CSD Fremont High School

2024-2025

Vol. 3

At the end of the 2nd quarter, the high school team wants to thank everyone for encouraging students to stay engaged through the end of the first semester. Our students have accomplished so much, excelling in sports programs, extracurricular activities, and their classes. Here are some highlights and upcoming events to celebrate!

Highlights

ACT Workshop
ACT Testing on Dec. 12th
First Semester Final Exams
Boys and Girls Basketball, Wrestling, and Cheerleading Squad
Career Counselors met with each student, starting with Senior, Freshman, Junior, and Sophomore
Gallaudet University Presentation and one-on-one interviews
NTID/RIT Presentation and one-on-one interviews
Educational field trips
Orange & Black Rally – Jan. 10th
Clerc Classic Tournament @ TSD

Upcoming Events

Willigan Wrestling at CSDR
Physical Fitness Test (PE) – (Jan. 7th to 17th)
Western Regional Academic Bowl Competition (Jan. 30 – Feb 1) at CSD
ACT Testing on Feb. 6th
Career Counselors – 1-on-1 meeting with each student (starting on Feb. 3rd)
Eagle Force Assembly – Feb. 20th
d’Estrella ASL Festival – March 13th
Statewide Testing for Juniors and some seniors:
SBAC ELA, SBAC Math, and CAST
CAA Science, ELA, and Math for Alternative Curriculum students (Juniors only)
Academic Recognition Assembly – March 17th
Deaf Culinary Bowl – March 27th thru 30th

Thank you for your continued support and partnership with the school and the community.

Alan Davary

Supervisor, Career Center and Transition Service

Literary Masterpiece

by Ann Lynn Parker

ELA Teacher

As students wrapped up with finals last semester, I asked them to create dioramas or posters related to the English Literature stories they read. The outcome was outstanding and impressive! Students chose from various formats: comparing the actions of a protagonist and antagonist, recreating a scene, demonstrating a masterpiece they gleaned from the stories. One student recreated the dramatic piano scene from “Two Sides” by Amy Tan, the famous author who wrote The Joy Luck Club. Another student drew a colorful poster depicting an awkward scene from "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes, whose work is renowned for Harlem Renaissance literature.

Despite quite a mess with hot glue drippings, glitter all over the carpet, and a heap of discarded cardboards, paint remains on paper plates, and construction paper, everyone enjoyed their creations. Many students commented on how much they enjoyed creating dioramas and posters to help them connect the stories better on a deeper level. We look forward to creative final projects towards the end of this semester and hopefully you can come visit our gallery with their literary masterpieces.

Academic Bowl

CSD Academic Bowl Team Defeats Riverside in the Battle of California

by Andrew Phillips

Math Teacher

In early December, the CSD Academic Bowl team traveled to CSD Riverside for two matches in the Battle of California. CSD triumphed in the first match with a close 80-76 victory, as the questions were relatively easy, allowing both teams to score high. The second match presented more challenging questions, providing CSD with the opportunity to showcase its depth of knowledge. Taking an early lead, CSD never relinquished it, ultimately winning 79-56.

Congratulations to our talented players, Geneva Brock, Hayden Cervantes, Taiven Foust, Angel Ibarra, Seven Ikeda, and Devon Miller, on their impressive victories!

Be sure to join us for the West Regional competition at CSD on January 31 and February 1!

CSD Academic Bowl Team Faces Off Against Alumni

by Andrew Phillips

Math Teacher

In December, just before the winter break, four distinguished alumni returned to CSD for two exciting Academic Bowl matches against the current team. The alumni—Naomi Brock, Courtney Bronson, Donovan Holmes, and Chang-May Tan—were all part of the 2021 Academic Bowl National Championship team that won the title while competing via Zoom due to the pandemic. With the alumni's wealth of experience, including three who played College Bowl at Gallaudet or RIT, our students knew they were in for tough competition.

The first match started with both teams neck-and-neck, answering questions correctly as they battled for the lead. However, the alumni team pulled ahead in the final round, securing a 79-73 victory over our CSD players. The second match featured more difficult questions, yet the CSD team surged with an early lead and refused to squander it. The CSD team won the second match 69-46.

Both the alumni and students had a fantastic time, and the matches were well attended by CSD students and staff. After the games, some alumni, students, and families gathered for lunch, reflecting on the fun day and their shared Academic Bowl experiences.

Looking ahead, CSD will host the 2025 West Regional Academic Bowl competition on January 31 and February 1. Come cheer on our team as we compete against 15 other schools for the West Regional Championship!

International Studies

by Susana Acosta

World History Teacher

International Studies 2025 students have been learning about the history, culture, and iconic landmarks of the Netherlands. They selected which landmarks to focus on, showcasing their talents and skills by bringing 3D landmarks to life. What an amazing achievement!

This semester, they will study the history of Belgium! Looking forward to learning about its traditions and culture! We will depart for our adventurous trip to the Netherlands and Belgium on April 11th!

We will have our traditional Dingo event on Friday February 7th at 5pm. Be sure to mark it on your calendar to support our International Studies fundraising for our trip!

ASL Roundtable

ASL RoundTable 2024 at Rochester University, Rochester, New York from October 31st- November 3rd.

by Lorraine Flores

ASL Teacher

Every year, CSD teachers attend the ASL Round Table Conference. This year, the conference was held in Rochester, New York. As pictured here, our group included AJ O’Donnell, Lorraine Flores, Kate Kovacs, Leela Williams, and Gerardo Di Pietro, along with the keynote speaker, Brandon Call

The conference featured a special keynote speaker, and we were excited to brag that the keynote was delivered by CSD alumnus Brandon Call, known for his long hair and incredible storytelling skills. Brandon is widely recognized for Wild Saga, an educational vlog series associated with wildlife education.

During his keynote, Brandon shared insights on how he edits his videos to capture his storytelling, personal experiences, and fearless encounters with various wildlife mammals and animals. He was thrilled to reconnect with his former CSD teachers during the event.

We gained valuable knowledge from many outstanding presentations, including those given by other CSD alumni like Leala Holcomb. Additionally, our very own CSD teachers, Kate Kovacs and Gerardo Di Pietro, presented on the topic of “Strengthening Bilingual Education: Digital Resources for Both ASL & English.”

VEX5 Robotics

by Jason Kulchinsky

CTE Teacher

Tinkering, coding, testing, redesigning, and repeating — this cycle defines most days as students work to create new robotics entirely from scratch without relying on instruction booklets. This year, in the Career and Technical Education program, both the teacher and students are learning how to build and operate VEX V5 robotics. There hasn’t been a dull moment; every week, the robots have evolved, showcasing increasing precision and innovation in the field. Our students are aiming to enter a competition in February 2025, provided they meet the qualifications.

\Stay tuned for updates!

SSL's Corner:

Student Success

by Jimel Brightly-Wright

Student Support Liason

Your SSLs, Nick and I, can’t believe the second semester is already here. I remember starting the first semester like it was yesterday. For Nick and me, the semester has been a good one. Also, it has been a pleasure supporting our students and connecting with them. During the first semester of the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) class that Nick and I lead, we covered topics such as Healthy Relationships, Suicide Prevention, anti-bullying, and standing up for others. These topics were important for our students to learn so they will be equipped with knowledge so they can support each other and support themselves.

The Second Semester has started, and we have four new students. Two former students are returning to the Eagles' Nest, another student is entirely new to our Eagles' Nest, and one student is one student coming all the way from Nicaragua. We are excited to have these new students with us at CSD. As student support liaisons, we are equipped to ensure their transition to CSD is a smooth one as we hope to utilize the Peer Advocate program. Speaking of support, Nick and I have noticed significant progress in students' academic performance compared to previous years. Fewer students are on Academic Probation, and students have improved their GPAs across the board. For the second semester, Nick and I hope to ensure students improve on getting to class on time so that not even a minute of instruction time is wasted and academic performance can continue to SOAR!

Seniors Explore Apartment Living

By Anna Woodbury

Math/Science Teacher

Students in the Senior Seminar Class had the opportunity to learn more about renting an apartment throughout their first-semester coursework. Students started out by researching apartments online and finding out typical rents for different cities where they might be interested in living. After noticing the square footage information in the apartment listings, students then conducted an extensive measuring exploration to be able to visualize room and apartment sizes. One of the places students were able to measure was CSD’s Parent Cottage #1, giving them a visual comparison to the apartments that they were researching online.

After completing on-campus research, it was time to go off-campus and visit a local apartment complex. Students took a self-guided tour of the Mission Peaks Apartment complex just down the street from CSD campus and had the opportunity to walk the communal grounds and explore three vacant apartments. After seeing an unfurnished apartment, they now had the opportunity to research how to fill up that apartment with furniture while keeping a budget, along with learning how to negotiate their choices with their roommate. Finally, students explored the application process and questions to ask an apartment manager/landlord. The class would like to thank Lisa Nunez, Marissa Cohen, Billy-Raby Brown, Jeana Williams, Jason Kulchinsky, Sinju Engineer, Jimel Brightly Wright, and Nicolas Conway for assisting with different parts of this exploration.

Career Center: ACT Test Information

Vanessa Cristobal and Rona Lev

Career Counselors

The Career Center administers the American College Testing (ACT) test on campus twice a year, proctored by Rona Lev, Vanessa Cristobal, and Jimel Brightly Wright/Nicholas Conway. The ACT test is a college entrance exam used by 4-year college admissions committees to gauge a student’s readiness for college-level material. It evaluates students’ skills in English, Mathematics, Reading and Science. Taking the ACT at school provides a familiar and supportive environment, which can help students feel more comfortable and confident on test day. By offering the ACT test at school, we aim to help students take an important step toward their post-secondary goals. Whether the students are planning to attend a university, pursue vocational training, or explore other options, the ACT test can open doors to many opportunities.

Prior to the day of testing, students are required to attend a workshop: What To Expect On ACT Test Day. During the workshop, students are given an overview of the ACT, the rules and protocols they are expected to follow, and a timeline for the day. Students have an opportunity to view a sample Answer Sheet and to review some practice questions as a group. Learning how the day will look helps students prepare mentally for the test and hopefully eliminate some stress as a result. The first ACT test was administered on December 12, 2024. The next test will be on February 6, 2025.

Fall 2024: Gallaudet and RIT Visit CSD

Vanessa Cristobal and Rona Lev

Career Counselors

In November, the Career Center hosted visits from the Admissions Counselors for Gallaudet (November 7) and RIT/NTID (November 14). Students interested in attending either of the colleges had an opportunity to watch a presentation by the Admissions Counselor in which they described the school, its academic programs, extra curricular offerings, costs, etc. Seniors had additional time with the Admissions Counselor in a 1:1 meeting where students could ask more specific questions and have a more personal experience in getting information about their college of interest.

The opportunity to attend the presentation and/or the 1:1 meetings is one way for students to do more research about their post-secondary options. Ben Olivas-Guerrero, a Senior, stated about Esteban Kovacs' presentation for Gallaudet, "I didn't realize Gallaudet works in partnership with other universities [in the Washington Metropolitan area] for students to be able to explore other colleges, not just Gallaudet," Jareth Lopez Aragon, a Junior reflected on the presentation by Antonietta Alfano for RIT/NTID: "The RIT Admissions Counselor gave a presentation about several different things that I thought were pretty cool - they have provided a whole host of clubs and sports for students to participate in. Also - RIT is not just a college but a collection of different colleges!" Special thanks to Esteban Kovacs and Antonietta Alfano for investing in our students and providing quality presentations!

Work Study Program is Back in Business

Marnee Wafer-Hoecker

Job Placement Teacher

My name is Marneé Wafer-Hoecker, and I am thrilled to join CSD as the new Job Placement Teacher. I look forward to collaborating with the families and staff while supporting the students in their journeys. I bring many years of experience as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, along with a diverse background that includes roles as an ASL teacher, advocate, social worker, and guidance counselor. My role would be to assist Seniors interested in our Work Study Program. The CSD Work Study Program is a pragmatic, community-based approach to learning that better prepares Deaf and Hard of Hearing students for work by involving the local business community as training partners. Students gain valuable work skills, a sense of accountability and confidence, and have the opportunity to be positive participants and contributors in their community. In addition to assisting students with getting off-campus jobs, I may also assist other students with Work Permits, Resumes, Job Interview Preparation, Job Safety, Researching Trades/Apprenticeship Programs, and Career Research.

A little about me: I have been happily married to my husband for 35 years, and we have two grown children. Our family also includes Onyx, my energetic 8-month-old Australian Shepherd puppy. In my free time, I enjoy gardening and walking when I’m not busy attending school. Some of you may know me from my previous role as a VR Counselor with the Department of Rehabilitation. I want to thank everyone for the warm welcome.

New Department of Rehabilitation Counselor

Alan Davary

Career Center Supervisor

The Career Center welcomes a new Department of Rehabilitation (DoR) counselor - Susan Vaccaro-Papalia. With our former DoR Counselor, Marnee Wafer-Hoecker, vacating the position to start her new role as our Job Placement Teacher, Susan will continue serving students on a temporary basis until a permanent position is filled.

Susan is currently a DoR Counselor at the Fremont location, where she has worked for 10 years. Susan will primarily work with Seniors and their families to provide support for their post-secondary plans (college, vocational school, or employment). Students who are interested in career-developing programs such as Explore Your Future (EYF) or Youth Leadership Camp (YLC) may also work with Susan to receive DoR support for camp fees. Susan will have office hours at CSD once a week but is available to meet with students and families via ZOOM/VP any time. We look forward to working with Susan. Her years of experience providing support for students to achieve their post-secondary goals will definitely help with their transition out of high school.

CLASS OF 2025 WEBSITE

Vanessa Cristobal

Website Master

We are excited to share the soft launch of our 2025 Senior Website! This website will share important information regarding Senior Events and Graduation Day. The website is still a work in progress, but details for the events will be shared in its entirety in the coming weeks. Please visit and check back often for updates on our Seniors' final stretch into their milestone Graduation Day!

http://2025seniors.csdeagles.net

Exciting First Semester for the Real World Transition Program (RWP)

by Amy Eshelman

RWP Coordinator

The first semester of the 2024-25 school year in the Real World Transition Program (RWP) was filled with growth, exploration, and success. With 22 students participating, each with their unique schedules, the program provided individualized opportunities to develop real-world skills and build independence.

A hallmark of the semester was the students’ active engagement in community-based work experiences, venturing off-campus four days a week to a variety of worksites. These placements offered hands-on learning in dynamic environments, thanks to the generous support of local community partners. Students gained valuable experience at Eden Housing Apartments, Tri City Food Bank, Old Navy, Ardenwood Farms, Brother's Car Wash, Cogir Senior Living, and the Learning Tree Preschool, among others. These partnerships play an essential role in preparing students for life after the program by offering exposure to diverse industries and workplace cultures.

A critical aspect of the RWP curriculum was teaching students how to navigate their communities safely and efficiently. They practiced using public transportation and online maps to commute independently to and from their worksites. While learning to manage routes and schedules, students encountered real-life challenges, such as delays or route changes, which helped them develop problem-solving skills and resilience.

Through these experiences, students learned the value of perseverance and self-reliance. Making occasional mistakes in a supportive environment allowed them to build confidence and embrace opportunities for personal growth. Each achievement, whether mastering a new task at work or successfully traveling to a destination, was a step forward in their journey toward independence.

As we reflect on the semester’s accomplishments, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the community partners who make this program possible. Their commitment to empowering our Deaf students creates a lasting impact, fostering inclusion and opportunity in our shared community. We eagerly anticipate continuing this momentum into the next semester.