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The Clarke Connection:
September
2017
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THE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER OF CLARKE SCHOOLS FOR HEARING AND SPEECH
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Clarke Jacksonville is Back Up and Running Thanks to Our Amazing Staff and Volunteers!
We are pleased to share that classes at Clarke Jacksonville and our Preschool Program in Orlando are back in session. Fortunately, we experienced no damage at our Orlando program, but Clarke Jacksonville faced a considerable amount of flooding, sustaining roof and interior water damage.
Thanks to a group of incredible volunteers, we were able to quickly and safely remove saturated ceiling tiles and do a thorough clean-up of the classrooms and grounds to get our students back to school on Monday, September 18. We are so grateful to all who showed up to help, sleeves rolled up and supplies in hand, to get this job done.
Our thanks especially go to: Brett Trevett; Lynn Stoner; The Fisk family ----- Terri, Knox and Mary Campbell; The Shandilya family ----- Geeta, Aditi, Avani, Chinmay and Vijay; Patsy Garcia; Adam Prosser; Mary Carlson; Alisa Demico; Cynthia Robinson and Kathy Jordan.
And as we continue to witness the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma all around us in Florida, including massive displacement of families and even loss of lives, we are exceptionally grateful for the health and safety of our Clarke staff and families. Thank you to the local community for your eagerness to volunteer; and also to the greater Clarke family along the East Coast, for your concern and well wishes.
We know there is still much work to be done, and we wish everyone safety and solace as this challenging recovery continues.
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Clarke Begins a Year of 150th Anniversary Celebrations Up and Down the East Coast
We begin our year-long celebrations this fall with commemorative events and celebrations to honor our 150th anniversary year of Clarke's founding.
On September 30, Clarke alumni of the former residential program on Round Hill Road will lead a re-dedication of the commemorative stone on the founding location of the school on Gothic Street in downtown Northampton, MA. The mayor of Northampton will join with Clarke alumni, leadership, teachers, families and students to bring renewed attention to Clarke's rich history and celebrate its continued success at transforming the lives of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
And this October, November and December, Clarke will be hosting events in magnificent historical locations and even in the cool urban club of one of our alum families. We top off the celebratory events with the annual Silver Bells Christmas Party in Jacksonville, FL
----- the Clarke campus celebrating its 20th anniversary this year!
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Exciting Upgrades in Process at Clarke Jacksonville
With growing enrollment and various programming developments, Clarke Jacksonville has been eager to expand and renovate their space. And thanks to the support and partnership of the Rotary Club of Deerwood, they are currently undergoing some exciting renovations! The expansion project is in rapid progress, with students and families enjoying a "soft opening" on the first day of school in August. Upgrades to the Jacksonville, FL facility include designated space for a "Mommy and Me" Toddler Program; pull-out area for students with additional needs to receive the individualized services they require; space for family workshops and programs; an inviting and professional meeting area for family counseling and observations; a private videoconferencing room to support Clarke's growing tVISIT program; and a secure entrance that serves as a resource center and waiting area for families and guests. The staff and programs are gradually being moved into the new space as furnishings become available and renovations are completed. A very special thanks to the Rotary Club of Deerwood, whose generosity has made these truly exciting improvements possible!
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Back to School, and We Couldn't Be Happier!
School has started at all five of Clarke's locations along the East Coast, in Boston, MA; Jacksonville, FL; New York, NY; Northampton, MA; and Philadelphia, PA. We're thrilled to usher in several new classes of students and welcome back many familiar faces to our bustling campuses. Classrooms have been hosting "Boohoo-Yahoo!" welcome breakfasts for families; introducing exciting new wireless technology; and even playing Clarke-themed Jeopardy! to have some fun teaching staff about Clarke's 150-year legacy. Cheers to another wonderful school year of learning, listening, talking, friendship and adventure!
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Clarke Establishes Preschool Program in Orlando to Meet Needs of Local Families
After the success of their preschool pilot program in Orlando, FL this past January, Clarke Jacksonville is thrilled to officially mark the opening of their new Orlando program for preschoolers with hearing loss
. For 20 years, Clarke Jacksonville has been serving children who are deaf or hard of hearing in Florida and southeastern Georgia
-----
with many families traveling approximately 150 miles from Orlando, or even relocating to access Clarke Jacksonville's Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) education and therapy services. "When the opportunity to open the Orlando preschool classroom became a possibility, we felt it was important to move forward to support these families," says Cynthia Robinson, co-director of Clarke Jacksonville. Jacksonville is thrilled to add this classroom to the continuum of services they provide for families and children throughout Florida. To learn more about the program, contact Cynthia Robinson at 904.880.9001 or
crobinson@clarkeschools.org
.
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Ensure Your Student's Year is off to a Smooth Start
Have you ever thought, "I just wish I had some cheat sheets explaining my child's hearing loss that I could leave for the librarian, the bus driver, the office staff..."? Well, now you do. Clarke's Have You Heard? Welcoming a Student with Hearing Loss to Your School Community is an informative resource for parents and schools. This guide ----- which includes numerous handouts ----- helps explain hearing loss to all school staff, many of whom can make a significant difference in a student's comfort level at school. To order your copy, visit the Clarke Educational Store >
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The Clarke Hearing Center: Celebrating Milestones and Growing Its Practice
We're so pleased to congratulate Joni Skinner, AuD, who celebrates her 10th year as an audiologist at the Clarke Hearing Center in Northampton, MA this October! Joni began her career at Clarke in 2007, and has been a key member of the Hearing Center team ever since. "Technology has changed significantly since 2007 and I look forward to what we will see in the decades to come," Skinner says. "No matter what improvements we see in equipment, there are people and relationships at the core of audiology and that is what I enjoy the most."
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Pennsylvania Professional Development Workshop 2017:
A Journey through the Science of Sound and Language
October 6, 2017 | Sheraton Valley Forge Hotel in King of Prussia, PA
Register now! Don't miss the opportunity to attend this workshop sponsored by Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech in Philadelphia, PA and featuring presenters
Lydia Denworth, Dr. Teresa H. Caraway
and
Wendy DeMoss
. This educational event 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.
Learn more and register >
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38th Annual Conference on Mainstreaming Students with Hearing Loss:
Supporting Listening, Language and Literacy in the Mainstream Classroom
October 19 and 20, 2017 | Sponsored by Clarke Mainstream Services at Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlborough, MA
Register now 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 and a superb collection of educational workshops. Our keynote speakers are Dr. Carol Flexer, Sara Nović (pictured here) and Sean Forbes. Mr. Forbes will conclude his keynote address with a live performance and will later join the teens in our program for students with hearing loss in grades 7-12, "Making Connections!" Learn more or register now to secure your early bird registration rate ----- the deadline is Monday, September 25!
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A New Partnership with Wells Fargo
This July, Wells Fargo & Company announced that it will be donating to 19 nonprofit organizations across Massachusetts that work to strengthen communities by developing solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges
----- and Clarke is so pleased to be one of them! We have received a grant for $10,000 to support the Massachusetts Professional Development to Support Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Program in Northampton, MA and Boston, MA. We are so grateful for this generous grant that will allows us to recruit, retain and increase professional development opportunities for certified Massachusetts' teachers serving children who are deaf or hard of hearing. We are looking forwarding to partnering with Wells Fargo, as well as engaging with their employees as volunteers!
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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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How the Development Team Supports Clarke
The development team is an essential piece of the puzzle when it comes to Clarke's success in providing consistent, high-quality programs and services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. The development team works hard to bridge the $4 million annual gap between what Clarke receives in public funding and the cost to provide our programs and services. We close this gap by raising money from private sources, such as individual donors, foundations, corporations and through our events and other fundraising initiatives. Additionally, and equally as important, the development team raises awareness about Clarke and deaf education so that families who need our services find Clarke. With events like Clarke's Listening Walks at the Zoo and programs like Sponsor a Child, the development staff works hard to keep funds flowing while also bringing the Clarke community together in fun and exciting ways. To become engaged, lend your support or to learn more, please contact Mia Cogliantry at develop@clarkeschools.org.
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Clarke's Listening Walk at the Zoo in Mendon, MA
Following our second annual Listening Walk at the Zoo and 5K Run in Philadelphia in May, we held another listening scavenger hunt in June at Clarke's first Listening Walk at Southwick's Zoo in Mendon, MA. In this
video, featuring Clarke Northampton Director Marian Hartblay, you'll see children who are deaf or hard of hearing enjoying the zoo, talking about their hearing technology and even showing some love to their siblings! Clarke's Listening Walks are designed to raise awareness and support for Clarke and help ensure that more children and families have access to Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) education. Our tremendous gratitude goes out to
David Mager Photography for creating this video, which we encourage you to share. And be sure to save the dates for our Listening Walks in Philadelphia, PA on May 20, 2018; in New York, NY on June 3, 2018; and in Mendon, MA, on June 16, 2018!
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Clarke's Summer Camp: A Time for Friendship, Adventure and Memories!
There is something magical about Clarke's Summer Camp experience in Easthampton, MA, and this year was no exception. Campers were treated to an adventurous day at Pine Lakes Challenge Course in Connecticut ----- consisting of a series of ropes, cables and obstacles in a grove of trees and a playing field! The fun continued with a camping trip to a local state forest, team sports and a day cooling off at Cape Cod's Water Wizz Water Park ----- to name just a few of the many activities these campers enjoyed.
Thank you to all our generous sponsors, dedicated staff and enthusiastic counselors who helped make Summer Camp an overwhelming success again this year. We hope to see you next year
----- stay tuned for dates and theme, to be announced soon.
Watch the 2017 Clarke Summer Camp video >
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Parent Education Series Coming to Clarke Jacksonville
Starting Tuesday, September 26, 2017 | Clarke Jacksonville, FL
Clarke strongly believes that a well-informed parent or caregiver is crucial to the success of the Listening and Spoken Language
(LSL) journey. Therefore, Clarke Jacksonville is pleased to present a Parent Education Series for all current and alumni families this coming year. The series will consist of four presentations by local professionals or a panel, and cover important topics that pertain to raising and educating a child who is deaf or hard of hearing with Listening and Spoken Language
(LSL). The first presentation is
Understanding Speech Testing and Scoring
on Tuesday, September 26. Save the date for future presentations: Tuesday, November 7 -
Audiograms & Assistive Technology;
Tuesday, February 6, 2018 -
Dr. Steve Andreoli, ENT
; Tuesday, April 17, 2018 -
Mainstream Panel.
For more information or for opportunities to underwrite this education series project, contact Tina L. Morris,
tmorris@clarkeschools.org
or 904.479.6699.
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Clarke Buddies: Starting This Fall at Clarke Boston and Clarke Northampton
Starting November 4, 2017 | Northampton, MA and/or Canton, MA
Clarke Buddies provides terrific opportunities to meet and connect on a regular basis with other students who are deaf or hard of hearing. At our in-person Saturday meet-ups, children ages 8-17 share their experiences being deaf or hard of hearing, participate in team building activities and foster a friendly community. Meet-ups are scheduled in Northampton, MA on November 4, January 20 and March 10; and in Canton, MA on December 9, February 10 and April 28. Students are welcome to attend meet-ups in either or both locations! To learn more about the program and sign up, visit our
Clarke Buddies page.
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Falmouth Conquered, New York Marathon up Next!
Sunday, November 5, 2017 | New York, NY
Congratulations to our
New Balance Falmouth Road Race
runners: Chris Gallant, Meredith Siciliano, Matt Siciliano, Maria Sullivan, Trish Tobin and Mike Tobin! Team Clarke ran seven miles and raised over $9,200 for Clarke so we can offer the best Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) services to children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication! Team Clarke is preparing for the upcoming
TCS New York City Marathon
on Sunday, November 5. Cheer on Mike Tamulis and show him your support on Mike's fundraising page. Our students will be cheering him on to the finish!
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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, FL and Orlando, FL.
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: 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
.
"As [Adriana] enters into a new chapter, starting public school, I want to take a minute to thank you for everything you guys have done for her. For aiding her as early as you did, for working so hard to get her the therapy she deserved, and most importantly, for being supportive to us and other families who have no idea what to do as a new family and no idea where to start when receiving news of a hearing impairment. Because of you, Adriana has grown up to be an outgoing, smart, confident and VERY talkative young girl."
-Clarke New York parent
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Clarke's continuum of services includes Infant-Toddler Programs, Telepractice Virtual Intervention Services for Infants and Toddlers (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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