Learn ♦ Experience ♦ Thrive

Winter 2023 | Eagles #39

Holiday Tree Lighting with ASL Santa and Mrs. Claus at Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation where our students performed (Lilliyana, Victor, Joshua, and Jaclyn)

PHOTOS BY RAY GIER | VIDEO BY MAUREEN KLUZA & TALON MEDIA STUDENTS

Unveiling of Superintendent Clark Brooke's portrait

(left to right) Nancy Hlibok-Amann, Lisa Nunez, Bob Brooke, Marlene Brooke,Clark Brooke, Dante Brooke, Rita Ribera, Reyes Ribera, Frank Lester, Amy June Rowley

Daniel Girard and our wonderful student emcees: Seven Ikeda; Norah Pendergraft; and Theodore Marcotte

Assemblymember Alex Lee and Fremont Mayor Lily Mei present Clark Brooke with certificates of recognition for his years of service to CSD.

Our youngest Eaglettes!

Clark's yearly mottos for the school.

PHOTOS BY RAY GIER | STORY BY TY KOVACS

SEIU Local 1000 newsletter wrote...

On Friday, November 3, elected officials, including state senators, assembly members, and Local 1000 and public education leadership, attended a tour of the California School for the Deaf campus, where they were introduced to staff, students, and community members. 

Ty Kovacs, an educator at CSD, union leader, and chair of the Save Our School committee, saw this opportunity to showcase the educational excellence that CSD provides as an internationally recognized leader in bilingual and multicultural education, as well as to address the cost of living issues that have plagued the school.

“We need this to be approached and recognized by elected officials so we can see the changes that we’ve needed for almost 30 years now,” said Kovacs, “The State should feel proud of the educational workers here and that takes an investment from elected officials.”

CSD, which provides an environment for Deaf students to socialize in their own language, focuses on maintaining a ‘critical mass’ of students using American Sgin Language as both the language of instruction, as well as the language of socialization. This is rarely present in other schools, and ASL speakers often struggle without access to social and leadership opportunities.



“The students shared their stories with the visitors, talking about how they struggled at a mainstream school before they were able to attend CSD,” said Kovacs. “Here, they have clubs and programs they can participate in, and they made it clear how they’ve grown, how they have become leaders by having full language accessibility.”

Visitors touring the school’s Early Childhood Education, Elementary, and Career Technical Education departments get the opportunity to witness how Deaf students thrive in a language-rich environment, with a critical mass of Deaf students and Deaf role models. The school is full of opportunties for students to experience.

Save Our Schools plans to have two sub-committees focused on keeping California School for the Deaf strong: One sub-committee will work with legislators; and the other will work with Alameda County to address the cost of living. Dr. Nancy Hlibok Amann from the California Department of Education is committed to supporting this effort. Pictured here (right to left): Dr. Nancy Hlibok Amann, Sulghi Hong, and Barbara White.

CORE gave a presentation about the reality of language deprivation, and how California School for the Deaf provides a Language Rich Environment

Tour participants witnessed firsthand that students at Calfiornia School for the Deaf get full language access and opportunities that they would never have at any other school in Northern California.

CSD students explain what they experience in their daily lives in the residential program

2021 - 2022

Future plans are now in action to assemble sub committees for Legislative and Alameda County work. Our goal is to collaborate in order to address the issues for those of us working on the Fremont Block. We encourage families, staff, and community to be ready to support our efforts.



Special thanks to SEIU Local 1000 for providing us with five interpreters, as well as the refreshments for this event.

CSD Jr. NAD in front of Chapel Hall at Gallaudet University.

“It’s enjoyable to learn and experience personal growth and leadership work for being involved in organizations. I've used what I learned from them, and then used it in school.” —Zorina Briseno, Senior

Zorina Briseno, senior, performing her part for the ASL entertainment project.

“For workshops, my favorite one was with the Debate Team from Gallaudet. I learned how to debate formally. It helped me become confident with my reasons and points, and that is very beneficial for my leadership skills.” —Jovianna Ikeda, Sophomore 

Jovianna Ikeda, Sophomore, acting in her George W. Veditz video project.

“My role was Observer. I participated in the Ambassadorship (Pitch) Competition. What I learned from it is 'always'; and we should always be the ones to take initiative for EVERY problem or situation in the world.” —Logan Pendergraft, Junior

Observer Logan Pendergraft participates in the Pitch Competition.

“The entire weekend gave me plenty of opportunities to make new friends and develop bonds with them, whilst learning how to become a leader and how to support my community after the conference. The Jr. NAD conference reminded me that I have a voice, and your voice matters, too.” —Lelan Gonzales, Junior

Lelan Gonzales lobbying during the round table in support of a motion that could be proposed at the next NAD conference.

CSD Jr. NAD with National Association of the Deaf (NAD) CEO Howard A. Rosenblum.

CSD Jr. NAD in front of beautiful fall foliage at Maryland School for the Deaf.

CSD Jr. NAD with NAD Board President Jenny Buechner at the banquet.

“Museums are the bridges that connect our past, present, and future.”

PHOTOS BY RAY GIER

CSD alumni and museum volunteers celebrated the grand reopening of the school's museum with a ribbon cutting ceremony. (left to right) Benny Jason, Suzie Jacobs, Mel Pedersen, Julie Bella, Joyce Ingraham

The CSD museum committee was finally able to upgrade the school's museum, after the COVID-19 pandemic put their plans on hold for a couple of years. Museums play an important role in a community by preserving and sharing its history and culture. Museums are educational and entertaining resources for people of all ages.

It's important to acknowledge and appreciate the work of the former CSD museum

committee. They laid the foundation for the current museum committee's work, and their efforts will help to ensure that the CSD museum continues to be a valuable resource for the community.

Mel Pedersen

Frank Lester

Joey Baer

PHOTOS BY RAY GIER & MERRY ZHOU

Message from Rita Ribera on behalf of the Early Childhood Education Team

“Our heartfelt gratitude goes to Stoneridge Mall Apple Store employees for helping us transform our playground for our Early Childhood Education program. One day during our last spring break, the ECE department welcomed 140 volunteers from Apple and our CSD community. Together, we painted ASL-inspired murals, planted a garden, and did little projects to create an interactive playground for our students. It was a beautiful day having Apple volunteers, parents, staff, and community come together. We are grateful.” 

Message from our CORE Team



“CORE outreach feels honored to kick off the Apple Volunteer Day at the CSD campus to beauty our Early Childhood Education building with two ASL murals, gardens, and painted playground activities, including a hopscotch. This started as an idea by Merry from the Pleasanton Apple Store who shared her vision with a Deaf employee who graduated from CSD, Malik Amann. Our staff Meta Metal (volunteer coordoinator) and Rita Ribera (ECE teacher specialist) organized the activities along with several ECE Staff.

• Dr. Julie Rems-Smario emceed the opening presentation.
• David Eberwein explained about the importance of bilingual education, ASL and English.
• Trina Licht taught the Apple volunteers ASL signs including colors for painting.
• Our valedictorian, Chang May, presented along with her mother, Rachel.
• Another parent, Haruna, also presented.

The staff from the facilities and nutrition services were so helpful and supportive. Thank you Apple (Pleasanton Store), ECE staff, Merry, Malik, Rita, and Meta!” 

Jane Fair posting paper hands with messages from Apple team members to our school.

Leeza Williams painting one of the career pathway signs for students.

Chang-May Tan (alumna) and Hanna Lucid (school receptionist) confirring with Rita Ribera (ECE teacher specialist) about the caterpillar hopscotch with ASL aphabet they are painting.

Planter box donated by Sahil Hotchandani and Boy Scout Troop 154.

Store leadership:

Branden Yackevicz

Merry Zhou

Steven Wong 

PHOTOS BY RAY GIER | STORY BY BONNIE JO MORRISON

This year, we were very fortunate to collaborate with Vision to Learn to provide our students with free vision screening, exam, and glasses. It was the first time that CSD has had these services provided to our students. Getting glasses is especially important for our Deaf students as they rely on their vision for everything they do, especially for learning and communicating.

Vision to Learn and their staff were truly wonderful to work with. Their opticians and doctors worked with our students very well. They were patient and very accommodating to our student’s various communication styles.

A huge thanks and appreciation to the AJ and Mona Jain family for their generous donation to cover all of the expenses for the vision screenings, exams, and glasses for our CSD students.

We provided initial vision screening to a total of 89 students. Students who did not pass the vision screening were referred for vision exams. For the vision exams, Vision to Learn set up their mobile clinic in a van at CSD which was really cool to see. A total of 55 students received new glasses from Vision to Learn

PHOTOS BY RAY GIER

Save the date in 2024

Accept or Accept Not

March 2

Love & Literacy

March 9

Family Fun Day

April 13

California School for the Deaf

39350 Gallaudet Drive, 

Fremont, CA 94538

(510) 794-3666

Meta Metal, Editor

Nancy Hlibok-Amann, School Superintendent