Many Hands make
MSSD Parent Weekend a Success!
By Leslie Proctor
 October
5, 6, and 7 was a special weekend at the Model Secondary School for the
Deaf when students, their parents and caregivers took part in Parent Weekend
at the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center. 150 people attended.
The goal of Parent Weekend was to offer families educational opportunities
through presentations and workshops, to encourage parent involvement in
the education of their deaf children, and to provide activities for parents
and students to spend quality time together.
Family Education and Student Life organizers decided to hold the event
in the fall to help parents, teachers and staff get to know each other
and to focus on parent involvement early in the year. This year's theme
"Many Hands Together" was reflected in the cooperation of employees
and participants throughout the weekend.
The weekend started on Friday with registration and a Families as Partners
meeting. Families as Partners is a place for parents to work together,
determining priorities and making plans for getting families involved
in the school. Parents were invited to dinner with the students, teachers
and staff. Informal conversation and relaxation was followed by Parent
Night activities. Parents were welcomed by Interim Dean, Dr. Jankowski
and then given an overview of the Accreditation For Growth process by
committee chairs, Matt Goedecke and Susan Jacoby. Parents then had an
opportunity to visit their child's team where they discussed the team's
theme and reviewed the curriculum. Individual parent meetings with teachers
were also scheduled.
Saturday morning opened with a keynote presentation by Dr. Laurene Gallimore
who fascinated the families with her riveting analysis of "Adolescent
Development: Deaf and Hearing Perspectives." Four workshops were
offered during the second half of the morning: Transition in the High
School by transition coordinator Marilyn Galloway; Psychological Testing:
What Every Parent Needs to Know by school psychologist, Eileen O'Toole;
Adjusting to Residential School: Separation Anxiety, by personal counselors,
Coletta Fidler and Ricky Suiter; and Family Wellness: How to Get What
You Want Without the War" by family educator, Leslie Proctor. Exhibitors
from the Gallaudet Admissions Office, Maryland Relay, Wyntell Communications,
Duartek Inc., the NAD Youth Leadership Camp also had booths available.
Although the day started off rainy, the skies cleared in time for the
afternoon activities. Families joined the students for brunch or took
off via Gallaudet Shuttle for Union Station. The MSSD swimming pool, the
newly relocated Eagle Center, a Tabletalk discussion group and a volleyball
tournament were all open for enjoyment. The evening's football game, MSSD
vs California School for the Deaf- Freemont was preceded by a tailgate
cookout with parents, teachers and staff joining together as chefs and
servers. The game was a hot one, but MSSD prevailed.
 |
Families as Partners Committee meeting
during Parent weekend. |
Finally the weekend had to come to a close with a farewell breakfast
in honor of the parents. Our guest speaker was Deborah DeStefano, Director
of Admissions at Gallaudet University and also the mother of present and
former MSSD students. Her talk focused on the theme "Many Hands Together."
MSSD students provided entertainment with creative dance renditions reflecting
the spirit of America, under the choreographic direction of Yola Rozynek.
They even included Dr. Jankowski and some of the families in the performance.
The Parent Weekend brought very positive reactions from both participants
and Clerc Center teachers and staff. Leslie Proctor, Family Educator,
Shirley Hampton and Justin Burns, Head Residential Educators coordinated
the weekend. Doris Millios, Assistant Director for Student Life, and Leslie
Page, Coordinator of Family Education were the event sponsors.
|
