Jean Massieu School News

Aimee Breinholt

Summer time has brought hot days, building construction and summer camps!  The JMS building is closed for the summer months as the roof is being replaced.  We have set up an office at the Highland building (3098 Highland Drive # 205, Salt Lake City) and can be reached there during the summer months. Groundbreaking for the new USDB building will take place soon.  It is anticipated that construction for this building will continue throughout this next year.

Summer camps are underway.  Preschool students spent time talking about dinosaurs and exploring the Museum of Ancient Life.  Students enjoyed basketball instruction from Lance Allred and explored the fundamentals of ASL through stories and poems in our ASL camp.  One-on-one reading tutoring through the reading clinic has started and will continue through the month of July.  We are looking forward to several camps‒–adventure, soccer, dance, drama, and several preschool camps‒–in the month of July.

We are pleased to report that we have filled four teaching positions and would ask your help as

we continue our search for a secondary science teacher.  Those interested in applying for this position may apply by submitting a letter of interest, a current resume, and a list of 3 or more professional references to Carol DeRosier. (E-mail:  carold@usdb.org)

Enjoy the summer months!

Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind News

Michelle Tanner

Summer has begun!  Although the children are out of school, USDB is still an active place.  During the summer the administration spends their time gathering data about the recent school year and evaluating strengths of our programs and areas of improvement.  As part of this process, data is gathered individually for students and looked at globally for trends.  We value this feedback, as we continually want to improve as a school.

There are still some wonderful camps that are happening.  We just finished an outdoor adventure camp and we are in the middle of our reading clinics.  And, there are still more to come!  We are pleased that we have had a great enrollment in our camps this summer.

We are continuing to work hard at filling open positions for the upcoming school year.  If you have any friends that are quality educators, we would like to encourage them to apply.  We offer fantastic benefits and our teacher salaries are in the top five of the entire state of Utah.  We draw some of the best teachers in the field of deaf education and we love the passion our teachers demonstrate. If you or anyone you know is interested in teaching at USDB, we encourage them to send a letter of interest and resume to carold@usdb.org.

Finally, the new building behind the JMS campus has started! Wadman Construction was awarded the build and has already begun working on the project.  We know that during construction there will be some difficulties.  Please be patient with us as we deal with typical construction issues.  Once this is completed, we will have another beautiful facility for our current and future students that will improve their lives.

Thank you for all your support of USD!  The Utah Schools for the Deaf couldn’t succeed without the attention of a wonderful Deaf Community!

President’s Corner

Last month, over 20 people showed up to watch the new DeafNation documentary movie, Deaf People in Havana.  It is a fantastic story about Deaf life in Cuba. Thanks go to Joel Barish for allowing us to show this movie to our community.

UAD board will not have its monthly meeting for this month, July.  We will return in August as usual.

The 2015 UAD biennial conference will be held in Provo October 16 and 17. Do save the date! Informational announcements will be posted through UAD Announce and UAD Bulletin. Do join us!  UAD and UTRID are partnering for this conference.  We have posted ticket prices in advance for the conference.  We offer different plans such as early bird and seniors/students. Check it out on the UAD website.

We are partnering with the Sanderson Community Center to host a legislative training for the first time. It will be on Saturday, November 14 from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Check the flyer on page 13 for more information. It is FREE. You will benefit in learning how to build relationships with important people in your area.  Don’t miss out on it!  Lunch will be provided.

We strongly encourage you to join UAD as a member and support UAD; membership strengthens the organization. UAD needs your voice and your opinion to help move it forward in the future. Membership is only $15 a year and is tax deductible.  To join, go to uad.org and click on ‘Join Us.’

Donations to UAD are always appreciated. To donate, contact Adele Sigoda at fab622@comcast.net.

Philippe Montalette, President

Wedding Bells

June 20, 2015 – Kelli Ann Kamigaki to James Taylor, son of Nancy Taylor of South Ogden and the late Jerry Taylor.  Their wedding vows were said in the courtyard of the Eccles Community Art Center in Ogden.  John Taylor, from Chicago, fulfilled the duties of best man for his brother, while James’ two sons, Joshua and Alyx, were groomsmen. A reception followed that evening in the same place.

The UAD Bulletin welcomes news of new babies, 

weddings, deaths and notable events in this space. 

Contact Valerie Kinney at valerie.g.kinney@gmail.com 

or 801-784-6962 and give her all the details.  

David O. Reynolds to be Keynote Speaker

Ellen Hanna

We are excited to announce that we have David O. Reynolds as our keynote speaker for Friday night, October 16 at Marriott Provo Hotel, in Provo.

On Saturday October 17, we will have many workshops provided. Our featuring speakers will be Jodi Kinner and Dr. Carolyn Ball.

We are planning on providing for CEUs and CEHs for this conference. More details later.

Please check our conference page for more information on location and schedule. www.uad.org/uad-conference-2015

Register as soon as you can while prices are low before October sixteen!

Contact Ellen Hanna at uad1909@gmail.com with your questions.

One Thousand Water Balloons Guaranteed

Jerry Roach

Utah Red Rock Deaf Campers –  Join us for our water bash on Saturday, September nineteen at Holiday Hills RV Park in Coalville with our event, Happy Camper Hangout.  Can’t miss it!  Must RSVP!

Utah Red Rock Deaf Campers will host our event, HAPPY CAMPERS HANGOUT, from Thursday thru Sunday September 17 to 20 at Holiday Hills RV Park in Coalville.

We will have Happy Camper Breakfast and Happy Camper Dinner with Water Bash, Bola Golf and Fly Fishing Challenge and more fun for all families and friends. Everyone is invited.

Any questions or more information, please contact: Stan O’Neal VP: 801-438-4408.

July 2015 Holidays

1    Canada Day (Dominion Day)
4    Independence Day
5    Women’s Soccer World Cup Final
22  Hammock Day

Ramona Rice selected for Hamilton Relay 2015 Better Hearing and Speech Month Recognition Award for the State of Utah

Ramona Rice of Salt Lake City has been selected as the recipient of the Hamilton Relay 2015 Better Hearing and Speech Month Recognition Award for the state of Utah. Ramona is passionate about advocating on behalf of individuals with hearing or vision loss and works tirelessly to ensure they are aware of available resources.

As the founder of the Collaborative Partnership in Utah for People with Vision and/or Hearing Loss, Ramona has helped to build a bridge between organizations and state agencies to provide more cohesive and empowering solutions for individuals with vision and/or hearing loss. Her unyielding commitment to the formation of inter-agency and inter-organizational services has helped provide a myriad of options for connecting with others in the community.

In addition to her work with the Collaborative Partnership, Ramona is involved in many local and national agencies that provide services to people with vision and/or hearing loss, including the Utah Council for the Blind, Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, National Federation of the Blind, Usher’s Chicks, Usher’s Syndrome Coalition, and the Disability Law Center.

As someone with both vision and hearing loss, Ramona is able to provide a valuable firsthand perspective when formulating solutions and services for those in the community. She has received high praise from her peers as someone who is dedicated to raising awareness and educating people about vision and/or hearing loss. We commend Ramona for her compassion and dedication to the community and are proud to present her with the Hamilton Relay 2015 Better Hearing and Speech Month Recognition Award.

This leadership recognition has been brought to you by Hamilton Relay.

About Hamilton Relay

Hamilton Relay provides contracted Traditional Relay and/or Captioned Telephone services to 18 states, the District of Columbia and the Island of Saipan, and is a provider of Internet-based Captioned Telephone services nationwide. More information is available at www.hamiltonrelay.com.captioned telephone services nationwide. More information is available at www.hamiltonrelay.com.

Sego Lily Car Wash/Yard Sale Fundraiser!

Rylee Taylor

  Sego Lily invites you to come to the car wash and yard sale fundraiser event Saturday, July 18 from 8 to 1 pm at the Sanderson Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Proceeds will go to the Deaf Survivors Retreat in Aspen, Colorado. The retreat is designed to provide survivors a safe place to build relationships with other survivors and to develop tools to begin new lives free of violence.

Please come bring your cars for us to wash while you shop at the yard sale!

For more information, contact Rylee Taylor at info@slcad.org

Thank you for supporting Sego Lily!

Let’s keep working together to keep our community safe!