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The Clarke Connection:
July
2017
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THE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER OF CLARKE SCHOOLS FOR HEARING AND SPEECH
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Clarke Hosts TWO Listening Walks at TWO Zoos!
In May, the hunt for animal noises was on at our second annual Listening Walk at the Zoo and 5K Run in Philadelphia, PA, where more than 1,100 participants enjoyed a gorgeous day at the zoo having lunch, receiving awards and running a 5K. And then in June, kids enjoyed a listening scavenger hunt at Clarke's first Listening Walk at Southwick's Zoo in Mendon, MA. At each Listening Walk event, children of all ages had great fun listening for all the amazing honks, hoots, squeals and squeaks you can only find at a zoo. These full-day events for the whole family were a celebration of all that is possible for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
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Comcast Features Clarke in Stunning Video Production
This spring, Clarke Philadelphia was honored to be selected as a recipient of Comcast's annual international volunteering effort ----- Comcast Cares Day. Since 2001, Comcast Cares Day has been held to honor the company's commitment to community service, and has grown to become the largest single-day corporate volunteer event in the United States. And of the more than 900 Comcast Cares activities taking place around the world on April 22, our Clarke event was chosen to be featured in a stunning video production by Comcast. We encourage you to share this video on social media to help us increase awareness about Clarke's work teaching children with hearing loss how to listen and talk. Thank you to Comcast and all our fabulous volunteers!
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Connections Profile: Penny Gill, 2017 Teacher of the Year at Clarke Northampton
Penny Gill, MED, recipient of the 2017 Scott D. Fletcher "Teacher of the Year" award and a treasured colleague to many at Clarke Northampton, has filled several crucial roles at Clarke. She has been a preschool classroom teacher, a Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) one-on-one teacher, an Early Interventionist and a mainstream itinerant teacher of the deaf. "Penny is a very versatile teacher and has the advanced skills and experience that allow her to build connections with parents, children and collaborating professionals," says Marian Hartblay, MAT, MED, LSLS Cert. AVEd, Director of Clarke Northampton. Read more >
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Clarke Corner Column Featured in Hearing Health Magazine
Clarke is so pleased to share that Hearing Health Magazine has just published our final article in a series of eight editorials focused on children with hearing loss who are learning to listen and talk. This collaboration allows Clarke's expertise to reach new audiences with key information, tips and resources about pediatric hearing loss and Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) therapy and education. The Summer 2017 issue features a Clarke piece by Cynthia Forsythe, (CAGS, MED), teacher of the deaf and psychologist at Clarke Northampton, that highlights the importance of teaching self-advocacy to children with hearing loss, in order to equip them for academic and social success ----- in their mainstream schools and beyond. Read the Summer 2017 article >
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Clarke's Summer Camp is in Full Swing!
More than 50 excited children ----- traveling from 15 states ----- arrived earlier this month to participate in Clarke's "Dare to Dream" themed summer camp. This two-week program is an experience like no other for children and teens with hearing loss, providing them with myriad opportunities for teamwork, self-advocacy, communication and leadership development. Led by experienced teachers of the deaf and adults with hearing loss, the camp offers kids the chance to boost their self-confidence, become more independent, and enhance their listening, communication and social skills ----- and generally just have a lot of fun! This year, we have a jam-packed schedule of activities, including arts and crafts, team sports and other games, as well as field trips to Cape Cod's Water Wizz Water Park and the Pine Lake Challenge Course in Bristol, Connecticut. Older children will also camp out under the stars at the D.A.R. State Forest!
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You Can Support Clarke Students through Clarke's Sponsor a Child Program
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. Many children served by Clarke come from modest and low-income families and are unable to address this gap. 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 gpugliese@clarkeschools.org or 267.499.3525. Learn more >
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Clarke Preschool Graduates Move on to the Mainstream
Congratulations to the graduates at all of our Clarke locations: Boston, Jacksonville, New York, Northampton and Philadelphia. Thanks to Clarke teachers, audiologists, speech therapists and families, the future for these students has never been brighter. We're so proud of their accomplishments and can't wait to watch and HEAR them soar!
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Fundraising and Friendship Celebration in Orlando
The Clarke Orlando Preschool Program recently hosted a taco dinner for families and friends of Clarke, to gather and get to know one another better. The group also enjoyed an ice cream party compliments of Kilwins at the St. Johns Town Center ----- a reward for the top fundraising team during the Kilwins Ice Cream Run this past March. The winning team, "To Central Florida and Beyond!" raised $14,630! It was a fun-filled celebration to commemorate the first six months of the Orlando program serving children with hearing loss in Central Florida.
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Planting Trees with an Eye to the Future
In June, an excited, hard-working crew of Clarke Northampton preschoolers, K-8 students, their families and teachers came together to plant two apple trees behind the preschool classroom at Clarke Northampton. The trees were a generous gifts to Clarke from the K-8 Program and the Preschool to commemorate Clarke's 150th anniversary. After the adults dug two holes, the children gathered together to lower their trees into the ground and cover the roots with compost. The preschoolers planted a semi-dwarf Haralson apple tree ----- great for making cider ----- and the K-8 students planted a larger Ginger Gold, perfect for fresh eating. Thanks to these generous gifts, students and staff will enjoy delicious apples and cool shade for years to come!
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Thanks to our donors and supporters, Clarke has many success stories to tell. Marco Camacho is just one example. Marco did so well at learning to listen and speak that he was transitioned into his neighborhood school by the end of preschool. He's now at Liberty Pines Academy in St. Johns, Florida, and wants to be a veterinarian when he grows up. "He wants to be a horse vet," Marco's mother Daly says. She laughs and adds, "He says that's where the money is."
But not all families who need our support know about Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech.
That's what makes your gift to Clarke so important.
Your support can help us reach more children like Marco and prepare them for a lifetime of success in a hearing world.
Invest in the future of deaf education. Make your gift to Clarke today >
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Pennsylvania Professional Development Workshop 2017:
A Journey through the Science of Sound and Language
Save the Date: October 6, 2017 | Sheraton Valley Forge Hotel in King of Prussia, PA
This workshop, a collaborative effort between Clarke Philadelphia, Hearing First and Lydia Denworth, is an exciting new platform that will provide participants an opportunity to engage with one another to inspire new thinking, to apply brain science and increase their effectiveness with the children and families they serve.
Following presentations by Lydia Denworth, Hearing First and Clarke Philadelphia, participants will be imersed in collaborative inquiry and discussion to gain knowledge, insights and strategies to improve Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) and literacy outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Learn more about the Workshop >
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38th Annual Conference on Mainstreaming Students with Hearing Loss:
Supporting Listening, Language and Literacy in the Mainstream Classroom
Save the Date: October 19 and 20, 2017 | Sponsored by Clarke Mainstream Services at Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlborough, MA
Mark your calendar for our 38th annual conference on mainstreaming students with hearing loss. 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 that this year's opening keynote speaker, Dr. Carol Flexer, will be giving a presentation on "Auditory Brain Development: The Foundation of Listening, Language and Pre-Literacy." Our day-long program for students with hearing loss in grades 7-12, "Making Connections," will also be offered. Learn more about the rest of our conference offerings, including our other keynote speakers. Registration opens in August! Sponsor and exhibitor opportunities are still available >
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Ask-the-Alumni Night at Clarke Jacksonville
We recently had a wonderful Ask-the-Alumni night at Clarke Jacksonville! At this parent education event, Clarke alumni in elementary, middle and high school (including a senior heading off to college) shared their experiences as students in the mainstream, and answered questions about their Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) journeys. Learning first-hand how these alums are thriving was inspiring to many current parents. Thanks to all who attended and especially our alumni for sharing their important stories!
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Clarke Alumni Reunion Full of Fun and Celebration
The Clarke Alumni Reunion and 150th Anniversary Celebration at UMass Amherst last month was an incredible weekend, with so many alumni returning to reconnect with Clarke and with each other. Alumni enjoyed an array of festivities, including a fabulous BBQ, an auction, disc golf, scenic bike rides, a lovely gala banquet and a truly impressive display of Clarke history. Thank you to all the alumni who came back and a special thanks to Heart Cruises, our Platinum Sponsor!
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Med-El and Clarke Partner for One-Day Workshop
Last month, Clarke Philadelphia partnered with Med-El for a one-day workshop, titled "Indicators of Auditory-guided Speech Development in Young Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing," held on the campus of Lasalle University with a fantastic turnout, drawing 87 participants. David J. Ertmer, PhD, CCC-SLP was the featured speaker and participants learned to recognize changes in prelinguistic vocalizations which indicate that hearing is actually guiding speech development. New tools for assessing early spoken language development were shared and family-centered strategies for very young children were explored. In addition, phonological development and the attainment of intelligible speech was discussed with regard to recent research, new assessment tools and intervention techniques. It was a great learning experience for all involved!
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Team Clarke Laces up for Another Great Race Lineup
Sunday, August 20, 2017 | Falmouth, MA
Sunday, November 5, 2017 | New York, NY
Clarke runners have been training hard for the New Balance Falmouth Road Race on Sunday, August 20 and the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 5. Check out the links above to find out more about the races and claim your spot to lace up for Clarke!
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Save the Date for the COOLEST Event in Jacksonville
Saturday, March 3, 2018 | Jacksonville, FL
The 2018 Kilwins Ice Cream Run is already in the works so mark your calendars for Saturday, March 3, 2018! The funds raised through this yearly event help to address our annual fundraising hurdle of $500,000 and close the gap to cover costs to provide services at Clarke in Jacksonville and Orlando.
Our goal is to have 1,000 registered participants and raise at least $75,000 in team and individual fundraising and through business sponsorships.
We are currently seeking individuals who want to help us achieve these goals and serve on the Kilwins Planning Advisory Committee. If you are interested in taking this event to the next level to benefit Clarke, contact Tina L. Morris at 904.479.6699 or
tmorris@clarkeschools.org.
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A New Day tells the dynamic and transformational stories of children and families who have benefitted from Clarke's expertise. The seven-minute video celebrates the profound impact of Clarke's mission with beautiful footage of children who are deaf or hard of hearing singing songs, learning the seasons, telling jokes and living lives filled with endless opportunities. Thanks to your support, Clarke makes brighter futures possible for the children and families we serve. We couldn't do it without you. Share the link far and wide by copying and pasting: www.clarkeschools.org/newday.
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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 here >
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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
communications@clarkeschools.org
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"Clarke Summer Camp continues to give our daughter confidence, friendship, a place to be herself and a place where people just 'get it'."
-Clarke Summer Camp Parent
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Clarke's continuum of services includes Infant-Toddler Programs, Teleservices for Infants and Families (tVISIT), Preschool Programs, K-8 Program, Mainstream Services, Summer Programs, Clarke Hearing Center, Comprehensive Educational Evaluations and Professional Development Offerings.
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. 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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