September/October
Dear Families/Guardians,
It is hard to believe that September is behind us and we are moving into October which brings cooler autumn weather and many different fall activities. The month of September was busy for all of us and our students are now acclimated to their new classrooms in the educational buildings. We had the fall district testing in early September and our homecoming week with the visit of Washington School for the Deaf and Wisconsin School for the Deaf. Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger, both deaf mountaineers who summited Everest last spring, visited us and shared their stories with our students. We also celebrated International Day of Sign Languages with our high school students from Deaf Studies hosting a school-wide assembly and creating different activities throughout the week. We also wanted to brag on our entire staff for making each and every day a fun learning environment for our students both in the classroom and out of the classroom - they worked countless hours to ensure your children are learning and growing. We couldn't do this without our great teachers and staff!
Families and Teachers Conference on October 18th
It is almost time for our first families-teachers conferences of 2023-2024! Families-teachers conferences are one of the great ways to provide a foundation for a partnership between families and schools. Please contact Donna Hanson at donna.hanson@msa.state.mn.us for the schedule of your child's conference.
Faribault Public School Registration Opening
The Faribault Public School registration is now open until October 25th. No registration requests will be processed after October 25th. If your child wants to take a class at Faribault Public School in addition to MSAD classes, please contact your child's teacher or Ryan Johnson for additional information.
Important Dates to Remember:
October 18th - Dismissal at Noon
October 18th - Families/Teachers Conferences
October 19th and 20th - No School (October Break)
Here is a quick list of September activities:
- Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Our New Corridor
- Spirit Week/Homecoming Games
- International Sign Languages Day Activities
- MDE Commissioner Willie Jett Visited Us
- ECE Field Trip to Orchard Minnesota Harvest
- Mountaineers Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger Visited Us
- A+ Students Field Trip to Metropolitan State University for Deaf Youth Transition Day
- MSAD Athletes Went to Utah for Football and Volleyball Games
Here are the activities that will be happening in October:
- 5th through 8th Grade Field Trip to Big Island Rendezvous on October 5th
- GPSD Volleyball Tournament at MSAD on October 6th & 7th
- White Cane Safety Awareness Day in Faribault on October 12th
- White Cane Day Event in Rochester on October 17th
- Elementary Field Trip to MN Zoo on October 24th
- ECE Field Trip to Windy Willow's Farm on October 25th
- Unity Day Event at MSAD on October 25th
- RIT Visit at MSAD on October 26th
- Fire Drills
- and many more!
We do appreciate your ongoing support. As always, if you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to contact us.
Ryan Johnson, Director
507-412-5176
Jody Olson, Director
507-412-5198
ACHIEVE - CARE - THRIVE
First day of School
Ribbon cutting for the new Security Corridor
Homecoming Spirit Week - 6th graders as pirates
Homecoming Spirit Week - Twins Day
Homecoming Spirit Week - Twins Day
Homecoming Spirit Week - Sports Day
Homecoming Spirit Week - No Backpacks Day
Homecoming Pep Rally
MDE Commissioner Willie Jett with Chelsea's class
Mountaineers Scott and Shayna with the ECE class
Mountaineers Scott and Shayna with the Elementary Department
Mountaineers Scott and Shayna with the 6-12th Department
Beki trying on their Mountaining climbing gears
Nathan trying on their Mountaining climbing gears
Blue shirts to represent the International Sign Language Day
ECE trip to Ferguson's Orchard
ECE trip to Ferguson's Orchard
ECE trip to Ferguson's Orchard
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
We kicked off the school year by focusing on respect and treating others with care. Last month we introduced our houses program, where all staff and students were split up into 5 houses and completed challenges together. This program gives our students an opportunity to interact with students and staff they might not normally interact with, and practice treating others with respect.
This month we are focusing on responsibility. One way to define responsibility is “taking action and understanding the impact of our choices.” Taking action can mean doing the right thing or completing the tasks you have been assigned. Understanding the impact of our choices means that our actions matter. Positive and responsible actions can help people and irresponsible actions, such as bullying, can hurt others. Our houses activity this month will coincide with Unity Day on October 25th, where we will gather to unite and take responsibility for treating others with kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
If you have any questions regarding PBIS, please contact Heather Breitbach at heather.breitbach@msa.state.mn.us
Events/Fundraisers for Students & Families
Please contact an event coordinator or a chairman of the organization(s) or event(s) if you have questions about the following events or fundraisers:
GPSD Volleyball Tournament
Omelet Breakfast Fundraiser
Four Elements Clothing Fundraiser
MSAD Parent, Teacher, and Staff (PTSA)
Hilltoppers Athletic Booster Club (HABC)
Building a Foundation of Language
In this new webinar series you will learn strategies for best practices to interact with your child during your everyday routines to help them learn language and emerging literacy. Children who have a strong foundation in language and mindfulness practices have better outcomes in school and have a more positive sense of self.
Deaf Mentor Family Services
***We'd like to pass this along from Deaf Mentor Family Services (DMFS)***
Many parents who want to incorporate American Sign Language in their deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing child’s communication are not sure where to start. Deaf Mentor Family Services (DMFS) of Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota (LSS-MN) is here to help.
What does this program do?
Deaf Mentor Family Services matches families with a qualified Deaf Mentor. Deaf Mentors focus on early language acquisition using early visual communication while learning ASL. They also teach families about deaf culture, deaf history, community and connecting to resources, using the SKI HI Deaf Mentor family curriculum.
What are the benefits?
Mentoring helps families build communication with their child. Having access to communication, relationships, and language with their parents and siblings sets up the child for future success. It helps a child to be confident and comfortable with their identity. This has a positive effect as they grow up. Working with deaf or hard of hearing mentors also helps families. They learn about Deaf culture, meet other parents going through similar experiences and become part of a wonderful community. Parents who completed the program often recommend it to other parents and encourage them to sign up as early as possible.
What families are saying about Deaf Mentor Family Services
- “One of the best things that has ever happened to us. Our Deaf Mentor has taught me how to sign and communicate with him. Truly a blessing for our family.”
- “We are now able to communicate with our child while she does not always wear her hearing aid, and in situations that she may become frustrated and not have the words to use.”
- “I do not believe we would have been able to start learning ASL without this program. It has been a true blessing to be able to give our daughter access to visual communication at an early age. We are so thankful.”
- “Our child has become more expressive with her feelings and storytelling.”
- “We feel confident that our daughter has full access to language, and she is thriving!!!”
Latest news
Currently, the program serves 47 families. The program’s goal is to serve 60 families by the end of 2023. They are also working to increase the number of Deaf Mentors on staff from 20 to 25. DMFS is also seeking more culturally diverse Deaf Mentors.
DMFS is excited to accomplish one of their goals this spring: hosting their first family retreat! The retreat will be at Camp Knutson in Crosslake, Minnesota, April 28-30. It is an opportunity for current and past families to meet other families with children who are deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing and to meet more Deaf Mentors. To learn more, email Emily Smith-Lundberg.
Do you have questions about Deaf Mentor Family Services?
Deaf Mentor Family Services Director, Emily Smith-Lundberg, will be happy to answer your questions. You can reach out to her by email. You can also visit the Deaf Mentor Family Services webpage.
LSS receives a grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to support the Deaf Mentor Family Services program. You can find more details about the grant on Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division's grant webpage.
Attendance and After School Plan Changes
Also please inform Sandy Caron through phone call or email before 11:00 AM if your child has any changes to after school plans (transportation, after school program, athletic events, etc).
Sandy Caron, MSAD Secretary
507-384-6685
2023 - 2024 School Calendar
PowerSchool: Parent Portal
Research shows that when parents are engaged, students become more active participants in the educational process, which helps mitigate problems, instills better study habits, and addresses issues as they arise – all of which are key factors in academic success.
PowerSchool’s Parent Portal provides parents/guardians confidential and real time access to information tied to their child(ren), such as attendance and grades, through their own PowerSchool Parent Portal account.
Your child(ren)'s schedule have been updated in the PowerSchool. If you are new to this or have questions/concerns regarding the PowerSchool Parent Portal, please contact Colleen Johnson, MSA Student Information Systems Specialist, at colleen.johnson@msa.state.mn.us.
Transportation
Parents are responsible for (1) providing transportation or (2) arranging transportation with their local school district. If you have any questions about transportation, please contact Heidi Cole at (507) 384-6761 or email her at heidi.cole@msa.state.mn.us
Breakfast at MSAD
Breakfast at MSAD will be available for day students starting at 7:20am. If you want your child(ren) to eat breakfast at MSAD, please make arrangement to have your child(ren) be dropped off at the Dining Hall no later than 7:40am.
Dorm & After School Program Information
If you have any questions regarding dorm and/or after school program, please contact Ronda Jo Donatucci, our MSA Student Life Director:
Email: ronda.donatucci@msa.state.mn.us
Phone: 507-412-5201