Welcome to Good News!
Highlighting Achievements and Successes at
the Texas School for the Deaf.

Volume 7, Issue 7

Checkmate!

The TSD Grandmasters chess team absolutely crushed the competition at the 2023 National Deaf Chess Tournament using some slick chess moves.

Throughout the tournament, the team continued to play with precision and creativity, using a variety of strategies to outmaneuver their opponents.

As the tournament progressed, the Grandmasters' dominance only grew, benefitting them to eventually advance to the final round against the team from Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD). The final result, the Grandmasters dominated 4 to 1.

Congratulations to the TSD Grandmasters Chess Team.

Photo shows TSD's chess team sitting and standing at the bleachers. Behind them are the other chess teams.

TSD Rangers Softball Team Finish 2nd at Hoy Tournament

To stay ahead of a forecasted washout, the 2023 Hoy Softball Tournament was squeezed into one day. Six participating schools from across the country arrived early on Thursday to compete for the coveted championship.

After defeating Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD), the Rangers secured a spot in the championship game against California School for the Deaf - Fremont.

Although unsuccessful against the Fremont Eagles, our Lady Rangers played their hearts out on the field. We are all so proud of your performance throughout the season.

Congratulations, Lady Rangers!

Photo shows softball Coach McKeller giving a pep talk to the Lady Rangers who are seated on the grass by the softball field.

CTE Showcase

In April, TSD students participated in the annual CTE Showcase. The event allows students and staff to get hands-on, interactive experiences, like robotics, sewing, and changing a baby's diaper.

The tours, which are led by CTE students, are designed to educate others about the various programs the CTE Department offers, such as Welding, Automotive Technology, Child Development, Culinary Arts, Visual Communications, Robotics, Construction Technology, Printing, Art, and Forensic Science.

Photo shows a CTE student guiding a group of elementary students down the TSD mall.

Photo shows a student being taught how to use a sewing machine.

Photo shows a student demonstrating how to navigate a robotics obstacle course.

Photo shows students learning how to change diapers.

TSD Rangers Perform at Berg-Seeger Track & Field Classic, Placing 2nd and 3rd

TSD's track and field athletes had a strong performance at the 13th Berg-Seeger Track & Field Classic that was held at Texas School for the Deaf in mid-April.

Sixteen Deaf schools from across the nation participated in the day-long event, which was sponsored by Gallaudet University and Sorenson.

In the overall team results, the TSD boys team took second place, while the TSD girls team placed third.

Congratulations to our teams!

Photo shows the TSD track and field boys team.

Photo shows the TSD track and field girls team.

Gallaudet Women's
Basketball Coach Visits
Lady Rangers for Clinic

In April, the female middle school and high school athletes participated in a clinic provided by Gallaudet University women's basketball coach, Stephanie Stevens.

Coach Stevens demonstrated the fundamentals of shooting, dribbling, and passing. She also showed them proper form and technique, emphasizing the importance of footwork. As the girls practiced their skills, Coach Stevens provided individual feedback and encouragement.

The girls also learned the importance of mental health as Coach Stevens emphasized the big 4 -- sleep, nutrition, mindfulness, and exercise.

Photo shows Coach Stevens demonstrate fundaments of basketball.

Photo shows student dribbling a basketball.

Photo shows one student dribbling and another student standing in a defensive stance.

Photo shows student doing footwork drills.

ACCESS Teachers, TAs, and Nurses Surprised with Donuts

TSD's ACCESS teachers, teacher assistants, and nurses received a welcoming surprise from The Salty Donut on South Congress for Teacher & Nurses Appreciation Day. They were treated with banana cream pie and cookie butter cake donuts.

This was made possible by a nomination submitted by TSD interpreter Diane Blastic to The Salty Donut’s social media contest.

Photo shows ACCESS teachers, teacher assistants, and nurses gathered around two boxes of donuts.

TSD Student Spotlight: Holden E.

Holden E. has been swimming since he was born.

His first swimming lesson was when he was six months old.

Fast-forward 13 years and he's been selected to represent Team USA Swimming at the upcoming World Deaf Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina in August.

Holden is doing a fundraiser that would help cover the travel costs to the World Deaf Championships in Buenos Aires (2023), Japan (2024), and the Deaflympics in Japan (2025). https://mtyc.co/6ou0wf

Photo id: Photo shows TSD student athlete Holden E.

TSD Staff Spotlight: Heather Keiler-Green

TSD Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Heather Keiler-Green, and two of her colleagues, Carolina Gonzalez and Lauren Brown, will be treated to Hop Doddy for lunch by the Texas Public Employees Association (TPEA). Heather submitted to TPEA's photo contest as part of their national public service recognition week and won.

Heather arrived at TSD in 2007 as a teacher in the Special Needs Department. She continued her studies and in 2016 became TSD's Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (CTVI). She's also a certified bilingual ASL teacher.

Heather supports our students with deaf blindness and vision loss, teaches Braille, and coordinates both the Orientation and Mobility and Intervener Services. She participated in the Deafblind Task Force, submits reports for the VI and Deaf Blind count, and works closely with our partner school, TSBVI.

Congratulations to Heather for winning the photo contest, and thank you for all you do for TSD.

Photo shows TSD teachers Heather Keiler-Green, Carolina Gonzalez, and Lauren Brown in front of the elementary building.

TSD Alum Spotlight: Wyatt George

An accomplished actor and alumnus of Texas

School for the Deaf (Class of 2021), Wyatt George recently took part in the theatre production at NTID/RIT University titled, "Deaf Republic," playing one
of the two main characters.

Written by Ukrainian-born poet Ilya Kaminsky, Wyatt played Alfonso Barabinski, a puppeteer who, upon his wife's execution, wanders the city almost in madness over the grief of his loss.

Wyatt's performance in Deaf Republic is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the craft of acting.

TSD is proud of you, Wyatt!

Photo id: Wyatt George's Class of 2021 photo.

Photo of Wyatt playing the role of Alfonso on stage with a background image of a building burning.

Photo credit: Lindsay Dobson

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Published May 17, 2023 Print