly appreciated.  Find out more and register >
Do You Have What it Takes to be Coned?
March 4, 2017 | Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville is royally excited to announce a new tradition coming to the Kilwins Ice Cream Run and sponsored by JetBlue... With custom-designed cone crowns made especially for this event, we will be "coning" the first official Kilwins Ice Cream Run Royal Court! To be honored as Florida's first ever ice cream royalty, individuals will need to register as fundraisers for the Kilwins Ice Cream Run. Fundraisers will then have the ability to create a customized online fundraising page to share their story, pictures and/or videos to inspire donations to directly benefit children at Clarke. The four fundraisers raising the most for Clarke will be coned on race day! And our top individual fundraiser from the Kilwins Ice Cream Royal Court will win two (2) round-trip tickets from JetBlue!  Find out more and register >
Clarke's Listening Walks at Two Zoos This Spring
May 21, 2017 | Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA
June 17, 2017 | Southwick's Zoo, Mendon, MA
Mark your calendars for TWO  Listening Walk events! On Sunday, May 21, 2017 the hunt for animal noises will be on for our second annual Clarke's Listening Walk at the Zoo and 5K Run in Philadelphia, PA. Then on Saturday, June 17, 2017, kids will be searching for sounds at Clarke's Listening Walk at the Southwick's Zoo in Mendon, MA. At each Listening Walk event, 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. Both Listening Walks will be full-day events for the whole family and a celebration of all that is possible for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information coming soon!
Calling all Clarke Alumni: Register for Reunion 2017
June 22-25, 2017 | UMass Amherst, MA
Clarke Schools Alumni Council (CSAC) is thrilled to announce plans for our upcoming five-year reunion and celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Clarke. The reunion will be a wonderful opportunity for Clarke alumni and staff (both past and present) to come together to celebrate all of Clarke's alumni, their accomplishments, their memories and to honor Clarke's long and storied history. We hope you will join us for what promises to be a very memorable event! Registration information is available online at clarkeschools.org/reunion2017 or by contacting Marilyn Buuck at mbuuck@clarkeschools.org or 413.584.3450.
Register Now for Summer Camp 2017: Dare to Dream
July 2-14, 2017 | Easthampton, MA
Clarke's Summer Camp is a two-week, theme-based camp for 9- to 17-year old children with hearing loss who utilize hearing technology (such as hearing aids or cochlear implants) and listen and talk. Clarke's Summer Camp, which runs July 2-14, 2017, 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! Register Now >
New Mainstream Camp Experience -----  Clarke partners with Frost Valley YMCA Camp
This summer for the first time, the Frost Valley YMCA Summer Camp in Claryville, NY, will partner with Clarke Schools as they plan to provide programming for campers, ages 8-15 who are deaf or hard of hearing. Frost Valley is a pioneer in providing inclusive camp experiences for children and teens from all backgrounds.
Frost Valley is expanding their offerings to serve campers who are deaf or hard of hearing and use listening and spoken language. Clarke will provide training for Frost Valley staff, and a Clarke itinerant teacher of the deaf will provide on-site consultation during the two-week program which will run July 30-Aug 11.
Clarke and Frost Valley are aligned in their goal of providing the customized services and support needed to create meaningful mainstream experiences for children and teens. This new program with Frost Valley will be a wonderful compliment to Clarke's Summer Camp. Learn more about Frost Valley by visiting frostvalley.org. To learn more about the Clarke-Frost Valley Partnership, contact Claire Troiano at ctroiano@clarkeschools.org or 413.582.1113.
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.
Free Wednesday Webinar Archive Online
For those of you who missed any of our webinars, both series are available online. You can even request professional credits after viewing! Access the Wednesday Webinar archive >
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 here >
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 communications@clarkeschools.org .
"I am so happy to have such a terrific team working with our daughter this year! Everyone seems fabulous, and I left the meeting feeling confident that she has a great year ahead of her. She also seems happy to be back at Clarke!"
-Parent, Clarke Boston
Clarke's continuum of services includes Infant-Toddler Programs, Teleservices for Infants and Families (tVISIT), Preschool Programs, K-8 Program, Mainstream Services, Clarke Hearing Center, Comprehensive Educational Evaluations, Professional Development Offerings and Summer Programs.  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.

Clarke teaches 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. Many 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
Voice 413.584.3450 | FAX 413.587.7318 | develop@clarkeschools.org  | clarkeschools.org