|
One Community, Infinite Connections
Summer 2025 | Eagles #41
| |
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
Superintendent's Message
| | |
By Amy Novotny, School Superintendent
As we wrap up the 2024-2025 school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on all that we accomplished together. Last year's theme, Every Connection Matters, truly came to life. You will see throughout this newsletter the remarkable efforts of our staff, the achievements of our students and the meaningful ways we have grown together. From academics and athletics victories to community building events, we witnessed the power of connection in every corner of our campus.
| | |
Looking ahead to the 2025-2026 school year, we are proud to announce our new theme: One Community, Infinite Connections. As we enter the 165th year of CSD’s legacy, this theme represents both our deep roots and our continued commitment to working together as one community. It emphasizes the importance of strengthening our connection while honoring the foundations laid before us and looking forward to the exciting potential that lies ahead.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. Let’s carry the spirit of unity and connection into the new school year- because at CSD, every connection truly does matter.
| |
➤ A look back at a few of our highlights from the 2024‑2025 academic year
| |
NATIONAL ACADEMIC BOWL
2025 Champions - second year in a row!
| | | | |
California School for the Deaf won the National Academic Bowl in back-to-back years, placing first in the nation out of 64 teams. In total, CSD has won five national academic bowl championships. The years CSD has won first place are: 1998, 1999, 2021, 2024, 2025. They were runners-up in 2020 and 2023.
Geneva Brock was named All-Star Player, and Sevan Ikeda earned the distinction of Most Outstanding Player of the competition. We could not be prouder of our team and coaches.
| |
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
Congratulations Class of 2025
| | |
On Friday, May 30, California School for the Deaf proudly celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2025.
The day was filled with meaningful traditions to honor our seniors. The morning began with the Senior Farewell and Cording Ceremony, which recognized students’ achievements and honored their time at CSD. Seniors then participated in the traditional Senior Walk, led by department supervisors, as they walked around campus. This special walk provided students with an opportunity to reflect, remember, and bid farewell to the people, places, and memories that had shaped their journey.
The walk concluded in the gym with the Scholarship Ceremony, where students were recognized for earning scholarships based on academic excellence, leadership, and community contributions.
Later that afternoon, forty seniors received their diplomas during a heartfelt commencement ceremony. The event featured powerful speeches from commencement speaker Clara Baldwin, a Class of 2007 alumna, Valedictorian Sevan Ikeda, and Salutatorian Gabriella Bibb.
The Class of 2025 selected the motto: “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, then it’s not the end.” Their class colors, slate blue, grey, and tan, symbolize strength, resilience, and growth. This year’s class mascot, Tom and Jerry, represents enduring friendship and perseverance through challenges.
The commencement ceremony concluded with the traditional Class Fight Song, bringing the celebration to a spirited and meaningful close.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
Class of 2025 Website
Senior Photos
| | |
Sevan Ikeda
Valedictorian
| |
Clara Baldwin
Commencement Speaker
| |
Gabriella Bibb
Salutatorian
| | |
Class Fight Song
Jaden Dingel, Gabriella Bibb,
Geneva Brock, Isamu Hatch
| | |
Soaring Eagles
Benjamin Olivas Guerrero
| |
CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITIONS
CSD shined brightly in many national competitions this year
| | | |
Hoy 2025 Champions
Our high school girls softball team competed in the annual Hoy Tournament in Washington, D.C., hosted by Model Secondary School for the Deaf.
We played Round Robin games against:
-
Indiana School for the Deaf
- Texas School for the Deaf
- California School for the Deaf, Riverside
- Model Secondary School for the Deaf
We earned the number one seed and faced Indiana School for the Deaf in the semifinals, winning 22-3 and advancing to the championship game against Texas School for the Deaf. We started strong, scoring eight runs in the first inning and continued to shut out each inning with incredible Eagles spirit. By the end of the fifth inning, CSD led 25-0, and the game was concluded by the mercy rule.
| | |
EAGLES ATHLETICS
Breaking School & National Records
| |
2025 ELEMENTARY SCIENCE NIGHT
Students & staff inspired with an evening of fun, engaging science activities
| |
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Clubs & Organizations create future Deaf leaders
| |
| | |
If you have not yet seen the webpage about the SELD program, please check it out. CSD is very proud of the leadership opportunities we make available to our students
Check out SELD program HERE
| | | |
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES 2025
Students visit the Netherlands & Belgium
| | Over the years, our international studies class has traveled the world over, Every year, the students vote on what part of the world they want to visit. During the first half of the school year, they study the art, culture, history, language, food, and geography of the country they plan to visit. Simultaneously, each student fundraises in order to pay for their ticket. Then during spring break, the students actually travel to the country or countries they have been studying about all year. CSD utilizes a Deaf-owned travel agency, Hands-On Travel, for international studies trips. This service makes trips accessible in ASL and adds the comfort of a travel guide familiar with the country's language and cultural norms. | |
| | |
See Talon Media coverage of CSD international studies students' 2025 visit to the Netherlands and Belgium
Subscribe to Talon Media to watch all of their episodes
Watch video
| | | | |
CSD ALUMNI STAFF & FACULTY
CSD is thrilled to have so many of its former students return as role models for current students
| | Tap on image below to see all the former CSD students who have become staff at California School for the Deaf. (Courtesy of CSD Career Center) | |
| |
CSD fondly remembers Ken Norton
Ken devoted 73 years of his life to California School for the Deaf as a student, teacher, coach, Dean of Students, historian, and Deaf education advocate. He wrote a 425‑page history of CSD, The Eagle Soars to Enlightenment, and after his wife Audree died in 2015, he wrote the well-received memoir of their life, My Life with Audree.
| | | |
STUDENT LIFE ANNOUNCEMENT
CSD Adventures program provides enriching fieldtrip adventure for elementary students
| |
CSD Adventures provided an enriching experience for our Elementary students at the USS Hornet Museum, Adventure Playground, and during fishing activities.
Students learned about the history of World War I and II and experienced what life was like on a warship. We understand the importance of honoring all veterans, including those from the Army, Navy, and Marines. We are grateful for their service to our country.
| | |
CSD HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA CLUB
2025 Performance of The Day the Internet Died
| |
EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR
Summer program highlights natural & urban environments
| | To connect learning to the natural and urban environments around the Bay Area, our extended school year program went on 33 field trips. These experiences provided hands-on learning that complemented what students learned inside the classroom. | | Grades 4-5 visit Coyote Hills Regional Park. | |  | Early Childhood Education students make rainbows. | | | Middle School takes a fieldtrip to Lake Elizabeth. | | Grades 1-3 learn about nature through a watercolor activity. | | | Students use their ASL skills to present about nature in combination with social-emotional learning. | | | Grades 4-5 embark on a social-emotional learning activity. | | |
Juneteenth celebration at CSD
As part of our extended school year program, on June 19, students and staff celebrated the Juneteenth holiday. Students enjoyed popsicles to honor the day, while the Juneteenth flag was flying high at the Bear Hunt circle. Leading up to the celebration, staff facilitated reading, writing, art, and ASL lessons that explored the historical significance of the holiday.
See CSD's Juneteenth festivities HERE
| | | |
Student Life Summer Program
Outside of the classroom, CSD's Student Life Department provided residential students with opportunities to explore the community and enjoy social activities, including evening BBQ dinners.
| | Middle School Student Life provides students with a BBQ meal. | | | Elementary students visit Bubble Planet Oakland: An Immersive Experience. | | | One of Real World Program's evening activities. | | | | |
Summer Showcase
On the final day of our summer program, the school hosted a showcase event at Klopping Theater. The theater lobby featured a display of student work from the summer, and attendees enjoyed a slideshow of program highlights. Student representatives from the Elementary, Middle/High School, and Real World Program shared brief testimonials about what they learned and experienced.
| | |
ESY Volunteers
We are grateful to our wonderful staff for providing an enriching and supportive summer program. We are also grateful to the 14 volunteers who donated their time to support our students. (See photo album below that was created by one of our summer volunteers)
| |
| |
4th & 5th grade summer album
Fourth and fifth graders learned about our national parks. Check out their incredible photo album.
(Please make sure to click on the Read Now button to enjoy this beautiful photo album.)
View Album
| | | |
APPLE VOLUNTEER DAY
Teacher-inspired mural at Elementary School
| | This beautiful new Your Future Starts Here mural is now in front of CSD's elementary school. It was inspired by Cristal Duenas, a CSD alumna who is currently a teacher in the Elementary department. Although Cristal was the primary designer, the entire Elementary department was involved in its creation. | | | |
CSD hosted a community volunteer day during spring break. Several CSD staff participated, along with employees from the Apple Store at Stoneridge Mall; family of CSD alumni; and fieldwork students from Ohlone College and Sacramento State.
Some of the projects the volunteers did for our campus included planting an orange-and-black garden at the Administration building; painting the Your Future Starts Here mural at the elementary school building; painting an orange entryway at the middle school building (with plans to make it into a mural); planting flowers in pots for the entrance to the elementary cottages; putting a fresh coat of paint on the exterior walls at CTE; painting trim in the library; and general weeding to clean up existing garden areas. Breakfast and lunch was provided to volunteers.
One very special presenter was Malik Amann who previously worked for the Apple Store and is now a CSD high school teacher. Malik inspired the partnership between CSD and the Apple store.
We truly appreciate all of the volunteers who donated their time to make our campus beautiful, including Ohlone College students and so many CSD staff who went the extra mile to make the event possible. The volunteer day could not have happened without a generous donation from our Parodi Charitable Trust. Two local hardware stores donated a ton of supplies, as well: Dale Hardware and Fremont Home Depot
| | |
California School for the Deaf
39350 Gallaudet Drive,
Fremont, CA 94538
(510) 794-3666
| | | | | |
