ROCHESTER SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
1545 ST PAUL STREET, ROCHESTER, NY 14621 www.rsdeaf.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: VISION: RSD, A LEADER IN CREATING A VIBRANT COMMUNITY OF LIFELONG LEARNERS - ONE STUDENT, ONE FAMILY, ONE SUCCESS AT A TIME.MISSION: ROCHESTER SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF (RSD) PROVIDES EXEMPLARY OPPORTUNITIES IN A BILINGUAL ENVIRONMENT TO MEET STUDENTS' UNIQUE LEARNING. TOGETHER, AS A COMMUNITY, RSD CHALLENGES AND PREPARES STUDENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE EVER-CHANGING WORLD BY: -CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT EMPOWERS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, ENABLES COMMUNICATION, AND ENRICHES SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT; -USING BOTH PROVEN AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING ALONG WITH CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES; AND -NURTURING STUDENTS IN MIND, BODY, AND SPIRITEDNESS CULMINATING IN SELF-AWARENESS, CULTURAL IDENTITY AND PRIDE.

EDUCATION AND RELATED SERVICES- ROCHESTER SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF (RSD) PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR PROFOUNDLY DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN NEWBORN TO AGE 21, THROUGH FUNDING FROM THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (NYSED). THESE PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON THE UNIQUE LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION, EDUCATIONAL, AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF EACH CHILD APPOINTED TO THE SCHOOL BY THE NYSED. DURING THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR, RSD SERVED 145 STUDENTS FROM 35 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN 11 COUNTIES. CHILDREN WERE ENROLLED IN DEAF INFANT, PRE-KINDERGARTEN, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS (NEW YORK STATE REGISTERED PROGRAMS AWARDING REGENTS AND HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS, CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND OCCUPATIONAL STUDIES COMMENCEMENT CREDENTIALS AND SKILLS AND ACHIEVEMENT COMMENCEMENT CREDENTIALS). ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR INCLUDE:- IN SEPTEMBER 2019, THE FIRST AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE FAMILY FESTIVAL WAS HOSTED AS PART OF THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL FAMILY NIGHT. THE ADVENTURES IN EDUCATION GUEST WAS SHANNON GALPIN, WHO PRESENTED ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN (INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO RIDE BIKES), AS WELL AS USING STREET ART TO ILLUSTRATE THE PLIGHT OF MANY ANIMAL SPECIES.- ON NOVEMBER 14, 2019, RSD WAS HONORED WITH PLACEMENT OF AN HISTORICAL LANDMARK MARKER BY THE POMEROY FOUNDATION AS THE SITE FOR THE ORIGINALLY NAMED WESTERN NEW YORK INSTITUTION FOR DEAF MUTES. - ALSO IN NOVEMBER, RSD HOSTED THE JR NAD (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF) CONFERENCE AND INVITED OVER 125 PARTICIPANTS FROM 27 SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS FOR THE DEAF ACROSS THE COUNTRY. - IN FEBRUARY 2020, RSD KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE STUDENTS TRAVELED TO RIT TO PRESENT A SIGNED CHANT HONORING THE UNITED WAY. THE KICK-OFF EVENT TO CELEBRATE THE ANNUAL DRIVE WAS A TOUCHING WAY TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR DONATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND TO SHARE THE TALENTS OF THE YOUNGEST STUDENTS. - ALSO IN FEBRUARY, FOUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TRAVELLED TO ALBANY, NY TO PARTICIPATE IN ADVOCACY DAY. THEY ACCOMPANIED SUPERINTENDENT MCLETCHIE AND OTHER STAFF TO LOBBY FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF ELECTED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO MAINTAIN AND PROMOTE 4201 SCHOOLS. - THE PBIS (POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORT) SYSTEM CONTINUES TO THRIVE AS THE CORE OF THE SCHOOL'S POSITIVE CLIMATE. STUDENTS ARE EXPLICITLY TAUGHT EXPECTATIONS AND POSITIVE BEHAVIOR IS REINFORCED. - THE STUDENT BODY GOVERNMENT (SBG) WAS REINSTATED IN THE HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE INTENT OF PROVIDING A MEANS FOR STUDENTS TO EFFECT CHANGE AND TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL. SEVERAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ASSUMED LEADERSHIP ROLES AND BECAME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN SBG OPEN MEETINGS.- A NEW CHESS CLUB WAS FORMED THIS YEAR AND PLAYERS ENJOYED A FEW COMPETITIONS. - A MEMORABLE GRADUATION CEREMONY TOOK PLACE AT THE RED WINGS STADIUM ON AUGUST 6, 2020. THIRTEEN GRADUATES WERE HONORED. - DUE TO COVID-19 SCHOOL CLOSURES STARTING IN MID-MARCH 2020, ALL TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES SHIFTED TO REMOTE LEARNING PLATFORMS. AS A RESULT, ALL IN-PERSON ATHLETICS, FIELD TRIPS, COMPETITIONS, FAIRS, CELEBRATIONS, PLAYS/PERFORMANCES, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES GOING FORWARD WERE CANCELED. - FIVE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN SNOW SPORTS CLUB. THEY WENT TO BRISTOL MOUNTAIN 6 TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WINTER WITH TWO STAFF MEMBERS. - SIXTEEN STUDENT MEMBERS OF OUR YEARBOOK CLUB VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME TO HELP CREATE OUR 47TH EDITION YEARBOOK. - FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN-A-ROW, THE SIX STUDENT TECH CREW WORKED HARD TO VIDEO STREAM OUR BASKETBALL GAMES FOR FANS OUTSIDE OF RSD TO WATCH ON FACEBOOK LIVE. - VARSITY SOCCER AND GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TEAMS WERE NAMED NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR. - VARSITY SOCCER PLAYER BODE AGGAS WAS NAMED NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR- CHARLES PALMER WAS NAMED NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL COACH OF THE YEAR. - GIRLS VOLLEYBALL WON THE DIVISION II SPIKEOUT TOURNAMENT IN CALIFORNIA AND THE ESDAA TOURNAMENT IN PENNSYLVANIA. - THE NEW YORK STATE SENATE PASSED A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE RSD VOLLEYBALL TEAM FOR ITS ACCOMPLISHMENT THIS SEASON.

RESIDENTIAL - ROCHESTER SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF (RSD) PROVIDES HOUSING FOR STUDENTS WHOSE INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN (IEP) REQUIRES IT AS PART OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. MOST OF THESE STUDENTS ARE RESIDENTS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS OUTSIDE OF MONROE COUNTY FOR WHOM A DAILY COMMUTE WOULD BE IMPRACTICAL. DURING THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR, 33 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM WHICH WAS OPERATIONAL EVERY MONDAY AFTERSCHOOL THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. A VAST MAJORITY OF THESE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN CO- AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ATHLETICS, DRAMA CLUB, YEARBOOK CLUB, TECH CREW, HOMEWORK CENTER AND OTHER AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AT RSD. SEVERAL OF THEM WERE ACTIVE MEMEBERS OF JR. NAD (JUNIOR NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF RSD CHAPTER) WHICH PROVIDES LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL. IN 2019 RSD HOSTED THE NATIONAL JR. NAD CONFERENCE. 125 DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING HIGH SCHOOL-AGE YOUTH ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE.

DEAF INFANT PROGRAM AND EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER- EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN, NEWBORN TO AGE THREE. - EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR DEAF OR HARD-OF-HEARING CHILDREN TO AGE FOUR. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES: - A HOME-BASED INFANTS, TODDLERS AND TWOS PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING FROM BIRTH TO 18 MONTHS OF AGE AND OUR CENTER-BASED PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN FROM 18 MONTHS TO 3 YEARS OF AGE;- A FULL-DAY PRESCHOOL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 3 AND 4- A SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF YOUNG CHILDREN- THE SHARED READING PROJECT, AN OUTREACH INITIATIVE THAT PROVIDES IN-HOME SUPPORT BY AN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL) SPECIALIST TO HEARING PARENTS OF A DEAF TODDLER, TUTORING THEM TO READ CHILDREN'S STORIES TO THEIR CHILD USING AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL).- A NATURAL PLAYGROUND AND OUTDOOR CLASSROOM THAT REPLACED TRADITIONAL OUTDOOR PLAY AREA FEATURES SEVERAL HIGHLY INTERACTIVE PLAY ELEMENTS MADE OF NATURAL MATERIALS TO INSPIRE AND ENGAGE YOUNG STUDENTS.- A DEDICATED ART STUDIO TO FOSTER CREATIVITY THROUGH SEVERAL TYPES OF ART MEDIA- A MULTI-SENSORY SOUND ROOM WHERE TEACHERS LEAD YOUNG STUDENTS THROUGH A VARIETY OF VISUAL, TACTILE AND AURAL EXERCISES AND EXPERIENCES TO BETTER SIMULATE ALL OF SENSES. - RSD EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS STAFF DEVELOPED "ECC ASL STORYTIME VIDEOS" FOR THE RSD YOUTUBE CHANNEL. THESE VIDEOS ARE USED IN THE CLASSROOM BUT ALSO SHARED WITH FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. -THE DESCRIBED AND CAPTIONED MEDIA PROGRAM, UNDER THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF, CONTACTED RSD AND ASKED TO SHARE THESE ASL STORIES NATIONWIDE ON THEIR WEBSITE. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 43 VIDEOS. - THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM HOSTED DAYTIME AND EVENING EVENTS WHICH INCLUDED: PARENT NIGHT; ECC HALLOWEEN PARADE (ONE PARENT ALSO CREATED A HAUNTED HOUSE IN THE ECC); HARVEST FESTIVAL; FAMILY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION. EVENTS PLANNED FOR EARTH DAY AND DRIVE-IN MOVIE NIGHT HAD TO BE CANCELED DUE TO COVID 19 SCHOOL CLOSURE. - THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT VISITED TO TALK WITH OUR STUDENTS ABOUT SAFETY.

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