This past Friday, August 18th, members of the WVSDB and WVDE TAC: WV Outreach Center for the Deaf and the Blind staff were invited by Allegany County Schools in Maryland to be honored guests at their Opening Day of School ceremony. William Martinez was their keynote speaker, and he shared his presentation, “ SIGNing the Song: You Have Changed My Life and The Power of BELONGing.” This unique presentation was created to inspire teachers to remember how incredible their impact is on their students and it combines American Sign Language (ASL) with the song as well as shares his inspirational story of growing up in a deaf household, discovering music, and celebrating the massive impact that one teacher had on his life, all while introducing how ASL in the classroom can create a new and effective way for teachers to communicate with their students. Way to go!! 🎉
over 1 year ago, Alyssa Hansrote
The WVSDB and WVDE TAC: WV Outreach Center for the Deaf and the Blind team posing for a photo in the Allegany High School Auditorium.
Dr. Ressie Phillips posing with keynote speaker, William Martinez. William is holding up the ASL sign for "I love you".
Who Are You? Join us on Saturday, August 26th, at 10 AM for the Who Are You: Marlin Lane Rankin Event in the Brannon Building Auditorium on The West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind campus. This special ceremony honors a WVSB alumnus who was essential in the passing of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote! This event is proudly sponsored by, The West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, The Town of Romney, and The Hampshire County Arts Council.
over 1 year ago, Alyssa Hansrote
The flyer for the "Who Are You" Marlin Rankin event. The flyer includes details about the event, with a picture of Marlin Rankin in the right-hand corner outlined in an orange border. The flyer also features oranges titles and subtitles. At the bottom of the flyer, it has event sponsor logos. These logos include, The WVSDB, Hampshire County Arts Council, and the Town of Romney.
Employees of The West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind are invited to the Welcome Back to School Picnic! 🥪 Join us on Monday, August 21st, at 4:45 PM for a picnic and outdoor festivities. ➡️Please RSVP to Dr. Lewis by August 18th!
over 1 year ago, Alyssa Hansrote
The Welcome Back to Campus Picnic flyer. It has yellow stars on the boarder with yellow and blue font color with all the details on the event.
Yesterday, The West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind kicked off Welcome Week 2023! 🏫 We are thrilled to welcome back our entire Staff to prepare for the 23/24 School Year. ✏️ There's less than a week until our Students return to our campus, and our Staff is quickly getting ready for their arrival. We would like to wish everyone a prosperous and healthy 23/24 School Year! Make sure to send your best wishes to our Staff in the comments below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
over 1 year ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Superintendent Burch is standing on the stage in the MPR addressing our Staff during his opening session.
The entire Staff of The West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind looking towards the stage in the MPR.
Dean Hesse addressing teachers in a Data Discussion meeting.
Teachers sitting at rectangular tables facing the front of the MPR while listening to the speaker present.
Dean Hesse standing on the stage in the MPR with a Smart Board to her right presenting information to the Teachers in attendance of the data meeting.
Teachers sitting at rectangular tables facing towards the MPR stage. Some of them have their laptops open in front of them.
Our Interpreter Retreat was a SUCCESS! 🤩 It was a great event full of networking, team building, and giving and sharing advice with one another. We want to thank our special guests who came to discuss topics with our attendees! ⭐Kara Russell ⭐Charity Warigon ⭐Ruby Losh ⭐James Phillips We hope to bring more events like this to The WVSDB campus!
almost 2 years ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Kara Russell standing in front of the group presenting her topics with a smartboard.
The group of attendees posing with Kara Russell.
Charity Warigon standing in front of participants presenting her topics with a smartboard.
Charity Warigon discussing topics with the retreat attendees.
Ruby Losh pointing to someone in the retreat group.
Ruby Losh pointing to her presentation on the smartboard.
A group of 3 participants sitting at a round table watching and listening to the presenter.
Retreat participants sitting at two round tables looking towards the front of the room while observing the presenter.
Rockets, Robots, and Trains, OH MY! 🚀 Our campers had such a fun week during our Full STEAM Ahead Camp! From building rockets to robots, our campers had the opportunity to apply Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics to their activities this week. 🤖 Thank you to NASA and WVDE STEAM TAC for coming out this week! To say our Summer Camps were a success would be an understatement. We want to thank everyone who came out to speak and teach our campers about the various topics each week. We would also like to thank all the teachers and aides who helped during this time! We truly appreciate every one of you! 💙💛
almost 2 years ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Two campers sitting beside one another looking at the camera. One camper is holding up the ASL sign for "I love you".
A camper with a NASA representative getting ready to launch their rocket.
A camper with the NASA representative and teacher who are assisting him with pushing the button to launch his rocket. Other campers are in the background observing.
Two campers creating their wiggle bot.
A representative from STEAM TAC assisting a camper with his train and track.
Two campers putting their wiggle bot on a pad of paper to see how it works.
A camper watching his group's train go around the track.
Two campers assisting one another with the train track.
Two campers using tools to clip a wood rod for their wiggle bot.
The group of campers posing in front of the WVU STEAM TAC van with the WVU STEAM TAC representatives.
Let's have some fun with waterslides!🛝💦 The campers enjoyed the last afternoon of Full Steam Ahead at JayDee's Fun Park. Smiles, laughter, and splashing were the themes of the afternoon as campers found cool ways to strengthen the lasting friendships made during these last four weeks of camp. #SummerExperiences2023
almost 2 years ago, Christine Lewis
A camper, trying to go down the slide into the water
Camper coming down the water, shoot slugs to the big pool
Camper weeds in the pool, water and smiles at the camera
A photo of a camper coming down one of the water slides
Camper, getting into the water and sitting on the side of the pool
A camper, standing up on the slide after coming down from the top on the lazy slower slide
Camper, waiting in the pool water after she came down the slide
It’s a member and a camper, waiting out into the deep end of the pool
A group of campers hanging out in the deep end of the pool, talking about their experience on the slides
A camper coming down the wrong shoot slide with arms crossed
During this week the evenings for the campers have been focused on building paper roller coasters, toothpick marshmallow bridges, dioramas of a favorite room of a future home along with spending time in recreational activities with friends. 🎢🌁🏠⛺️👟 Way To Go Team Starry Nerds & Team Anchors!! #SummerExperiences2023 #STEM
almost 2 years ago, Christine Lewis
A picture of each teams, paper, roller coaster, sitting on a table
A picture of 1803 S. and campers working on making toothpick bridges
The other team working as a group to build a Bridge
A picture of a campers diorama in the favorite room of the house which happens to be outside on the patio
He camper sits next to his diorama of his favorite room
Group of campers work on their individual dioramas at a
He camper plus construction paper down for grass in her diorama
Camper sitting at the table, working on her diorama with adding construction paper with glue
A picture of a campers complete diorama with columns for a structure in flowers and daisies in the garden
A picture of the campers playing tag.
Not only did our campers get to build rockets, but they also got the opportunity to build Vext robots with the NASA representatives! 🤖 After their robots were built, teams pitted their robots against each other in a game of hockey. 🏒 Congratulations to Jenna and CJ, who were one of our team winners! 🏆
almost 2 years ago, Alyssa Hansrote
A camper looking down, while building their robot.
Two campers looking at a computer screen.
Three campers sitting at a table with a laptop getting ready to build their robot.
A camper looking at the camera while smiling. She is touching the top of her robot.
Two campers standing beside each other. One camper is holding the robot, and the other camper is holding the controller.
Campers and representatives from NASA are sitting on the floor while playing robot hockey.
Two campers standing beside one another. One camper is holding the robot.
A camper standing in front of the hockey game practicing with her robot.
Residential campers continued to use the launch techniques this afternoon as they built popsicle catapults and did a marshmallow launch. The campers then worked in two teams and finished their individual team emblems for the week. There are two power teams that are completing challenges that involve STEM concepts. The evening concluded with the campers splashing down in a local pool. #SummerExperiences2023
almost 2 years ago, Christine Lewis
camper gets ready to launch a marshmallow from the popsicle catapult on a picnic table
He was angle view of a Nother camper, getting ready to launch a catapult with a marshmallow down the sidewalk
A picture of a team working together to create their catapult
Another group of campers, getting ready to launch their catapult off the corner of a picnic table
A picture of one team’s emblem called the nerdy
A picture of a group team members working and long tables to create their emblem
A picture of a young camper in the pool
The other teams emblem made in the shape of an anchor
A-Team working together to build a catapult
To campers who would become best friends tonight smile at the camera, well embracing one another as friends in the
We're launching into Week 4 of our Summer Experience Camp series! 🚀 Today, our campers met with representatives from NASA and got the opportunity to build and launch their own rocket! 🪐 They learned the different parts of a rocket and how to calculate the height and distance of how far their rocket went using math and physics. Congratulations to Noel! Her rocket went the highest! 🌟
almost 2 years ago, Alyssa Hansrote
A camper completing a worksheet explaining the different parts of a rocket.
Two campers holding and touching a rocket.
One camper is putting his rocket on the launch pad, while another camper watches.
A camper getting ready to hit the button to launch his rocket.
A picture of 5 rockets on the launch pad.
A camper looking at the camera while holding his rocket.
A teacher assisting a camper put her rocket together.
A camper waiting for instruction to press the button to launch his rocket.
A representative from NASA helping a camper press the button to launch his rocket.
Week 3 of our Summer Experience camp series was a SUCCESS! ✅ Today our older campers completed their career portfolios. They can use this portfolio as a resource when applying to colleges or when seeking employment. Our campers can most definitely do anything they put their mind to! 🤩 Thank you again to Charity and Rupert from 360 Academy for coming this week and providing these resources for our campers.
almost 2 years ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Campers posing with Charity from 360 Academy and Superintendent Burch holding their career portfolios.
Campers posing with Charity from 360 Academy and Superintendent Burch holding their career portfolios
Campers posing with Charity from 360 Academy and Superintendent Burch holding their career portfolios
Campers posing with Charity from 360 Academy and Superintendent Burch holding their career portfolios.
A whole group photo of our campers holding their career portfolios posing with Charity and Rupert.
During the heat wave today among the hills on the WVSDB campus, the campers found the following ways to cool off and bring an end to a very busy camp week. First, the campers engage in a pick up basketball game in the gym and then go to the weight room to beat the heat in the air conditioning. 🏀🏋️ Second, the campers came together to make dirt pudding for an early afternoon treat. 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳 Third, for dinner a pizza party brought smiles and laughter to the group. 🍕 Fourth, the campers had a slip and slide good time sliding down over the hill in the back of the dormitory. 💦 The evening ended with an indoor movie 🍿 with new friends.
almost 2 years ago, Christine Lewis
The camper trying to use the treadmill
A camper, using a piece of weight equipment to strengthen his calf muscles
Camper uses a piece of weight equipment
A camper attempts to work on his balance by using a workout ball
A camper, laughing as she slides down the hill on the slip and slide
A camper bounces the ball in the gymnasium
A wide angle picture of a group of students shooting basketball from the gym
Two friends attempt to do layups in the gym
A camper stands and watches the basketball game
a camper shoots the ball underneath the rim
What do you want to be when you grow up? 🤔 This is the BIG question we have asked our older campers this past week during our Rising to the Challenge Camp. Students experienced a week focused on preparing for life after graduation. 🎓 Thanks to representatives from 360 Academy, we covered topics such as: ⭐Job Exploration ⭐Getting Ready to Work ⭐Education & Training After High School
almost 2 years ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Charity, a representative from 360 Academy signing to the campers she is presenting information to.
Campers sitting at tables filling out a quiz/survey.
Campers sitting at tables, while Charity, the representative from 360 Academy is signing and presenting information to our campers.
Campers who finished their quiz/survey mingling with other campers while gathered in a circle.
This afternoon the WVSDB basketball mini camp ended with a game between the participants. At the end of the game, Coach Combs gave each participant a basketball. 🏀. Thank you Coach Combs and all the participants for a great mini basketball camp! 👏🏻🎊 After dinner, the campers had an impromptu kickball game. This week campers are staying physically active in the evenings while preparing for their futures during the day programming. #SummerExperiences2023
almost 2 years ago, Christine Lewis
The basketball camp disciplines, holding the basketballs and giving each other high five after the game
The basketball, participants with coach and checking each other’s hand for a gray camp
A group picture of the participants of the camp shaking each other stand after the game
Camper kicking the Kidwell turn the
Camper chasing after the kickball to kick it
A group of campers in the field, playing kickball
A camper getting ready to throw the kickball back into the field of play
hey group of camper standing in the field during the game
A camper getting ready to throw the ball so another camper may kick it
A camper, kicking the kickball and running to first base
The Romney Rescue Squad came to visit with our campers today! 🚑 They explained what equipment they use on emergency calls and gave a tour of the ambulance. Perhaps we have some future EMTs in our group! 🤩 Thanks for coming, Romney Rescue Squad! 🚨
almost 2 years ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Our campers standing for a group photo in front of the ambulance with two EMT's.
Two EMT's showing and explaining to our campers what a "stair" chair is.
An EMT demonstrating a CPR machine.
A camper sitting in a chair in the ambulance while smiling for the camera.
A camper poses for the camera by flashing two "peace" signs with her fingers while standing in the back of the ambulance. Another camper is taking a picture of her.
A camper looking at the camera while in the back of the ambulance.
In the evenings the summer experience campers have been creating individual vision/focus boards, playing team building games, and having recreational fun with water games. #SummerExperiences 2023 #PreparingForTheFuture
almost 2 years ago, Christine Lewis
A group of campers after they completed the team building activity, the common thread showing their employee did poster
Another group of campers showing their completed poster after the game, the common thread
A picture of a completed table of individual vision boards at the residence created
Another picture of a table with individual vision boards completed
Another table with completed vision boards made by the campers
The last group of completed vision boards laying on the table
A picture of a group of campers in the swimming pool, smiling at the camera, well forwarding to the edge of the water
A picture of a camper, who is aesthetic that he is in the water of the pool
A picture of a group of campers looking through magazines in compiling items for their individual vision boards
Did residents smile at the camera wall having their vision boards in front of them on the table?
Today our campers met with Corporal Godlove with the Hampshire County Sheriff's Department! 👮 Corporal Godlove taught our campers about his cruiser, his uniform, and the equipment he uses daily. 🚓 He answered many questions from our curious campers, such as how to become a police officer and his "craziest" story while on duty. Thank you for coming and hanging out with us today, Corporal Godlove! 🚨
almost 2 years ago, Alyssa Hansrote
A picture of the Hampshire County Sheriff's cruiser.
Our campers standing around Corporal Godlove and his cruiser while he talks with them.
Corporal Godlove showing our campers his baton
One of our campers smiling while sitting in the back of Corporal Godlove's cruiser.
One of our campers smiling while sitting in the back of Corporal Godlove's cruiser.
One of our campers smiling while sitting in the back of Corporal Godlove's cruiser.
One of our campers smiling while sitting in the back of Corporal Godlove's cruiser.
A group photo of our campers with Corporal Godlove standing in front of his cruiser.
WVSDB basketball Coach Combs is holding a mini basketball camp during this week's summer experience. 🏀👟#PreparingForTheFuture
almost 2 years ago, Christine Lewis
The basketball campers doing some lunges across the gym floor
The basketball campers doing some different positions on the floor
basketball players running a bouncing the ball skill drill
Coach combs, showing a young camper, how to run up and down the cords and pay attention to his teammates
The basketball camp or standing on either side of the file box, bouncing a basketball back-and-forth, the one another wall coach Coombes watches
coach Combs showing the players how to grab the ball when bringing it down after a foul shot
WVDE: Technical Assistance Center: WV Outreach Center for the Deaf and the Blind, Statewide K-12 Specialist ASL Liaison, Dr. Ressie Phillips, represented our center at the WVDE Invest Conference in Morgantown today. Dr. Phillips presented information to interested conference participants on the Statewide WV CTE Interpreter Program.
almost 2 years ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Dr. Ressie Phillips presenting information at a conference about CTE Interpreter programs.