Students attending ESY ranged from preschool through 12^th grade / Adult

In this newsletter thread, we invite you to enjoy contributions from each department. There are stories and photos about your child’s learning and participating in different activities from the past three weeks. Talk with your child and ask what they learned. Perhaps share your own stories about the sports you love, or you may know a friend or family member who played sports in school or college.

Our theme for ESY was an easy choice: Summer Olympics. We held Opening and Closing Ceremonies, with sports activities in between, in our Physical Education classes. In addition to that, our teachers worked with your child to support their IEP goals by providing Math, Bilingual Arts and American Sign Language lessons. Additional courses were offered in different departments, such as Science, Arts, ASL Immersion and Enrichment Activities.

CSD has sent 67 alumni to the Deaflympics over the years. In addition to that, we currently have six CSD staff who have attended to Deaflympics. We were fortunate to have five former Deaflympians come and share their experience participating in the Deaflympics. Their testimonies were inspiring and gave our students hope that they would be able to participate in the Deaflympics themselves one day.

Ron Bye (Water Polo); David Hamilton (Basketball); Ty Kovacs (Handball);

Joshua Weinstock (Media Team & Handball); and Ruth Lummer (Handball)

To follow through with the Olympics theme, we had four different events (see below) that our students participated in. Throughout the three weeks of ESY, our students benefitted from reminding themselves how important it is to keep themselves engaged in walking, running and cardio-activities. They learned that participating in cardio-activities helps keep their blood flowing, heart pumping, and lungs breathing, in order to remain healthy and manage their weight. They recognized that they need to stop sitting all day. All they need to do is walk for 30 minutes to one hour daily, at home, which isn't too difficult. They had so much fun this summer!

In STEAM, the students did many things. First, they observed various plants and plantlike structures—including moss, mushrooms, petals and seeds—using a microscope. (See picture 1 below)

Second, an art activity—reusing items students had collected earlier in the week for observation. The students used various materials, including added images and sand. (See picture 2 below)

Entering the second week, we covered the food web—emphasizing the importance of sun on plants, and how energy is transferred from one level to the next. (See picture 3 below)

Lastly, students explored a more macroscopic topic—cartography. They had the opportunity to form a three-dimensional map of their choice. Students made maps of Africa, the United States, Mexico, Asia and Guatemala. The challenge was to create a 3-dimensional topographic map from a flat, 2-dimensional color-coded image. (See photo above)

Middle School spent the three weeks of ESY learning about the Olympics. They learned about the history of the Olympics, locations where the Olympics have taken place, and what sports the Olympics have. They learned how to throw a javelin (with a pole) and applied mathematics skills. They watched various ASL presentations and created their own ASL presentations. They read about Japan and created a video presentation for a school wide CSD Olympics assembly. They researched an Olympian and created a one-pager with their information. They learned about the Deaflympics and had the pleasure of hearing about three Deaflympian experiences from Ron Bye (water polo), David Hamilton (basketball), and Ty Kovacs (handball). They also learned about Jesse Owens and his Olympic victory in Germany, under the Nazi Regime, through watching the movie - Race.

Finally, the students visited our old campus at CSD Berkeley, and got an historic tour of the campus. (See picture below)

Our Adult Transition Partnership students had a wonderful ESY, as well. In class, they learned about the Olympics and its history, and incorporated some math lessons, such as measurements and timing. They also reviewed some ASL lessons. Other than that, ATP students assisted in the Physical Education classes by helping to keep the physical education students active. They also helped with some Olympics decorations such as making medals for every student.

Our residential students were blessed to be able to stay in the cottages so they could participate in the Extended School Year program. Our wonderful Student Life staff followed up on the Olympics topics that were being discussed during the school day by having after-school discussions with the students. Student Life staff also kept our students occupied with a variety of fun after-school activities.

Joey Baer, Editor & Elementary Principal