RSD K12 School Newsletter - April/May 2024

K-12 School News

May 1, 2024

Greetings from Westervelt Hall!

Hello RSD Families,

My name is Sadie. I am one of the school psychologists here at RSD. Spring is one of the busiest times of the year in education but also one of the most rewarding. The gray monotony of winter is replaced by sunshine and springtime flowers. There is a sense of renewed energy as students and staff see their hard work come to fruition. It can also be a stressful time of year with students preparing for state tests, Regents exams, awards ceremonies, graduation, and the next season of their lives.

Emily, our school counselor, continues to provide bi-weekly Zones of Regulation (ZOR) and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons for students. Emily has taught students the benefits of emotional regulation and coping skills, how to establish and maintain healthy boundaries, and what makes a friendship bloom.

Colleen, the other school psychologist, and I have collaborated with Deaf Ignite to provide a variety of workshops and activities to middle and high school students. These activities are designed to teach students about consent and how it applies to their daily lives, to effectively communicate and compromise with others, and to emphasize practicing self-care and self-acceptance.

It is one of the most rewarding parts of our job when a student internalizes a new skill, experiences a “light-bulb moment” and thrives. We hope you join us in reflecting on and celebrating how far your child has come since the Fall. May the Spring season be one for continued growth and accomplishments; the Mental Health Team (MHT) is here for you and cheering you on every step of the way!

Sadie

Sadie Kulhanek, School Psychologist

Announcements

RSD Construction starts soon!

Friendly reminder that we are beginning construction soon. This will impact certain programming on campus and parking spots will become limited. Construction timeline and updates can be found here: Link

STEAM Day! May 9th 2024

Come visit us on the RSD campus from 12:30 PM to 3 PM to check out why STEAM is so important for our students! Our students will showcase their STEAM talents, so the campus will be open to families. To read the poster in bigger detail, please click here.

The Addams Family School Play

Students are working hard to prepare for the upcoming play on May 22 and 23rd! To read the poster in bigger detail, please click here.

Reserve Tickets

RSD Family Festival

SAVE THE DATE! Plans are underway for the 2024 Family Festival on May 23rd from 5 pm to 7 pm. The Addams Family School Play will follow afterward, so this is shaping up to be an exciting night! To read the poster in bigger detail, please click here.

RSD Community Outing @ Red Wings Game!

On June 13th, come join us at Innovative Field to cheer on the Rochester Red Wings as they take on Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders! Tickets will be only $10! Stay tuned to your email for ordering information through RSD. To read the poster in bigger detail, please click here.

NEW SCHEDULE!

Food Pantry Open on Tuesdays & Sundays

The Rochester Deaf Kitchen Food Pantry is OPEN and thriving. They are located at RSD in Galloway Hall (use entrance/lot A) and are open on Tuesdays from 9-11 AM and Sundays from 1-3 PM. RSD families and staff are encouraged to make use of the pantry as needed. Please help us spread the word in the ROC Deaf community!

To follow and/or support the pantry, check them out on Facebook & Instagram.

News & Notes

RDK CELEBRATES AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE

RSD was honored to join Rochester Deaf Kitchen to celebrate the distribution of over 100,000 pounds of food in their first six months of operation. Many thanks to Congressman Joe Morelle who joined us to mark this important achievement and tour the pantry and our Early Childhood Center.

We congratulate Executive Director Zachary Ennis, Associate Director Linzie Fuechtmann, and the huge army of volunteers who keep the pantry organized and welcoming. So many of these volunteers and community partners joined us to mark the occasion and help us recognize some of the most dedicated and instrumental volunteers and partners.

RSD Superintendent/CEO Antony A.L. McLetchie was presented with the Visionary Leadership Award, recognizing the important role RSD has played in giving the pantry a healthy start by providing a safe and familiar space, as well as Tony's personal mentoring, advocacy, and leadership.

This celebration not only honored Rochester Deaf Kitchen’s achievement but also reminded us of the ongoing journey to combat food insecurity within the Deaf community. We hope that our partnership with Rochester Deaf Kitchen can serve as a model for other schools and pantries, showing the impact that can be made when communities come together to support those in need.

MAGIC @ RIT

From classroom to studio! 🎮 Our Career and Technical Education teacher, Isaiah Tyler, took his video game design class on an exciting journey to MAGIC at RIT. Thanks to Dennis McCorry, the Digital Games Hub Coordinator at RIT, the students got an exclusive tour and even got to try out games developed by different development teams at RIT. But the highlight? The students got to present their own video game creations and received invaluable feedback.

MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

Spring is in full swing with middle school volleyball! 🏐 This year, we're doubled the excitement with not one, but TWO volleyball teams, with more play time, leadership opportunities and skills building for our players!

DEAF PHARMACIST VISITS RSD

RSD had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Ashley Walker, PharmD, a deaf pharmacist, who shared her inspiring journey with us. Through her presentations, she emphasized the significance of medication safety and the importance of disclosing allergies and medical conditions to healthcare professionals.

MAPLE & SUGAR & SNOW, OH MY!

Exploring history & science in one sweet trip! 🍁 Our RSD students immersed themselves in the art and science of maple syrup making at the Genesee Country Village & Museum. Discovering ancient tapping methods and 1800s preservation techniques, it's a delicious lesson in history and innovation!

RSD ACADEMIC BOWL TEAM GOES TO OHIO

Our RSD Academic Bowl team embarked on a journey to Ohio School for the Deaf for the Academic Bowl, courtesy of Gallaudet University Youth Programs. Amidst fierce competition, they embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, leaving their mark by sharing knowledge and making unforgettable memories!

NASA AMBASSADOR ON SOLAR ECLIPSE

RSD was thrilled to host Jim Porter, a Solar System Ambassador for NASA and former Chief Systems Engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He shared insights on the Totality Solar Eclipse happening on April 8th, offering valuable tips for safe and optimal viewing.

DEAF SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER VISITS RSD

RSD warmly welcomed Rachel Burton, a deaf social media influencer behind the uplifting Such a Lovely Red account. Rachel shared insights on authenticity, trauma processing, and fostering positivity. Thank you for joining us!

DRUMMING UP A STORM!

We made the walls of Westervelt rumble with our incredible drumming session! RSD Music Teacher Pam McInerney and her 6th-grade music class teamed up with Anna Conti and her 6th-grade drumming ensemble from West Irondequoit CSD’s Rogers Middle School, sharing rhythms, beats, and smiles!

FRENCH DEAF VISITORS VISIT ROCHESTER!

RSD warmly hosted international deaf visitors from France! As part of the Rochester Global Connections program, they had the opportunity to explore key destinations within our local deaf community here in Rochester and Buffalo. Our student ambassadors guided them through a tour of RSD's campus, showcasing our classrooms and facilitating interactions with our students!

HAPPY NATIONAL DEAF LGBTQ AWARENESS WEEK!

The week of April 15th to 19th was National Deaf LGBTQ Awareness week so RSD Staff dressed up in their best rainbow shirts to support our Deaf LGBTQ students!

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

Brian Swereda of 13 WHAM ABC visited our journalism class to offer valuable insights on enhancing our campus news broadcasts. Our students gained invaluable ideas from his expertise and are eager to implement them!

SUPERINTENDENT'S CONFERENCE DAY

We had an engaging Superintendent's Conference Day, doing a deep dive into some very interesting topics with presentations and workshops for school staff:

📚Consultants Todd Czubek and Kristin DiPerri continued working with staff on our implementation of the Bedrock Grammar Curriculum, and also offered a parent workshop and visited classrooms yesterday.

🤟Dr. Jason Listman, NTID Interpreting/ASL professor and RSD board member, held an ASL workshop on “Connecting the Dots: Enhancing Cohesion in ASL.”

🧩Sarah Brandt, EdD, led us in professional learning and strategies for autism in Deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

🌈 Kendra Drake, MBA, a youth engagement specialist with the Office of Children and Family Services, gave the dorm staff an introduction to working with emerging LGBTQ+ youth and allies.

🌟 Kevin Atlas, an inspirational speaker, concluded the day with a talk called “The Power of One,” recounting the ways that educators impacted his life, encouraging positive thinking, and stacking good habits to reach your goals.

TRAVEL ABROAD PROGRAM TO EGYPT

Our seniors ventured to Egypt alongside their peers from Utah School for the Deaf over their spring break. Amidst the ancient wonders and bustling cities, they dove into the captivating history of the pyramids and beyond. A heartfelt thank you to our generous donors whose support made this unforgettable experience possible!