Friends of OSD - FOSD

Enhancing the educational experience for OSD students.

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Scientific Experience and Observation Literacy

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Aggrey Sawuka’s application was awarded a Special Projects grant for $1,500 towards the purchase of 6 aquariums to encourage students’ scientific observations and literacy. More than 60 OSD students are currently taking biology and they need real life, hands on learning to increase their skills in the area of: observation of living organisms, documentation, data analysis and regular reporting. The state designed scientific inquiry rubric will be used to evaluate students’ performances and documents will be preserved in their science portfolios.

Theatrical Interpreting Preparation Series

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Gayle Robertson’s and Cherie Ulmer’s proposal was awarded $405 each to attend 8 work sessions and 4 interpreted performances to train as theatrical interpreters to help bring literature and theater to life for OSD students.

Gayle will also work collaboratively with public and private school and community theater programs to make performances accessible to OSD students. This opportunity will assist students in meeting ODE’s Core Curriculum Standards in the categories of Aesthetics and Criticism and of Historical and Cultural Perspectives. It additionally provides hours towards work on a Career Technical Education certification in Theatre Arts.

Positive Behavior Instructional Support Program – 2013 Funding

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Donna’s proposal was awarded $500 to purchase incentives for students as part of a campus-wide program that recognizes safe, respectful, or responsible behavior.

Started in the 2010-11 school year, and based on a nationally-known model, any staff member who sees a student demonstrating safe, respectful, or responsible behavior fills out and submits a “PAH! Paper”.  Every full week of school, there is a drawing in each area:  elementary, middle, and high school.  PAH! Papers are randomly drawn, and the students receive small awards, such as gift cards, books, small toys or craft kits.  On average; 50 students are recognized weekly through this program. At the end of the school year, one PAH! Paper is drawn from each area for larger awards, such as backpacks, flashing alarm clocks, sports equipment, etc.

At the end of the school year 2013 , staff reported that the program was a huge success and wanted to continue this work.

Family Learning Program – 2013

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Matt Boyd’s proposal was awarded the remainder of the $6,000 grant for a full weekend Family Learning Program for parents and students to receive training, problem solve, learn new skills. In the past (8-10 years ago), the Family Learning Program was an event that brought families of deaf and hearing impaired students to the School for a week during the summer.  The costs were included in the School’s budget, and it was one of the most successful and anticipated activities of the year. When budgets were cut, some tough decisions had to be made, and the Family Learning Program was eliminated. Since that time it has been the hope of school administrators that other funds could be found to re-establish the Program.

During 2013, Board members successfully acquired private foundation grants and income from fundraising activities to re-establish a more modest weekend Family Learning Program that was held in October. A number of families attended, with children of all ages.  OSD’s dietary staff prepared delicious meals for families who were housed in OSD’s dormitories.  Moms really enjoyed being able to relax, to eat without doing all the chores, and to get to know other parents.

Workshops for parents were included. During the workshops, the children were divided into age groups for supervised activities including swimming, captioned movies, and a bouncy house. The families commented on how grateful they were to be able to take part in this weekend–there was bonding time, and moments of reflection and appreciation for the deaf children in their lives.

Thanks to funding from THE SALEM FOUNDATION, the OCF JOSEPH E. WESTON PUBLIC FOUNDATION, the JUAN YOUNG FOUNDATION and Friends of OSD fundraising activities.

Family and Friends Night at Boon’s Treasury

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This historic building that houses Boon’s Treasury (McMenamins) sits on the northern edge of downtown Salem and features delicious pub food and handcrafted ales, wines and spirits.

On October 13 2013, September 23, 2014, and September 22, 2015, Boon’s hosted a “Family and Friends Night” with a portion of the profits going to FOSD to support projects such as the Family Learning Program, Educational Enhancement Awards, and other innovative programs at OSD.

From 5:00 p.m. to closing, nearly every table was full as families and friends gathered to support FOSD, partake of menu items and just enjoy time together.  At the end of the evening, Boon’s management invited FOSD to come again in 2016, and we have already made plans to do so!

Our Mission

IMG_2702The FOSD mission and purpose is to support the enhancement of programs and services for students at OSD beyond the State’s funding responsibility*. The FOSD Board has identified four initiatives for which awards may be granted:  education, cultural activities, innovative programs and minor capital improvement projects.

Founded by a small group of dedicated people in 2006, FOSD was established to support the students at the Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD).  From that beginning, Friends of OSD has grown into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with an all-volunteer Board of Directors. In 2014, FOSD created an Advisory Council of 15 members.

The Friends of OSD Strategic Plan provides direction as the nonprofit continues to expand. We are proud to say that 95% of all grants and donations go directly to programs that benefit students.

*The State of Oregon is responsible for operating programs and services for the students at the Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD). Federal case law establishes the expectation that special education services provided by a school be reasonably designed to ensure students make progress. Friends of OSD will not replace or supplant the responsibilities of the state.

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