After School Elective Program
WSD offers an academically based and structured after school program of sports, recreational, vocational and elective activities from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (These activities can extend later than 5:30 p.m.).
WSD after-school programs are designed to help students do the following:
- Gain vocational skills and develop career path training
- Gain self-esteem, self-awareness, self-control, and decision-making abilities
- Develop socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically
- Learn about nutrition, health, and personal safety
- Experiment, create, and explore
A Residential Program Supervisor oversees the extracurricular program and varsity sports. There is one recreation staff that is directly responsible for all other activities.
For a DVD showcasing the WSD After School Elective program contact:
Ron Spratlen
All WSD students, including day students, are encouraged to participate in these after school programs that include, but are not limited to, the following athletics and recreation activities:
1. Varsity Sports
. Boys football
. Girls volleyball
. Coed cheerleading
. Girls and boys basketball
. Coed track
The WSD varsity sports program operates under the rules and regulations of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), which includes the criteria for eligibility to play. WSD reserves the right to increase the standards to a higher level for eligibility. Poor academic performance and/or not meeting behavior expectations will affect eligibility to play in varsity sports.
The staff to student ratio for varsity sports practices and games is 1 to 10.
2. Intramural sports (for elementary and middle school)
. Soccer
. Basketball
. Volleyball
WSD will provide equal opportunities for both boys and girls to participate in these sports.
3. Special Olympics
. Basketball
. Soccer
4. Electives
. Arts and crafts - A variety of things are made from painting to scrap booking.
. Auto mechanics - Basic maintenance of a vehicle is taught including oil changes, tune-up, brakes, and cleaning vehicles inside and out. Safety is always taught the first week, and safety equipment is used. This class uses a shop area at WSD.
. Bowling - Students walk to a nearby bowling alley (Crosley, which is three blocks away). Students are put into teams and compete on a weekly basis.
. Concessions - A group of students run a snack bar that serves at various sporting events and student socials. Students run it as a business, keeping track of inventory and money.
. Cooking - Students learn how to prepare a variety of foods in the cottages.
. Dance - Students learn a variety of dance moves and techniques. This class participates in a dance performance each spring.
. Gardening - Students learn how to grow flowers and vegetables using an on-campus greenhouse. They both plant around the campus and sell the products that they grow.
. Haunted House - Students design, build, and operate the haunted house on campus. The Haunted House raises funds that are used to support student-based activities.
. Hiking - This group will hike to various points in Vancouver from the school, including a hike to Ft. Vancouver where students see many historical buildings and places. This group will also travel about 45 minutes east of the school where they hike some simple trails close to Bonneville Dam.
. Scrapbook - Students learn the basics of scrap booking and create pages of memories. Pictures are often included with an array of designs and colors to make the pages come alive.
. Swimming - Students go to a local pool supervised by certified lifeguards for recreational swimming.
. Terrier Athletic Association (TAA) - Students who are interested in sports participate in this club and work on sports issues such as fundraising and spirit activities.
The electives offered each quarter are chosen by the recreation staff in conjunction with students and SLCs. A description of each elective is published and distributed before each term for students to choose from. A sign-up page is included and space for prioritizing choices if a class becomes full. Students have a week to change electives at the start of each term if they so desire. SLCs and community volunteers teach and deliver the program.
Some electives will have a cost. Cost information will be provided with the elective registration information. Students may sign up for a daily elective or an elective on their non-sports day. At present, electives are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Mondays are reserved for "down time" or family time after school and day students travel home on this day. On elective days day students are to be picked up after electives at 5:30 p.m. by their parents in the east parking lot. Parents are to sign out in the attendance book upon taking their child. After electives, residential students proceed to dinner and meet his/her SLC in the dining room. All students will follow the established code of conduct and students who misbehave during the electives are subject to the WSD behavior management system. Continuous disregard for expectations can result in loss of elective privileges.
5. Vocational Electives
The WSD Vocational Electives Program gives students exposure to a variety of vocational skills. Experts in each field instruct and direct students to give them hands-on experience. High school students may select from the following vocational electives:
- Auto Mechanics
- Landscaping
- Photography
- Sewing
- Culinary Arts
6. Western States Basketball/Cheerleading Classic
The WSD boys and girls' basketball teams and cheerleaders participate annually in a basketball tournament, and cheering competition with seven other western state deaf schools. The tournament is usually held at the end of January and is hosted by one of the participating schools for the Deaf.
Basketball coaches will select twelve players from the varsity team, including the manager, and the cheerleading coach will select five varsity cheerleaders to attend. Players selected to go to the tournament are required to pay their own airfare. All other costs will be paid by WSD. The criteria, in addition to the WIAA and WSD standards, are stated in the varsity sports section of the student handbook.
7. Other activities
Activities that include non-WSD students are the prom (traditionally held off-campus) and homecoming (held on-campus).
8. Parents volunteering in electives
Parents/guardians are encouraged to participate in their child's after school electives and activities. Such participation should be arranged through the Volunteer Coordinator. In the past, parents have volunteered for activities such as coaching and teaching crafts.
Parents/guardians are welcome to visit their children's after school electives and activities. Such visits should be pre arranged through the SLC or Dean at least a day in advance.
WSD Polices:
Athletic Participation
2150 (pdf)
Recreation
Program 2151 (pdf)