Fall 2005 - Ohio School for the Deaf

OSD Newsthe mother of junior linemanChris Smelley. “I didn’t everthink I would get to see myson play football, so this isa dream come true for ourfamily. I’ve got butterflies inmy stomach right now, andthere have been times whenI’ve gotten a little bit chokedup when I think about howhappy this makes him.“Christopher has beenhyper-excited about this allyear, and I’ve never seenhim give everything thathe’s got to something beforethe way he has to football.It’s made our home life a lotbetter because he’s beentoo tired to mess with meafter football practice.”The game was only 32minutes long, comparedto 48 for other high-schoolcontests.Otherwise,the ruleswere thesame, withsome minormodifications,ofcourse.Like thedrum. WhenOSD hadpossessionand waslined up in alegal formation,coachBill Estessignaledto seniormanagerJerry Theinto bangthe drum, which was on asideline parallel to the lineof scrimmage.Ohio School for the Deaf’s Joey Defalco celebratesafter Shawn Henderhan scored for a 6-0 lead.On the correct count, theplayers sprang into action.“ThisgamewasplayedunderOhioHighSchool(AthleticAssociation)rules,exceptfor theuse ofthe drum, of course,” saidreferee Larry Clay, who alsoofficiates games for theOhio Capital Conference.“The (OSD athletes) arevery rarely offside becausethey don’t move until thatdrum is hit. These kids arealso very perceptive.With coach Bill Estes in the background urging on his team, quarterback ZachStein calls a play during warmups.“They can’t hear our whistles,but they’re always lookingat us tosee whenthe playsare over.”The drumworkedto theSpartans’advantageon a thirdand-4playmidwaythrough thefourth quarter.Theinhit thedrum, butOSD didn’tsnap theball. TheCrusadersjumpedoffside, drawing a 5-yardpenalty and giving the Spartansa first down.“Jerry really has to keephis eyes on me at all timesbecause he plays a veryimportant role on our team,”said Estes, whose teamwill compete as an eightmanteam today againstthe South Carolina Schoolfor the Deaf and Blind inSpartanburg, S.C., and playhost Oct. 1 to the WisconsinSchool for the Deaf forhomecoming.“On that play our boys knewthat we weren’t going tosnap the ball until after fivebeats, and it ended up pullingthe other team offsidebecause they were used tobeginning the play at thesound of the beat.”The OSD coaches signaledin plays, just like almostevery other football teamdoes, and the playershuddled around quarterbackZach Stein as he visuallydescribed the play.In fact, it was quarterbackPaul Hubbard who inventedthe huddle in 1892 whileplaying at Gallaudet University,a school for deafstudents located in WashingtonD.C.After discovering thatopposing teams were readingtheir sign language atthe line of scrimmage, theGallaudet players began tosign in a circle to preventdefenders from stealingplays.PAGE 4 THE OHIO CHRONICLE FALL, 2005

“We actually have anadvantage with communicationwhen we play againsthearing teams because Ican speak with my playersfrom the sideline atany time,” Estes said. “Ofcourse, when we play otherdeaf schools, I can’t signalto my players like thatbecause our opponents willpick up on what I’m saying.”Layne Hazlipp, a freshmanrunning back and linebackerfor the Crusaders, said itwas strange not being ableto talk with his opponentson the field.“It was definitely very differentwith the drum andeverything. It felt very weirdwhen we were on defensebecause we were able totalk out loud about whatwe were going to do, evenwhen we were at the line ofscrimmage.“We’re a team that doesn’tdo much trash-talking, but itwas strange not being ableto say, ‘Good run’ or ‘Nicetackle’ at the end of a play.”The closest thing that cameto trash-talking on the fieldcame when OSD seniorlineman Shane Henderhanmade a tackle for a 5-yardloss. After the play, Henderhanleaped to his feet andshook his finger from sideto side.Referee Mark Boyce, whohas officiated many highschool and college gamesover the last decade, saidit was one of the cleanestcontests he’s witnessed.“It was an honor to do thisgame,” Boyce said. “Youget trash-talking and (dirtyplay) at even the youngestlevels of the game, but therewas none of that here.“I’m real impressed withhow well this team is playingin its first game. Thisgame is more skilled andadvanced than a typicaljunior-varsity game.”The halftime entertainmentwas far from typical as well.The Ohio State School forThe game on the field was football as usual with the Spartans’ Terrell Thomas trying toelude the Crusaders’ Kolin Koehl.the Blind marching band,in uniforms donated byNapoleon High School,performed during a footballgame for the first time.“A lack of time has been ourbiggest challenge becauseI get to work with the kidsonly two days a week forone 45-minute period eachday,” OSSB music directorCarol Agler said. “Learningto march was easy, but it’s alot harder with instrumentsin their hands, particularlythe drums.“We have music on braille,but they all had to learntheir songs by ear becausewe had such a short amountof time.”The band is made up of 11students, with three playingdrums, two playing saxophonesand one each onbaritone, clarinet, glockenspiel,flute, cymbal andtrombone.The musicians sat in metalfolding chairs along thevisiting team’s sideline andplayed during the appropriateintermissions beforebeing led to a 20-yard lineduring halftime. With thehelp of four adults leadingthe way, the band marchedto the center of the field,where it formed the word“Ohio” in braille and playedthe song “Go Big Blue,”which is the color of theSpartans’ uniforms.“This is a challengebecausethis isour firstmarchingbandand we’renervousplayingin frontof a bigcrowd likethis,” saidfreshmanTyroneFall 2005Referee Mark Boyce tosses the coin as the Spartans’ Zach Stein and Matt Ellison and theCrusaders’ Josh Sinclair and Jake Ritter watch.Each play begins with the beat of a bass drum. Team manager Jerry Theinstrikes the drum to start a running drill during warmups.FALL, 2005 THE OHIO CHRONICLE PAGE 5

OSD NewsParker,oneof thedrummers.“We’restilllearningtomarchand playtogether,so allwe can do is go out thereand give it everything we’vegot.”Coach Bill Estes congratulates his team on its performance despite the 36-6 loss.As the band marched offthe field to a standing ovation,freshman flutist MacyMcClain smiled broadly andwaved to the crowd.“I’ve been to football games,cheered with the cheerleadersat wrestling meets andsang for people before, butI’ve never done anythingquite like this,” McClainsaid.Dr. John Balk, the school’s assistant superintendent, provided plenty of supportwhen the Spartans played their first football game in 44 years.At the conclusion of thegame, the Spartans gatheredin the south end zoneand watched as Estes deliveredan emotional speechthat drew several rounds ofapplause.“I’m very proud of my boys,and I told them it was abig honor to coach themin this game, regardless ofthe result,” said Estes, whoplayed high school footballat the Alabama School forthe Deaf and also is theathletics director and girlsbasketball coach at OSD.“We’ve still got a long wayto go, but I’m not doing thisfor the money or the wins.I’m doing this because theboys wanted to play footballand they deserve thisopportunity.”After a 44-year absence, itappears as if OSD footballis here to stay.“The boys have been askingme if we can have a footballteam for a long time ...and I (eventually) said yesbecause I know that footballis king in Ohio and this isthe sport they really wantedto play the most,” OSDsuperintendent Edward CorbettJr. said. “The planningfor our team began aroundFebruary, and we’re still finishinggetting some (detailsworked out), but it’sbeen a rewardingexperience and weare committed tothis for the future.“Football is importantto any schoolprogram becauseit teaches the boysabout the rigors ofplaying a team sportand the importanceofteamwork, and itteaches the girlsabout havingschool spirit andunity.”Those at thegame knowexactly what Corbettmeans.Light The Night Walk2005By Nancy BooneAs the sun set on October1, red and whitelights began to dot OhioState University’s BeekmanPark. As many as 3,500people of all ageslined the track for Light TheNight Walk 2005, The Leukemia& LymphomaSociety’s nationwide eveningwalk to build awarenessof blood cancersand raise funds for cures.Walkers carried illuminatedballoons–whitefor survivors and red forsupporters–to celebrate andcommemorate livestouched by cancer.For the second year in arow, OSD staff and familymembers participatedin this fun and worthwhileevent. The 2005 teamconsisted of Jen Behary(a lymphoma survivor),Nancy Boone and daughtersLaura and Sarah, JenniCole, Mary Ellen Cox andhusband Ron, Lynn Krisko,and Jan Rond. Togetherour team raised nearly$600 for the Leukemia andLymphoma Society, largelydue to the generosity of ourOSD community. Along withthe funds raised by otherJan Rond, Jennifer Behary, Nancy Boone, Jenni Cole, LynnKrisko, and Ron and Mary Ellen Cox went out for night walk toraise cancer awareness.PAGE 6 THE OHIO CHRONICLE FALL, 2005

walkers, our contributionwill support the Society’smission: cure leukemia, lymphoma,Hodgkin’s disease,and myeloma; and improvethe quality of life of patientsand their families.In addition, this year’s donationswill also help rebuildblood cancer treatmentcenters and patient supportservices impacted by HurricaneKatrina.You can find more informationabout the Leukemiaand Lymphoma Societyand the Light the Night Walkat www.lls.org. We inviteyou to donate to or evenparticipate with our walkteam in 2006!New Kids on the BlockBy Barb StahlOSD started out the2005-2006 school yearwith many new faces to ourcampus. We are excited tohave these new studentsand hope each and everyone of them has a very successfulschool year. Hereis an introduction to each ofthem by age and grade.In our elementary department,we have eight newstudents. In our kindergartenclass, we have threenew students. All threestudents transitioned fromthe Alice Cogswell preschoolprogram at OSD.David Pixley is five yearsold and is from Columbus,Ohio. He lives with hisparents, Alex and TraceyPixley. Jerrick Pothorskiis five years old and livesin Columbus, Ohio, withhis parents, Brian andMania Pothorski. He alsohas a sister, Anya, whoattends the Alice Cogswellpreschool program. MarysiaYork is six years oldand lives in Bellville, Ohio.Marysia’s mom is MaryYork, and Marysia has twosisters.Also in our elementarydepartment are Spezio Harmountand KeShawn Lott,who are both in the secondgrade. Spezio is from Deerfield,Ohio, and lives withhis mother, Bea Harmount,and two other brothers,Enrico and Franco, whoboth attend OSD. KeShawnis from Westerville, Ohio,and lives with his mother,Lawanda Lott. He has anew baby brother!Zachary Steele comes toOSD from Mentor, Ohio,and lives with his aunt,Teena Rolain. He is in fourthgrade. Infifth gradeare newstudentsMonetAlexanderand JacobThornton.Monetliveswith hermother,KindaAs follows from front row to back left to right: Monet Alexander, JacobThornton, KeShawn Lott, Megan Haviland, Duane Davis, Marte Henderson,Joe DeFalco, Nathan Cottrell, Amanda Nicklis, Amy Bachtel, Ashley Fambro,Grace Gorton, Bianica Smith.As follows left to right: Marysia York, Zachary Steele, Jerrick Pothorski,and Spezio Harmount.Alexander,inColumbus,Ohio. Jacob justmoved to Grove City, Ohio,with his parents, Christianand Shelly Thornton, andhis sister, Hillary.In middle school, OSDhas three new studentsand one returning student.Ashley Fambro joined OSDfrom Dayton, Ohio, whereshe lives with her mother,Dionne Strickland. She is inthe seventh grade. GraceGorton is our returningstudent. She left OSD lastyear but has returned thisfall. Grace is from RockyRiver, Ohio, and lives withher parents, Lynn and PaulGorton. She is in the eighthgrade. Amanda Nicklis livesin Glenford, Ohio, with hermother, Florence Hendrixon.She is in the seventh grade.DaMario Rall is in the sixthgrade and lives in Bedford,Ohio, with his mother, MieshawnSingleton.We have several new highschool students this year.Freshmen at OSD are AmyBachtel, Megan Haviland,Marte Henderson, RichardRodgers, and BianicaSmith. Amy lives in Columbus,Ohio, with her parents,Tom and Mary Bachtel. Shehas one brother. Amy’s parentsare employed at OSD.Megan Haviland lives inCanton, Ohio, with her parents,Janet and LawrenceHaviland. Marte HendersonFall 2005FALL, 2005 THE OHIO CHRONICLE PAGE 7

OSD Newslives in Westerville, Ohio,with foster parents Charlesand Mary Owen. Mr. Owenis a teacher at OSD. RichardRodgers lives in Elyria,Ohio, with his mother, JoyceRodgers. Bianica Smithlives with her mother, JudyMelich in Navarre, Ohio.Nathan Cottrell, DuaneDavis, and Joe DeFalco arejuniors at OSD this year.Nathan comes from Circleville,Ohio, and lives with hismother, Linda Starr. DuaneDavis moved to Columbus,Ohio, from Michiganand lives with his mother,Cassandra Davis. JoeDeFalco moved to Columbus,Ohio, from New Yorkand lives with his father, JoeDeFalco, Sr. Mr. DeFalco isemployed at OSD.The only senior new to OSDthis year is Sean-MichaelJohnson. He moved herefrom Virginia with hismother, Brenda Johnson.We welcome all of thesenew students to OSD andwish them much success intheir education.MS Students HelpVictims of HurricanesKatrina and RitaBy Jenni ColeDuring the month ofSeptember the middleschool students had acommunityservice projectrequirementfor their CareerEducationclass. The goalof this projectwas to help thestudents learnwhat it is liketo help othersand what ittakes to organize a drivelike this. The use of teamwork,communication skills,and manners were big factorsin this project.The classes decided to tryand help the victims of HurricaneKatrina, and duringtheir project HurricaneRita hit the citizens of NewOrleans and surroundingareas and states. Eachclass was then responsiblefor deciding on what theywould do to help. Someclasses decided to collectmoney, another classdecided to collect clothing,and then other classes collectedcanned goods, etc.The students were responsiblefor designing postersto help promote their projectas well as making morningannouncements to remindstudents and staff of whenand what they would be collecting.This is the first year that themiddle school students wererequired to do a communityservice project, and what away to kick it off! The projectwas a huge success! Thestudents’ collected $126.49,many bags of clothing, andseveral pounds of cannedgoods. The money will begiven to the American RedCross. Canned goods willbe given to the Columbusfood pantry, and the clothingwill be donated to Goodwill.These organizationswill know how to get theseitems to the victims of thehurricanes.A big thank you to theadministration for their supportof this project and tothe OSD family for all yoursupport as well. Withoutyour help, this would nothave been as successful asit was. Go OSD!PAGE 8 THE OHIO CHRONICLE FALL, 2005

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Girls/Boys Varsity Basketball 2005-2006DATE OPPONENT TIME11/29/05 St. Rita’s School for the Deaf HOME 4:30 PM/ 6:00 PM12/1/05 Madison Christian Academy * HOME 6:30 PM/ 8:00 PMBoys Junior Varsity Basketball12/02/05 Missouri School for the Deaf Away(Fulton, MO)6:00 PM/ 7:30 PM2005-200612/03/05 Oklahoma School for the Deaf(Fulton, MO)Away 9:00 AM/ 10:30 AM12/05/05 Granville Christian Academy * HOME 6:15 PM/ 7:45 PM12/08/05 Columbus Torah Academy * HOME 5:30 PM/ 7:00 PM12/10/05 Kentucky School for the Deaf HOME 4:00 PM/ 5:30 PM12/12/05 Columbus Torah Academy * Away 5:30 PM/ 7:00 PM12/14/04 Village Academy * Away 6:00 PM/ 7:30 PM12/15/05 Muskingum Christian Academy * HOME 5:00 PM/ 6:30 PM01/12/06 Granville Christian Academy * Away 6:15 PM/ 7:45 PM01/18/06 Village Academy * HOME 6:00 PM/ 7:30 PM01/19/06 St. Rita’s School for the Deaf HOME 4:30 PM/ 6:00 PM01/24/06 Mount Vernon Academy * HOME 5:45 PM/ 7:15 PM01/26/06 CSSD Tournament Away TBA@ Indiana School for the Deaf01/27/06 CSSD Tournament Away TBA@ Indiana School for the Deaf01/28/06 CSSD Tournament Away TBA@ Indiana School for the Deaf01/31/06 Madison Christian Academy * Away 6:30 PM/ 8:00 PM02/03/06 Muskingum Christian Academy * Away 5:00 PM/ 6:30 PM(Homecoming Weekend)Words in BOLD = HOME GAME* = Conference**Schedules may changes without notice**DATE OPPONENT TIME12/01/05 Madison Christian School * HOME 5:00 PM12/05/05 Granville Christian Academy * HOME 5:00 PM12/08/05 Columbus Torah Academy * HOME 4:30 PM12/12/05 Columbus Torah Academy * Away 4:30 PM12/14/05 Village Academy * Away 4:30 PM12/15/05 Muskingum Christian Academy * HOME 4:00 PM01/12/06 Granville Christian Academy * Away 5:00 PM01/18/06 Village Academy * HOME 4:30 PM01/31/06 Madison Christian School * Away 5:00 PM