Wisconsin School for the Deaf - The Wisconsin Times Vol. 132 No. 1 Fall 2010 | Page 5

Elementary Spirit Week
The elementary team celebrated WSD Spirit Week by doing
four days of ASL poetry and Deaf Art. On Sports Day, the
students presented their A-Z ASL poetry about different sports.
On Tuesday, the students presented their Deaf Art and explained
why they included the many kinds of ASL hand shapes in their
artwork. On Colors Day, each class was assigned a specific
color and they had to create and present an ASL colorful song.
On Animal Day, the students wore different animal shirts. They
presented different animal hand shapes. Many firebird coupon
rewards were passed out to the students by staff from the library,
technology department, and PST team to praise the students’ hard
work and brave spirits for participating in all of the activities
and presentations. Karla Gunn, Bilingual Specialist, commented,
“It was an awesome way to support ASL, their first language,
and their school spirit.” The final day of the Spirit Week was
attending a pep rally led by WSD cheerleaders. It was a powerful
sight seeing red and white everywhere and supporting the WSD
football and volleyball teams before Homecoming weekend.

Deaf Awareness Week

The second day of Deaf Awareness Week was all about deaf
chefs. Roger Claussen, staff member from WSD, discussed
his experiences as a deaf chef over many years. He explained

his journey as a deaf chef. The students enjoyed watching
photos of a younger Roger Claussen in the generation before
the digital age. He shared his challenges and successes. The
next presentation was by Karen Turcsany-Lopez’s Culinary
Arts class. The students took turns showing different Web
sites of successful deaf chefs and explaining why they picked
them as a deaf model chef. The assembly concluded with
delicious foods prepared by the WSD kitchen staff.
The third day of Deaf Awareness Week was all about deaf
photographers. About 20 deaf photographers’ work was
put together on a Power Point presentation. Students could
browse through the photo gallery and also read biographical
information about the deaf photographers using different
Web sites. The students were especially excited to view
the photography and read about 1986 WSD graduate Paul
Rutowski.

WSD began its second Deaf Awareness Week celebration
the week of September 20–25 by celebrating Deaf Club,
Deaf Chefs, Deaf Photographers, International Day of Sign
Language Rights, and Deaf Magicians. The first day of the
Deaf Awareness Week celebration began with a field trip
to Southern Lakes Association of the Deaf Club (SLAD)
in Delavan. The first group consisted of all elementary
students and the 8th-grade Deaf Studies class. SLAD has
its coffee gatherings on Mondays. Several WSD alumni
greeted WSD students. It was a wonderful opportunity for
WSD students to meet deaf adults. Mr. Dean Kelly, WSD
alumnus 1975, began his presentation about SLAD’s history
and four Deaf Club picnics by showing a photo gallery and a
Power Point presentation. The next group included 9th- and
12th-grade Deaf Studies classes. Mr. Kelly explained about
the importance of volunteering in the Deaf community, the
planning of the four Deaf Club picnics, and SLAD history.
The field trip was a learning experience about Deaf Culture,
Deaf History, and the Deaf Community for all of the students.

The fourth day was about celebrating International Day of
Signed Language Rights. The focus of the celebration was
ASL poetry and drama. Beginning the all-school assembly,
the elementary ASL club inspired their audience by
performing WSD Firebirds ASL poetry. They were followed
by performances by the middle school ASL Club, 8th-grade
Deaf Studies class, 9th-grade Deaf Studies class, 12th-grade
Deaf Studies class, and the high school ASL Club.
The final day of Deaf Awareness week was all about deaf
magicians. Magic Morgan (alias Matt Morgan, WSD graduate
from 1992) brought five magicians from his Magic Morgan
Magic Tour to WSD for a magic workshop on October 7 and
8. WSD students reviewed the deaf magicians’ Web sites to
gain background knowledge before the big event.
Throughout the week, WSD students were introduced to
successful deaf adults pursuing a variety of careers. Many of
the deaf adults were alumni from WSD. Karla Gunn, one of
the planners of the week, shared her observations, “Overall,
the students were very inspired in learning and celebrating
Deaf Awareness Week, especially recognizing our successful
WSD Alumni.”
Fall 2010 - 5