Greetings from Westervelt Hall!

Dear RSD Families,

I hope that you are enjoying the holiday season. Our elementary students have been busy preparing for the Winter Play, which centers around different cultures and holidays. Teachers are expanding on the play in the classroom by researching and experiencing different holiday traditions. In addition to broadening their knowledge about how various cultures celebrate holidays, we are also incorporating DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), a consistent goal in all areas of our Strategic Plan.

We also incorporate DEI through guest speakers who have visited our students this year. Students from the NTID Latin America Deaf Club and Cassie Simmons, an ASL Storyteller, presented at RSD and shared perspectives and experiences from their cultures. The High School Teachers have also done some work identifying ways our school can increase DEI awareness and ensuring we promote materials that exemplify the value of respecting all people.

Our PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Support) and Mental Health Teams have coordinated activities with students in all departments to enhance their understanding of regulating their emotions and resolving conflict to effect a positive environment. Please ask your child(ren) about the strategies they use to calm themselves to move forward in their day and resume a feeling of calm, which is necessary to be ready to learn and interact with others.

I wish you happy holidays and many memorable times with family and friends. Best wishes for the new year! I look forward to sharing more updates and successes with you in 2023.

With kind regards,

Susan

Susan Q. Ogden, Principal

Jr. NAD and high school modified students collaborated on a food drive with the Eastern Service Workers Association (ESWA).

Announcements

Strategic Plan Update

Many thanks to the parents who joined Superintendent McLetchie last week for his Zoom presentation on the updated RSD Strategic Plan. He shared the key elements of the plan as well as action items underway for Year 1 (2022-23). A recording of the meeting and information on the plan is available on the Strategic Plan page of the RSD website.

Parent-Staff Association Meetings

The RSD Parent-Staff Association (PSA) will meet on the following Mondays from 7:30 to 8:30 pm in the Learning Resource Center (LRC): December 12, January 23, February 13, March 20, April 10, May 8, and June 12. Meetings may also be attended by Zoom; the link is shared via email with families. An interpreter is provided.

PSA MEETING TONIGHT 7:30PM

News & Notes

Boys Varsity Basketball's

First Home Game

RSD fell with a final score of 31-71 by EMCHS JV. Thank you to all the fans that came out. The Boys' Varsity Basketball record is 2-1.

ASL Storyteller Cassie Simmons

RSD was pleased to welcome ASL storyteller Cassie Simmons to campus on Nov. 29. She entertained and engaged students in classes and at assemblies, sharing her perspective and humorous experiences growing up as a Black Deaf woman. Laughter and smiles were all around as we broadened our experience of ASL storytelling at RSD.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support

RSD’s high school students participate in our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) program called ROARZ. Students discover how to create and maintain a positive classroom and school environment, including discussing the best ways to cope with their emotions in stressful, tired, or different emotional situations. Here’s to self-regulation!

RSD Competes in Battle of the Books

Battle of the Books is an annual event through Gallaudet Youth Programs. Teams from Deaf schools all over the country compete by reading books and answering questions trivia-style. RSD had two teams this year and both represented our school well. Unfortunately, the competition was fierce, and neither team made it past the preliminary rounds. This was RSD’s 8th year participating, and we look forward to next year!

Adventures in Education

Many thanks to Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger, Deaf explorers and mountaineers, who joined us on campus October 27 to share their experiences climbing Denali. They were so engaging, and our students loved their presentations and classroom visits.