Want to see all the ways FOSD contributes to the school?  Check out this student produced video!

Matt Boyd’s proposal was awarded $1,800 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 fromTHE SALEM FOUNDATION, the OCF JOSEPH E. WESTON PUBLIC FOUNDATION, the JUAN YOUNG FOUNDATION and Friends of OSD fundraising activities.

Christine Bartell‘s proposal was awarded $1,500 towards construction of a new greenhouse for the OSD Garden Program, which involves students on track to receive a modified diploma. OSD’s Helping Hands program has already raised nearly $1,200 in matching funds for this project.

The Garden Program is a hands-on, cross curricular business program that will grow produce year around. It will provide goods to the school cafeteria and for sale at local farmers’ markets. It will operate a modified CSA program and farm stand and sell to local businesses, as well as staff and ODE employees. Students will develop skills in the areas of business, food production, nurseries and nutrition.

Due to the availability of special private funding through FOSD, Bill Cruscial’s proposal was awarded $9,000 for his grant proposal to transform the old darkroom in the OSD high school building into a modern, functioning TV studio for a Career Technical Education certified media program. The grant will be spent on remodeling, materials, media equipment and the like. This will be a unique and valuable addition to OSD’s programs.

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.