🔥SEASON OPENER! 🔥

Our Black Bears Goalball Teams are traveling to take on the Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (VSDB) Defenders!

We’re ready to start the season strong. 💪

Let’s Go, Black Bears! 🐻

#GoalballGameDay #WVSDB #SeasonOpener
about 1 month ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Members of the boys goalball team along with their coach stand side-by-side smiling for the camera. Match Day is in white-colored font below the players. Both the VSDB and WVSDB mascots are below "Match Day."
Episode 3 of Hands Up, West Virginia is LIVE tonight! 👐⛰️

📅 November 11, 2025, | 6 PM

Get ready for a FREE, interactive adventure with Jennifer Casto & the WVSDB Outreach team, open to anyone, anywhere! 🌎

What’s in store:
✨ Special Guests sharing unique perspectives on Deaf culture
👐 Live ASL demonstrations you can try yourself, perfect for beginners and pros
🎯 Interactive exercises that make learning fun and memorable
💬 Live Q&A - ask questions, get answers in real time
🎧 Fully accessible with captions + ASL/spoken English interpretation

Every episode is more than just a class; it’s a community experience, a chance to connect, explore Deaf culture, and enhance communication skills.

🔗: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84540081655?pwd=VVacqExsddUraMXWamTraCGXq4hfMa.1

#HandsUpWV #WVSDB #WVSDBOutreach
about 1 month ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Hands Up, WV logo in front of a gray background. "Season 1 - Episode 3" is in blue-colored font below the logo. The WVSDB and WVSDB Outreach logos are in the bottom right-hand corner.
As of November 11, 2025, the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind are accepting applications for the following vacancies:

LPN - 210 days (evening shift)
Part-time Physical Therapist - .3 FTE
RN - 220 days - (night shift)
Substitute General Maintenance/Plumber II
Substitute General Maintenance/Security

To apply, please visit - https://www.applitrack.com/wvde/onlineapp/default.aspx?choosedistrict=true&applitrackclient=47369
about 1 month ago, Sondra McKenery
Interview photo with WVSDB logo and We Are Hiring banner
Honoring Those Who Served. ❤️

Today, the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (WVSDB) pause to honor the courageous individuals who have served in our nation’s Armed Forces.

To the veterans within our WVSDB family and throughout the country, we extend our gratitude. 💙

#VeteransDay #WVSDB #HonoringOurHeroes
about 1 month ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Two students hold up their Veterans Day-themed crafts they created in one hand, and they hold up a red, white, and blue American flag in the other.
Three students hold up crafts they made to honor Veterans Day. A female student in the middle holds up a red, white, and blue American flag.
A male student stands proudly and salutes with one hand and holds up a red, white, and blue American flag with the other.
Roy, a male interpreter does a thumbs up and holds up cards that were created for Veterans Day. Two red, white, and blue American flags are positioned in front of him.
Science is POPPING at WVSDB! 🍿

This week, the Mobile Agriculture Education Science Lab is on campus, and students dived into Popcorn Capers. 🌽

They predicted whether foods like popcorn kernels, popped popcorn, cheese curls, raisins, and puffed wheat cereal would sink or float, and then tested their guesses. 🧪

Learning has never been this fun! 🎉

#MobileAgLab #WVSDB #MobileScienceLab
about 1 month ago, Alyssa Hansrote
A female student looks up at a green and yellow-colored corn stalk, while a female smiles and touches the corn stalk.
Students observe a female discuss the mobile science lab activities.
A male student with dark hair and glasses looks down as he tests his hypothesis with popcorn.
A yellow corn cob sits on top of a gray-colored bag with experiment directions written in black-colored font.
A brown paper bag full of popped popcorn.
A corn cob with kernels and pieces of popped popcorn.
Shoutout to Our Students with Perfect Attendance! 🎉

We’re proud to recognize our outstanding students who achieved perfect attendance during the first grading period! 📚

Being present every day isn’t just about showing up; it’s about learning and building habits that set you up for success. 🌟

Let’s keep the momentum going for the rest of the year! 🤩

#PerfectAttendance #WVSDB #AttendanceMatters
about 1 month ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Students stand side-by-side in two separate rows in front of a white wall with blue and yellow stripes.
🌟 Black Bears Shine at the Overbrook School for the Blind Swim Tournament! 🌟

Our swimmers made waves and brought home excellent results:
➡️Jason dominated with 4 first-place finishes
➡️Charlie earned 2 firsts and 2 second-place finishes
➡️Tristan powered through with 1 second and 1 fifth-place finish
➡️Willow finished strong with 3 seconds and 1 fourth-place finish

Way to go, Black Bears! 🐻

#SwimTournament #WVSDB #StudentAthletes
about 1 month ago, Alyssa Hansrote
A male student wearing a white shirt as he poses with his medals around his neck.
Two male student-athletes pose with a red and gold-colored trophy.
Two female student-athletes each posing with a red and gold-colored trophy.
A female student-athlete wearing goggles smiles as she swims in the pool.
Student-athletes prepare to begin the race.
Male student-athletes prepare to begin the race.
Ms. Biddle’s 1st Period Science Class Takes Off! 🚀

Students designed, built, and launched rockets, applying STEM concepts in a hands-on experience that bridges classroom learning and real-world skills. 💥

#RocketLaunch #WVSDB #STEMinAction
about 1 month ago, Alyssa Hansrote
A male student with dark hair and glasses leans down to pose with the rocket he built.
A female student with glasses and dark, curly hair smiles and poses with her rocket that is on the launchpad.
A female student wearing glasses and a pink fuzzy jacket with the hood up leans down to pose with her rocket that is on the launchpad.
A white rocket gets ready to launch off of a red-colored launchpad as a stream of smoke comes out of the bottom.
📢 Final Online Braille Class Interest Meeting!

Join Wendy Bailey from WVSDB Outreach for the last chance to learn the basics of Braille and how to support your child’s Braille literacy at home. 🏠

🗓 Date: Thursday, November 6, 2025
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM

➡️What you’ll learn:
Fundamentals of Braille reading & writing
Braille tools: Perkins Brailler & Slate & Stylus
Tips for engaging Braille literacy at home
Strategies to partner with your child’s educational team

👉 Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/r/KfXPH5YiU0

Don’t miss this opportunity!

#BrailleLiteracy #WVSDB #WVSDBOutreach
about 1 month ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Online Braille Course Interest Meeting. A set of hands touching Braille dots. The WVSDB Outreach and WVSDB logos are in the bottom right-hand corner.
It’s GO time! 💥

Our Black Bears are hitting the pool at the Overbrook School for the Blind Swim Tournament!

We’re ready to dominate the lanes. 🏊‍♂️

Let’s go, Black Bears! 🐻

#SwimTournament #WVSDB #BlackBearPride
about 1 month ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Swim Tournament. Advertisement. A male with dark hair gets ready to race in the swimming pool.
Our Social Club had a purr-fect day giving back! 🐾

We visited Whiskers Cat Rescue in Westernport, MD, as part of our community service outreach. 💛

Members collected donations of cat food, beds, treats, toys, and more to support the rescue team's amazing work.

Best part? We got to meet some adorable feline residents! 🐱

#CommunityService #WVSDB #GivingBack
about 1 month ago, Alyssa Hansrote
A male student wearing glasses and a beanie smiles as he holds a white cat in his arms.
A female with brown hair and wearing glasses smiles as she holds up a cat in her hands.
A female student with blonde hair and glasses is seated on the floor as she is surrounded by cats.
A female wearing glasses pets a cat.
A female is seated on the floor as two cats surround her.
A female wearing glasses holds a white cat in her arms.
A female with dark hair holds up a black cat.
Where’s Jennifer Casto this week? 👀

Join Jennifer Casto, WVSDB Outreach American Sign Language (ASL) Communications Coordinator, and a SURPRISE guest for an interactive session full of live ASL and hands-on activities!

📅 Tuesday, Nov 4 | 6 PM ET
📍 Zoom
🔗https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84540081655?pwd=VVacqExsddUraMXWamTraCGXq4hfMa.1

➡️What’s in store:
Live ASL demonstrations you can try yourself
Interactive exercises that make learning fun
A live Q&A
Fully accessible with captions & ASL/spoken English interpretation

Every session is a NEW adventure, full of discovery, connection, and Deaf culture. 🤩

#AmericanSignLanguage #WVSDB #WestVirginia #WVSDBOutreach
about 1 month ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Ms. Jennifer Casto.
Hands Up, West Virginia Logo. Blue and gold outer rings surround a pair of hands holding up mountains.
As of November 4, 2025, the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind are accepting applications for the following vacancies:

Part-time Physical Therapist - .3 FTE
Substitute General Maintenance/Plumber II

To apply, please visit - https://www.applitrack.com/wvde/onlineapp/default.aspx?choosedistrict=true&applitrackclient=47369
about 1 month ago, Sondra McKenery
Teacher and student signing to each other with We Are Hiring banner.
WVSDB Halloween Recap! 👻

Students trick-or-treated across campus, got creative with pumpkin decorating, and enjoyed a festive party in the Blue and Gold Student Union. 🎃

A day full of spooky fun and sweet memories! 🍬

#Halloween #WVSDB #SpookySeason
about 1 month ago, Alyssa Hansrote
A male student in a wheelchair smiles at the camera as he holds his orange, decorated pumpkin.
A female student with brown hair smiles as she holds up her orange, decorated pumpkin.
Students dressed in their Halloween costumes stand side-by-side.
Dr. Ashworth dressed as a witch poses with a female student who is also dressed as a witch.
Residential Care Specialists (RCS) stand together and pose in their Halloween costumes.
A male student dressed up as a cowboy smiles.
A female staff member poses with two students in their Halloween costumes.
Two male students stand side-by-side in their Halloween costumes.
A male Residential Care Specialist (RCS) poses with two students who are dressed in their Halloween costumes.
As October comes to a close, we want to celebrate our extraordinary Principal, Mrs. Melanie Hesse. 💛

Mrs. Hesse’s commitment to fostering a supportive and inspiring learning environment exemplifies the very best in educational leadership. 📚

Thank you for leading with heart, making every student feel seen, and shaping a school where everyone can thrive.

We are so grateful for you! 🌟

#NationalPrincipalMonth #WVSDB #EducationExcellence
about 2 months ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Mrs. Melanie Hesse.
📣Hands Up, West Virginia! Is Back! Join Jen Casto from the WVSDB Outreach Team every Tuesday from 6-8 PM (EST) on Zoom for a fun, interactive American Sign Language (ASL) learning experience! 💬🤟 ➡️Each week features a new topic, live ASL instruction, and guest appearances from members of the Deaf community. Come learn how to communicate, connect, and celebrate Deaf culture, all from the comfort of your home! 🗓 Upcoming Dates: Nov. 4 Nov. 11 Nov. 18 Dec. 2 Dec. 9 Dec. 16 🔗: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84540081655?pwd=VVacqExsddUraMXWamTraCGXq4hfMa.1 #HandsUpWV #WVSDB #WVSDBOutreach
about 2 months ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Hands Up, West Virginia Logo. Blue and gold outer rings with a pair of hands holding up mountains in the center.
📢 Attention Families of Children Who Are Visually Impaired (VI)!

Join Wendy Bailey from WVSDB Outreach for an online Braille class designed for parents and caregivers. Learn the basics of Braille, explore tools like the Perkins Brailler, and get tips to support your child’s literacy at home.

🗓 Interest Meetings:
➡️November 4, 2025, 7 PM
➡️November 6, 2025, 7 PM

👉 Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/r/zshYtk74yF

Help your child’s Braille journey start at home! 🏠

#Braille #WVSDB #WVSDBOutreach
about 2 months ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Online Braille Class Interest Flyer.
Adventure starts here! ⛺️

WVSDB welcomed back Boy Scouts with our first troop meeting; excitement is already building. 🤩

Our Scouts are ready to learn and explore, from outdoor skills to teamwork and service! 🌲

#BoyScouts #WVSDB #AdventureAwaits
about 2 months ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Boy Scout participants seated around a circular table as they meet with their Scout Leader.
Boy Scout participants seated around a circular table as they meet with their Scout Leader.
Two students and a male Residential Care Specialist (RCS) making trail mix snacks.
Two students put together their trail mix snacks.
Two male students seated at a circular table with their bags of trail mix sitting in front of them.
It’s a HUGE competition day for the WVSDB Black Bears! 🐻

🎮 eSports battles Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and Rochester School for the Deaf in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

🏊‍♂️ Swim hits the pool at Overbrook School for the Blind

Let's Go, Black Bears!

#eSports #WVSDB #SwimTournament
about 2 months ago, Alyssa Hansrote
eSports Rocket League Match Day. Purple and pink accents surround a group of students playing video games on large TV's.
Swim Tournament Announcement. A swimmer splashes water while they compete in the butterfly stroke.
The WVSDB Lady Black Bears are gearing up for the 2025–26 season! 🏀

📅Take a look and mark your calendars.

Let’s go, Black Bears! 🐻

#BasketballSeason #WVSDB #SupportOurAthletes
about 2 months ago, Alyssa Hansrote
2025 Basketball Schedule.