News & Announcements

Come one and come all to help us celebrate 175 years of Tennessee School for the Deaf on April 3-4! The 175th committee has a lot of fun events planned including the 175th BBQ Banquet, the "PAH!" Gala, and more. Please have your payments completed by March 6th, 2020 as payments will not be accepted at the door on the day of event. For more questions and information, please contact Anna Austin (a.austin@tsdeaf.org) and Penny Oaks (p.oaks@tsdeaf.org)
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Please join TSD Knoxville’s Upper School Art students as they host the annual TSD Youth Art Show. This event is free and open to the public on March 12th from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm.

Please contact Tina-Margaret Steele, tm.steele@tsdeaf.org, for more information.
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Join the Birth-5 Parent Outreach team and other families for a two-hour, hands-on workshop: "Transportation Unit". In addition, you will have the opportunity to talk with Teachers of the Deaf about your specific concerns. Ready, Set, Learn! will take place at Partnership Services for Family, Children, and Adults in Chattanooga, TN on April 26, 2020 from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM.
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The Tennessee Observer Fall 2019 Newsletter is now available on the TSD Website (About Us > Newsletter).
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The temperatures may be unseasonably warm outside, but WTSD has been battling igloo-type temperatures inside Mrs. Erin's and Mrs. Melissa's Pre-K classrooms.

The idea of a milk-jug igloo began a year ago when classroom teacher, Melissa Spence, asked parents to start saving gallon jugs. The requested jugs would be used for an art project relating to their "Imagination and Creativity" theme. The parents came through in fine fashion, and the igloo came to life. Students loved every second of exploring the igloo and imagining what it might be like to live there. Although it was a "Pre-K project", all of WTSD students and staff have enjoyed the creativity and hard work of the parents and teachers that resulted in the unmistakable structure.
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The Parent Outreach K-12 Program encourages all parents and family of deaf / hard of hearing children to participate in Family ASL Classes every Tuesday beginning on January 21st. Classes range from Intermediate to Beginner 2. Experience in ASL or no experience, all family members are welcome!
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TSD Nashville is closed Friday 2/7 due to inclement weather.
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West Tennessee School for the Deaf wrapped up the first half of the '19-'20 school year with a "WTSD Gives Back" themed Holiday Program. For several years, WTSD has used the holiday spirit to participate in giving back to the community. This year, they chose to take it a step further and honor our nation's military personnel by simply saying "thank you". They did this by participating in "100,000 Thank Yous". Nashville's "The Ty Bentli Radio Show" partnered with Operation Gratitude (a 501(c)(3) organization that provides tangible ways to strengthen communities and bring together grateful civilians with the men and women in uniform who serve and protect them) to collect and send 100,000 "thank yous" to our troops. Each class at WTSD joined in the effort of providing 100,000 Thank Yous by creating their own thank you cards and sending them to the radio show. The Holiday Program highlighted the gratitude for our troops through a PowerPoint showcasing each student's effort in the push for 100,000 Thank Yous, as well as recognizing our own military "hero", Chad Blalock. The program also featured each class in a performance of a song that was originally performed and/or written by artists native to Tennessee. WTSD looks forward to continuing the tradition of giving back.
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As part of WTSD’s ongoing Positive Behavior program, students with “Upper Crust” behavior were invited to participate in a pizza party. Each nine weeks, good behavior resulting in no office discipline referrals is celebrated. The most recent celebration included creating and enjoying their own pizzas. A huge shout out to those with Upper Crust behaviors as well as to our fabulous cafeteria crew for taking time out of their busy day to make this happen.
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On Saturday, December 14th, Sara Miller walked the stage at the University of Tennessee at Martin's commencement ceremony. Sara was officially recognized for earning a Master's of Science in Education with a major in Educational Leadership. While she completed her grad school program in the middle of August (during the late summer semester), there is no summer commencement held at UTM. So, summer graduate students must wait to walk during the Fall commencement ceremony which was held this past Saturday.

Sara completed her degree in three years (taking classes every Fall/Winter/Summer semester) while teaching full time at the West Tennessee School for the Deaf. She maintained a 4.0 GPA and was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, last April. To receive an invitation to be inducted into Phi Kappa Phi as a graduate student, one must be in the top 10 percent of the class. It is an honor to be recognized.

Currently in her 12th year of teaching, Sara enjoys working with her fabulous group of 5th and 6th grade students, every day. While Sara loves being in the classroom and has no plans to leave any time soon, this new degree allows her to have the option to apply for administrative positions in the future should the opportunity arise.

Sara is incredibly grateful to all family, friends, and coworkers who have supported and encouraged her over the last three years. None of it would have been possible without all of the support!
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