Blue inspired hands. Green letters underneath Walden School. Blue letters underneath The Learning Center for the Deaf.
In this Newsletter:
Hello Walden School Families! 
 
Here are updates for this week: 
 
  • March is here! And as we return back to some sense of structure with our academic instruction, that means our state assessments - MCAS - will begin this month. Through March, April, May and June, we will have testing for students in grades 3-8 and high school. Your student’s teacher will be in touch specifically with testing dates so you can support your student in getting prepared to do their best on the MCAS this spring. 
  • March is typically the “longest” month of the school year with no holidays, and this month we have five weeks of school. Please support your student in ensuring they continue to do their best this month. Before you know it, it’ll be springtime and warmer outside! 
 
Have a great weekend! 
Chris Kaftan
Interim Principal
Important Dates/Reminders: (Link to Academic Calendars) 
  • Our DESE visit that was originally scheduled for January has been postponed and will now be March 7th-9th.
The front half of a white horse with gray mane and blue reigns. A white man with black hat and long blue coat rides the horse.
Galloping Ghosts Athletics have opened their team store once again! Buy apparel for yourself, for loved ones, and as gifts! (Note: Youth sizes are not available but you could order an Adult Small for an older student).
DEADLINE: March 13th, 2022 @ 11:59PM
Resources for Discussing the Russian Invasion of Ukraine:
Family ASL Classes begin March 14
Our campus prides itself on supporting a language-rich environment for our students and staff. Gaining even basic knowledge of ASL is critical to build strong relationships in the home, communicate with your child, and support their academic, social and emotional needs. We hope you will consider signing up for our classes to enrich your ASL fluency and support your child at home.

Sadly, language deprivation is too common for deaf youth and adolescents. A 2017 article from Boston University cites that 90-95% of deaf children are born to hearing parents who don’t know ASL and do not learn the language before the child begins school. Even after the student has enrolled in a school, only 40% of families are using ASL in the home.

Our Spring 2022 Family/Caregiver ASL Classes will again offer a Level I and a Level II class. 

We have two options for Level I class and two options for Level II class. When you fill out your registration form, please choose the option that works best for you. Each class does require a minimum number of attendees, so we will reach out to all of you with additional information once we have a better idea if both class times can be filled.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Carla Del Pizzo.

Thank you!
  • Camp Sol Summer Camp: Click Here for Information
  • Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf is inviting deaf and hard-of-hearing students to register for our upcoming competitions for spring 2022: SpiRIT Writing (https://www.rit.edu/ntid/writingcontest) and Digital Arts, Film, and Animation (https://www.rit.edu/ntid/digital-arts-film-and-animation-competition). 
  • RIT Explore Your Future: If you’re looking for a way to help your college-bound high school students make important decisions about life after high school, encourage them to join us at Rochester Institute of Technology this summer for Explore Your Future! EYF is a week-long, on-campus summer program for college-bound deaf and hard-of-hearing high school students who will enter their junior or senior year in fall 2022. More information here.