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Gayle Robertson’s request for $3,311 to cover food, lodging, and a backstage tour for twelve OSD students to attend the Oregon Shakespeare trip to Ashland was approved. FOSD is seeking a grant to cover costs, which are shared by OSD (gas) and Nightmare Factory (play tickets).
Samantha Weether and Holly Hartman were awarded $210 for Barnes and Noble gift cards and an Amazon Kindle as prizes for a project to improve the quantity and quality of reading at OSD. This activity requires the whole school to work as a team and individual students to document their progress. It also involves themed weeks to celebrate various types of literature. The elementary, middle school and all school winners are pictured above!
FOSD purchased several of the top prizes for the OSD Spelling Bee this Spring. A wonderful learning experience was had by all students who participated.
As part of a larger study of Human Rights, FOSD funded an April presentation by Chanrithy Him. She spoke of her experience of the Killing Fields of Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge. The purpose of such presentations is to mobilize everyone in trying to prevent the repetition of such tragedies. Students learned a great deal.
The 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.
