June, 2007 back to September, 2001 Graduation On June 1, 2007, a graduation ceremony for two students, who have attended the Willie Ross School Partnership Campus in East Longmeadow, was held in a graduation ceremony at the Furcolo Student Center at the school's Longmeadow Campus. Jesse Ascioti, a Springfield resident, and Kaelyn Korbut, a Chicopee resident, completed all of the requirements for graduation, including passing the MCAS exams and received diplomas.  Both students plan to attend Holyoke Community College before transferring to four year colleges.  The ceremony was preceded by a  Senior Banquet attended by family members, staff members, trustees, friends, and alumni.  Dr. Louis Abbate, Executive Driector, and Gregory DeLisle, Deputy Executive Director, participated in the program, and Attorney Susan Phillips, Chairperson of the Willie Ross School Board of Trustees, presented certificates to the graduates.  State Senator Knapik, at the invitation of Trustee Judge Daniel Swords, was the graduation speaker.  Mr. John Martin, a guidance counselor at East Longmeadow High School was the students' guest speaker.  Both graduates spoke of their experiences at Willie Ross School.  Congratulations to our newest alumni!  Julio Lebron’s Completion Ceremony was held in January at the Longmeadow Campus. He was an active participant in the School to Work Program, and the day after the ceremony, he became an employee at Lyndale Garage in Springfield.  Congratulations to Julio for his accomplishments at Willie Ross School as a student, and best wishes to him for success in his chosen work. (Pictured: Left to right, Linda Carfora, Director of the Longmeadow Campus, Julio Lebron, Gregory DeLisle, Deputy Executive Director of Willie Ross School for the Deaf.) MARCH 20, 2007 Dr. Louis Abbate, Executive Director of the Willie Ross School for the Deaf in Longmeadow, announces that on Thursday, March 29, 2007, two members of the school’s National Advisory Council will spend the day at both campuses of the Willie Ross School: the Longmeadow Campus and the East Longmeadow Partnership Campus. The purpose of the visit is to visit classrooms, meet with campus directors, lead teachers, and staff in order to assess the implementation of the school’s new mission and its goal of academic excellence. Members of the National Advisory Council include Dr. Marc Marschark, Dr. David S. Martin who will be at the school on March 29.  Both are internationally known educators and researchers who have made significant contributions to the field of education of the deaf. Marc Marschark, Ph.D., Professor in the Center for Education Research Partnerships at Rochester Institute of Technology/National Technical Institute of the Deaf, has published and presented widely on his research and teaching interests of language and cognition among deaf and hearing adults and interactions of language, cognitive, and social development of deaf children. His presentations to staff at Willie Ross School have made a significant impact on the development of the new mission. Dr. Marschark not only serves his own institution but also is Honorary Professor of Psychology at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and he serves on the Board of Directors for the American Society for Deaf Children, as well as numerous other agencies and committees. David S. Martin, Ph.D., has long been involved with WRSD in an advisory capacity and as a presenter on curricular issues.  During the 2005-2006 school year, he led a group of Willie Ross School lead teachers in aligning the WRSD English Language Arts curriculum with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.  After serving in leadership positions in schools on both the east and west coasts of the United States, he accepted a position at Gallaudet University as Dean of the School of Education, from which he retired as Dean Emeritus.  His present work includes consultative and supervisory work throughout the United States, in South Africa, and in London.  Dr. Martin was awarded the Willie Ross School’s Community Advocacy Award in 2006. He has published widely in the field of deaf education. On April 10th, Dr. Martin will return to Willie Ross School for a professional development day during which the new mission, its impact on curricular issues, and the implementation of the new technological equipment into the teaching process will be addressed.  On that day he will be accompanied by Dr. Harry Lang, who is a Professor and Educational Researcher at Rochester Institute of Technology/National Technical Institute of the Deaf.  Dr. Lang’s background in engineering and mathematics and his perspective on the effective use of technology in the classroom is pertinent to ongoing assessments of the new mission.  BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANNUAL MEETING  The Board of Trustees of the Willie Ross School gathered at the Furcolo Student Center for a reception prior to the Annual Meeting which took place in Wing Hall of the Founders Classroom Building.  Vice Chairperson Jay Primack presided over the meeting and chairpersons of the Development Committee, Ms. Kathy Tobin, and the Planning Committee, Mr. John Gallup,  reported on a successful year, both with ongoing plans and recommendations.  The slate of officers were elected for a term to conclude in 2008: Attorney Susan C. Phillips, Chairperson; Mr. Jay Primack, Vice-Chairperson; Mr. James H. Ross, Jr., Treasurer; Mrs. Barbara J. Garvey, Secretary.    On behalf of Judge Daniel J. Swords, Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, Dr.Abbate presented for election to the Board of a three-year term ending in 2010 Mr. Richard Burkhart, CPA, nominated by Mrs. Constance Gleason Furcolo.  Mr. Burkhart is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, receiving his Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting in 1975 and a certificate to practice as a certified public accountant in Massachusetts in 1978. Mr. Burkhart is the managing principal of Burkhart & Pizzanelli, P.C.  He serves on a variety of Boards of other non-profit organizations such as the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and the West Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Abbate presented his annual report, noting progress in many areas of the school's operation. The school's senior staff were in attendance at the meeting.  May, 2007 Peter A. Picknelly, a Willie Ross Trustee and President of Peter Pan Bus Lines, Inc., the largest privately-owned intercity bus company in the United States, was presented with the 2007 Distinguished Citizen Award at an Awards Dinner given by the Pioneer Valley Council Boy Scouts of America in April. Mr. Picknelly is active in business and in the community, and he serves on a number of boards, including the Willie Ross School Board of Trustees.  Congratulations to Mr. Picknelly from the Willie Ross community! Staff News Betsy Grenier, Lead Teacher at the Longmeadow Campus, was honored with an Excellence in Teaching Award at a dinner at the Log Cabin in Holyoke on April 26th.  Ms. Grenier, a teacher with Willie Ross for eleven years, teaches the Primary II class at the Longmeadow Campus, mentors first year students, and assists the campus director with administrative duties.  Member of the Willie Ross community joined Ms. Grenier and her husband at the celebration.  The dinner, the first of three honoring teachers throughout Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties, and the awards were sponsored by The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, Mass Mutual Financial Group, Southworth Paper Company, Springfield Republican, WGBY Channel 57, Channel 40, Channel 22, Meyers Brothers & Kalicka, and local YMCAs.  Willie Ross is proud of its honoree and congratulates Betsy Grenier for her outstanding work! February 28, 2007 NEW MISSION IMPLEMENTED AT WILLLIE ROSS The 39th year of operation of the Willie Ross School for the Deaf is proving to be an exciting one for the entire school.  Our new mission is being implemented effectively.  Plans are under way to celebrate our 40th anniversary next year, and our staff and students are working hard to ensure that a high standard of academic achievement is attained by all of our students. Last year’s planning for the introduction of the new mission has proven to be successful and worthwhile.  The Willie Ross School’s capacity to meet the diverse needs of our students continues to expand through our model’s ability to offer an array of instructional and communication options.  Our educational environments are responsive to the evolving needs of our students; our technology is being improved to integrate the advances that are being made in the field, and our communication methodologies are being provided based upon student needs rather than upon a particular philosophy. Our dual-campus model permits us to offer instructional options and educational environments to meet our students’ needs, both as they present at the time of admission and as they evolve over time.  The capacity to use spoken language and the benefits of using sign language for instruction co-exist in a positive and productive instructional setting at Willie Ross.  Access for our students is not limited by any narrow consequences of one approach.  Rather, access is expanded by the integration of different approaches to communication styles which are based upon individual student need and which lead to the development of a wide range of abilities. The richness that a diverse student body brings to our school is celebrated each day.  The benefits of offering a broad array of instructional approaches are demonstrated each day.  The benefits of offering mainstreaming and immersion together are demonstrated by the success of our students each day.  They are also demonstrated on our Partnership Campus by the hearing students of the East Longmeadow Public Schools, as they develop relationships with our students.  Barriers are falling all the time at Willie Ross, as access is being built. As we approach the 40th anniversary of our founding, it is appropriate to reflect on our past, the success of our students, and the achievements of our alumni.  It is also appropriate to recognize that the education of students with a hearing loss is changing and evolving.  We must therefore welcome the future. We welcome these changes and respond by offering more to our students, not less.  We are not afraid of introducing new approaches if they are of benefit for our students.  We are promoting a model which is capable of meeting students’ needs now and in the future. We are implementing a model that actively integrates the advances in technology and recognizes and values the contributions of historical approaches. We welcome the advances in technology and recognizes and values the contributions of historical approaches.  We welcome the advances in technology, audiology, and early identification by uniting them to create new approaches which maximize their benefits to the students that we serve. Our mission responds to the challenges of ensuring that programs expand their capacity to meet the needs of the students.  The world is a complex place, requiring a well-developed set of skills in order to be successful.  At Willie Ross, our mission prepares our students to manage that complexity with multiple skills and abilities.                                        Louis Abbate, Ed.D.                                        Executive Director WILLIE ROSS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF ANNOUNCES HONOREES AND NEW TRUSTEES AT ANNUAL MEETING On Wednesday, June 14th, Willie Ross School for the Deaf held the annual meeting of its Board of Trustees and awards dinner at the Sheraton Springfield Hotel in Springfield.  The school’s newest Trustees, Dr. J. Robert Kirkwood and Peter J. Pappas were introduced.  The annual meeting  featured committee reports, a slate of officers, and the planned premiere of a DVD overview of the school.  Lacey Girard, a Western New England College student, has filmed and produced the DVD as a community service project under the guidance of Brenda Garton, the college’s Director of College Relations. Left to Right: Dr. Susan Martin, Mrs. Elinor Martin, Dr. David S. Martin, William Phillips III, and Attorney Susan Phillips  HONORED AT ANNUAL MEETING AND DINNER OF WRSD Each year Willie Ross School recognizes two individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the school.  The Trustees Award for 2006 was presented to Attorney Susan Phillips, present Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, for her many years of dedication and skill as Chairperson of the Board and as member and chairperson of two Building Committees for the Sidney M. Cooley Administration Building and the Foster & Constance Gleason Furcolo Student Center. A graduate of the School of Law at Western New England College, Attorney Phillips is active particularly in the communities of Chicopee and Westfield.  Attorney Phillips has guided Willie Ross School for the Deaf through change and challenge during the years of the school’s greatest growth in programs and facilities.  The Community Advocacy Award for 2006 was awarded to David S. Martin, Ph.D., a member of the school’s National Advisory Council who has consulted with the school over a number of years and most recently has guided a group of professional staff in the alignment of the Willie Ross School’s English/Language Arts Curriculum with the Massachusetts Department of Education’s Curriculum Frameworks.  The school’s focus on academic excellence is reflected in this important project.  A graduate of Yale University, Harvard University’s School of Education, and Boston College’s Graduate School, Dr. Martin has served as an educational leader on both the east and west coasts of this country.  Internationally recognized as a leader in deaf education, Dr. Martin has made significant and valuable contributions to this field of education. 2005 At its Annual Dinner in June, the Willie Ross School Board of Trustees recognized Mr. James H. Ross, Jr., Treasurer of the Willie Ross School and longtime member of the Board.  The Board of Trustees presented Mr. Ross with its Trustee Advocacy Award in recognition of his dedication to the school and the children it serves. Mr. Curtis L. Blake, a longtime friend of the Willie Ross School for the Deaf and strong supporter of or students, was honored with the Community Advocacy Award.  Mr. Blake was recognized for his support of the Willie Ross organization and for the generous gift of his time and expertise to the school.  The Board of Trustees and the entire Willie Ross community express their congratulations to these two honorees. The Early Childhood Classroom in the Founders Classroom Building was earlier named in honor of Mr. Ross.   The Curtis L. Blake Center for Audiological Services in the Cooley Building was named for Mr. Blake in 1993; it has been recently expanded with new equipment.   Judge (retired) Sidney M. Cooley, longtime friend and Trustee of the school, was honored by the Sir Thomas More Society in the fourth annual Red Mass, celebrated at St. Michael's Cathedral in Springfield.  At the service, six distinguished judges, lawyers, and a legislator were honored.  Willie Ross warmly congratulates Judge Cooley on this most recent honor.  Judge Cooley was honored by the school at a dinner in 2003, and the administration building at the Longmeadow Campus bears his name.   Meredith and Lyman Wood will be honored by the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts on April 19th, 2006, for their outstanding service over a number of years.  For the first time in the organization's history, the Ken Edelin Award is being presented to individuals in Western Massachusetts.  Meredith Wood is a Trustee of the Willie Ross School and is a member of the Western Massachusetts Advisory Committee of the leage, of which Mr. Wood is a Board member.  Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Wood for their significant community contributions. The Willie Ross School congratulates Teddi and Fran Laurin on their induction into the Class of 2005 Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame.  The induction ceremony was held at the Andrew M. Scibelli Center at Springfield Technical Community College.  Francis T. Laurin, P.E., Trustee of the school, was honored by the Board of Trustees in 2003 with its Community Advocacy Award.  The Laurins' generosity to Willie Ross is exemplified by their gift and support of The Laurin Audiological Center for Children at Berkshire Common in Pittsfield, an affiliate of Willie Ross School.  Willie Ross School congratulates the Laurins and salutes Fran Laurin. EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD Lisa Watson, physical education teacher, was awarded an Excellence in Teaching Award in the spring of 2005.  The award was established by the Grinspoon Foundation and co-sponsored by Harold Grinspoon, Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation and MassMutual in recognition of outstanding teachers for their contributions in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties. Ms. Watson has taught physical education at the school for the past twenty years.  A graduate of Central Connecticut State University, Ms. Watson is a certified adaptive physical education teacher, a distinction earned from the National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities.  The award for outstanding teaching was a well-deserved honor for Ms. Watson, who has been an effective and enthusiastic teacher in her field, has worked successfully with the many different ages of students at the Longmeadow Campus and has worked cooperatively in team-teaching in the East Longmeadow Partnership Campus.  Congratulations from all of the students, staff, and administration of the school!   Spring 2005 Representatives of Western New England College visited the school's new computer lab, made possible through the generosity of the college in donating computers to Willie Ross School.  The goal of the school to provide a common area for group computer instruction in addition to the student computers in classrooms has been met through this generous gift. Left to right, Dave Stawasz, Publicity Coordinator; Kevin Gorman, Manager of Technical Support and Systems;  Bonnie Katusich, Director of Operations, WRSD; Rosa Guzman, WRSD intern, and Allyn Chase, Assistant Vice President of Information Technology. March 2005 A Willie Ross School student, Jesse Ascioti, was presented an award from Easter Seals for his outstanding work as a counselor-in-training at the Easter Seals summer camp.  The award was presented at Channel 22, Springfield, by Kirk Joslin, Executive Director of Easter Seals, and Sy Becker, newsman of Channel 22.  Accompanying Jesse is Amy Fremgen, Willie Ross teacher. Classroom Assistant Honored Irene La Rossa, a classroom assistant at Willie Ross School for the Deaf, recently recieved five scholarships from the Community Foundation.  Irene was honored at a Community Foundation luncheon on October 14th.  Irene will attend Bay Path College. Irene La Rossa, center, with her mother and her sister   APPOINTMENT OF NEW STUDENT SERVICES COORDINATOR   Veronica Miller joined the Willie Ross School as Coordinator of Pupil and Administrative Services for the school in the summer of 2005.  Ms/ Miller joined the organization following her graduation from Bay Path College in Longmeadow with a degree in information technology.   She is a resident of Longmeadow, and she has served as a volunteer and as a substitute teacher in the Longmeadow schools.  In her position she will coordinate all of the functions of the school regarding students and will represent the school at students' individual team meetings, as well as coordinating administrative services.   A warm welcome to Willie Ross School!   Ms. Miller replaces Diane Shaughnessy, who served the school for many years in the Coordinator's position.  Mr. Shaughnessy retired at the end of June, 2005, and she and her husband will continue to live in Longmeadow.  Ms. Shaughnessy was honored at the Annual Dinner and Meeting of the Board of Trustees.  The school extends its best wishes to her for her retirement.   NEW BOARD MEMBERS Judge Daniel J. Swords, Chairperson of the Nominating Committee of the Board of Trustees has announced the election of two new Board members.  They are Martha H. Ryan and Donald Dupre, Esq., CPA.  The first meeting of the full Board was Wednesday, November 2, 2005. 2004 The Board of Trustees Bestows Two Willie Ross Community Advocacy Awards At its Annual Dinner held on June 23, 2004, the Board of Trustees recognized Dean D. Irving Conrad and Mr.Bruce W. Stebbins for their contributions to the Willie Ross School for the Deaf and to the advancement of the education of children with hearing losses.  Dean Conrad was honored for his years as a member of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Board, and the current Chair of the Physical Facilities Committee.  Mr.Stebbins was recognized for his efforts to advance the Partnership Campus Trustee Committee.  The Board of Trustees and the entire Willie Ross community express their admiration of these two individuals and offer their congratulations.   2004 Graduation Exercises Willie Ross School for the Deaf held its seventeenth graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 3 at the Furcolo Student Center.  Five young women were awarded certificates in recognition of their dedication, perseverance, and achievements by Dr. Louis Abbate, Executive Director, and Attorney Susan Phillips, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.   The graduates were Oksana Mikhalinchik (Westfield), Patisha Moore (Springfield), Jacqueline Rivera (Holyoke), Dianedsis Roman (Holyoke) and Darlene Williamson (Springfield).  All five graduates addressed friends, family, and staff and reminisced about their years at Willie Ross and he friendships that developed and will last forever.  The commencement speaker was Rosa Guzman, class of 1998, who encouraged the seniors to put their ambitions into action.   New Trustees Appointed On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Judge Daniel Swords, Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, announced the election to a three year term of two new members to the Board of Trustees.  They are Mr. Steven Mitus, CPA, Chief Financial Officer for Balise Motor Sales Company, and Mrs. Nancy W. Lees, Director of Retirement Services for the Mass Mutual Financial Group.  The Board of Trustees welcomes these two individuals to the Board and looks forward to their on-going contribution to the advancement of the School and the students that it serves.     Excellence in Teaching Award Nancy J. Zoulalian, Lead Teacher in the Willie Ross Partnership Program and a resident of Easthampton, received an Excellence in Teaching Award at a dinner on May 11, 2004.  The award established by the Grinspoon Foundation, and co-sponsored by The Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Irene & George Davis Foundation, and Mass Mutual recognizes outstanding teachers.   Ms. Zoulalian has taught at Willie Ross School for the Deaf for 25 years.  A graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a master's degree in teaching from Keene State College, she is a Massachusetts-certified teacher.  Ms. Zoulalian is a dedicated, enthusiastic, and motivated teacher, who continues to modify her teaching methods and materials as the needs and abilities of her students change.  Her interest in her students is evident in her creative approach by which she introduces them to new material and sustains their enthusiasm in their school work.    Congratulations to Ms.Zoulalian on this outstanding award. WILLIE ROSS SCHOOL AWARDS THREE HONOREES On October 9, 2003 the Willie Ross School for the Deaf celebrated the achievements of three outstanding individuals at its 2003 Community Advocacy Awards Dinner held at the Carriage House at the Barney Estate in Forest Park, Springfield.  There was an air of excitement as many friends of the school gathered on a beautiful October evening for dinner in the large white tent, which was decorated with bittersweet, colored leaves, cornstalks and pumpkins.  The guests were welcomed by Attorney Susan Phillips, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the school and by Dr. Louis Abbate, Executive Director of the school who also served as Master of Ceremonies.  The honorees at this year’s dinner included State Senator Brian P. Lees, Minority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate and senator from the First Hampden and Hampshire District.   Long a friend of the school and a former Trustee, Senator Lees continues his enthusiastic support of Willie Ross School and its mission of educating deaf and hard-of-hearing children to take their places eventually as adult citizens who will participate in their communities.  Senator Lees is well known throughout the District as a strong supporter of organizations who help individuals and families.  He spoke eloquently of the work accomplished by Willie Ross School.  Meredith Y. Wood, Trustee Chairperson of the Dinner and Awards Committee presented the award to Senator Lees. Dr. Robert R. Davila, retiring CEO of National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, New York, brought words of humility and deep appreciation to the school for honoring him at this dinner.   Dr. Davila served in the administration of President George H.W.Bush as Assistant Secretary of Education for individuals with disabilities.  The first deaf person to be appointed to this position, he also has been named by President George W. Bush to the National Council on Disability.  Dr. Davila has been a friend of the school and a member of its Advisory Council for a number of years, and he is always welcomed at the school with excitement by the students and enthusiasm by staff members.  This evening was no exception, as the audience listened to his words of gratitude to the school and praise for the school’s achievements.  Dr. Davila’s award was presented to him by Gregory A. DeLisle, Deputy Executive Director of the Willie Ross School. Francis T. Laurin, P.E., a Trustee of the school since 1995, works tirelessly on the school’s behalf in Berkshire County as Chairman of the Outreach and New Partnership Programs Committee: Berkshire County. He also serves on the Physical Facilities, Acquisitions & Building Committee.  His enthusiasm for the school and its children is clear in the establishment of the Laurin Audiological Center for Children, which he established as an affiliate of the Willie Ross School.  Mr. Laurin’s interest in the school extends to the provision of social opportunities for the children.  Each December the children and staff look forward to visiting the Berkshire Museum’s Festival of Trees followed by a party at the Laurin Publishing Headquarters in Pittsfield.   Mr. Laurin is the President of  the publishing company known worldwide for its technical journals, among which is “Photonics Spectra” which has more than 100,000 subscribers internationally.  Mr. Laurin spoke to the assembled guests of his pleasure in receiving this award and of his admiration for the work of Willie Ross School for the Deaf.  Jay Primack, CPA, Vice Chairperson of the school’s Board of Trustees, presented the award to Mr. Laurin. Archives July 7, 2003 JOHN RATZENBERGER VISITS SCHOOL  A true friend is someone who stays close, even when distance serves to separate you.  A true friend is someone who believes in you and who supports what you are doing. John Ratzenberger is a true friend of the Willie Ross School and of all of its students.  He arrived unexpectedly on our campus on May 15th for a visit.  John was in town as part of a series of programs he was doing for the Travel Channel.  He was traveling on that day in a large, very well-equipped recreational vehicle, more like a recreational house.  He had the vehicle brought to the front of the campus and all of the children had a chance to tour the vehicle and to meet him.  It is unclear as to who was more excited, the students or the staff.  Everyone was impressed with John's gentle manner, his friendliness, and his kindness.  We are truly fortunate to have a friend like John.  Most recently, he did one of the voices in "Finding Nemo." One day in early June a package arrived with several "Finding Nemo" keychains for the students.  Two days later, a huge cake arrived to celebrate the graduates at our commencement exercises held on June 6th.  John Ratzenberger is a true friend.  A true friend of Willie Ross and its students, and I am proud to say, a true friend of mine.  (Louis Abbate, Ed.D.Executive Director) June 7, 2003 The Willie Ross School for the Deaf in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, held graduation ceremonies in the Foster & Constance Gleason Furcolo Student Center on June 6, 2003, for three students:  Jenny Leca of Ludlow, Maribel Marquez of Holyoke, and Ashley Murray of West Springfield.  The students had attended the Willie Ross School-East Longmeadow Public Schools Partnership Program and will graduate on June 8th from East Longmeadow High School. The seniors chose an alumna, Dulce Goncalves, who works as a classroom assistant at the Founders Classroom Building, as their speaker.  Each student expressed her appreciation to the assembled audience of family, friends, and staff members.  Diplomas were awarded by Attorney Susan Phillips, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.  Bruce Stebbins, a member of the School Committee of East Longmeadow, congratulated the students, as did Dr. Louis Abbate, the Executive Director of the school, and Gregory DeLisle, the Deputy Executive Director.  Public Service Award to Willie Ross School’s Executive Director On May 2, 2003, Dr. Louis Abbate has received the Public Service Award from the Massachusetts Association of Approved Private Schools, MAAPS, at the association’s annual conference.  Dr. Abbate’s work on behalf of children, youth, schools, and the Association itself is wide-reaching, and he received the award in recognition of his individual commitment and advocacy of children with special needs.  His on-going work is devoted to special needs children’s access to appropriate educational experiences. Dr. Abbate has served in several significant positions within MAAPS, the Massachusetts Chapter 766-approved private school association in Massachusetts.   He has served as President, Vice President, Delegate-at-Large, and he continues to serve on a number of different committees. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director of the Willie Ross School for the Deaf in 1985, Dr. Abbate served as an administrator of special education in the public sector and as a faculty member at a local college.  At Willie Ross School, he has overseen growth in the programs, which are offered by the school; expansion of programs throughout Western Massachusetts; addition of a second audiological clinic in Pittsfield; renovation of the original campus buildings at Norway Street, Longmeadow; and the addition of the Foster & Constance Gleason Furcolo Student Center.  The partnership between Willie Ross School and the East Longmeadow Public School System has been strengthened through cooperative efforts.  Willie Ross School for the Deaf is completing observances of its thirty-fifth year of operation.  Dr. Abbate is completing his eighteenth year as Executive Director.  The entire Willie Ross Community extends its sincere congratulations to Dr. Abbate on this outstanding award and for his exceptional achievements for the school and for special needs children throughout Massachusetts. For further information, please contact Dr. Louis Abbate, Executive Director of Willie Ross School for the Deaf, 413-567-0374, or by e-mail, at labbate@willierossschool.org   September, 2001 -  The 2001-2002 academic year promises to be an exciting one for the Willie Ross School for the Deaf.  In addition to the preparations for the opening of school, the anticipation of welcoming our students back, and offering a special welcome to our new students and their families, the school is also preparing to introduce a new and broader-based academic program.  The program enhancements are made possible through approval by the Massachusetts Department of Education of our application for program reconstruction.  The school submitted the request in the summer of last year.  The approval was received in April, 2001, and will be fully implemented by September, 2001. The application was submitted in order for the Willie Ross School to continue its mission of providing unlimited opportunities for the deaf and hard-of-hearing students enrolled. The needs of our students have been changing over the past several years.   In order for the Willie Ross School to respond pro-actively to these changes and to respond to the diversity of need, new programs and services were required., The approval permits us to integrate our three existing departments into one comprehensive program. This integration ensures that an appropriate continuum of services will be available to all of our students, regardless of their placement in the school.  It has ensured that our students will have access to all of the available services when they require them.  The boundaries and obstacles to service, which were inherent in a three department organizational model, are no longer present.  Our new model will permit students to have the capacity to move between the levels of the schools.  The school will offer the needed array of services for all students.  As students' needs change, the program will respond with correct services.  The programmatic flexibility is particularly important for the school in order to provide appropriate transitional services for its students.  This is not restricted to transitions between the programs, but also from school to life, to college, or a return to the student's local public school. The program will offer the most contemporary services possible, not only to current students' needs, but to the needs of the students as they progress through the school. The Willie Ross School is the only school for the deaf in Western Massachusetts offering a comprehensive High School program.  The High School provides our students with the ability to progress through the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks, graduating with a diploma, or a certificate.  By expanding its service offerings, the Willie Ross School will continue to be positioned to respond to the needs of Massachusetts students so that they may be educated in their home state. A summary of the enhanced and new services is as follows: An additional Speech Language Pathology Assistant will be appointed to expand therapy to students and to recognize that students, who may require additional speech and language sessions as a result of Cochlear Implants, will be provided with the needed services. A Parent/School Liaison will be appointed to provide assistance to student's families.  This will include, but not be limited to, development of communication skills, provision of on-going information, and general assistance of families.  The Parent/School Liaison will work with all of the families to ensure appropriate communication and integration of our program goals. The vocational offerings of the school, through the School-to-Work Program, will be expanded. These additions will range from an extensive pre-vocational program, including emphasis on activities of daily living skills, with a new center to be constructed at the Longmeadow campus, to work/study and practicum opportunities for older students.  Existing space will be renovated for new kitchen and household equipment to be added. Additional time will be provided for a registered nurse to provide services to students with medical needs and to supervise medications. Additional Instructional Assistant staff will be assigned to our classrooms. Additional Educational Interpreting Staff will be assigned to our partnership programs. An expanded Supportive Services Department will provide clinical and support services to students throughout the school. Additional services from our Spanish translator will be made available to serve families for whom Spanish is their primary language. The After-School Program will be expanded. The Occupational and Physical Therapy Programs throughout the school will increase to provide services to students, regardless of their placement.  Occupational/Physical Therapy will continue to be integrated into our overall educational approach. The school will acquire new replacement FM auditory training units as part of an overall audiological update of equipment. New computers will be purchased as part of an overall technology plan for the entire school, and new TV/VCRs and video cameras will replace outdated equipment and will expand our available classroom equipment. The school will acquire three new vehicles to provide transportation to our students during the school year. The staff will receive expanded professional development opportunities to participate in seminars with educational leaders from throughout the country.  Two full-days have been set aside for professional development in November and January.  Dr. David Martin, the former Dean of the School of Education and Professor of Education at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., will be presenting at the November session.  Specialists from other disciplines will also be invited to present.  Professional Development sessions will be held throughout the year.  Taken together, these new programs and the expansion of existing services will permit the school to offer a contemporary program to its students.  From its founding by parents in 1967, the Willie Ross School for the Deaf's mission has been to provide an educational program to deaf and hard-of-hearing students based upon their presenting needs.  The school has always adhered to an instructional model and philosophy which is characterized by the adoption of various instructional approaches.  The new programs will permit this founding tenet to be continued and the benefits made available to students generations yet to be enrolled at Willie Ross. Louis Abbate, Ed. D. - Executive Director