Curriculum

Curriculum

WSD celebrates, honors and uses both American Sign Language (ASL) and English as languages of instruction and communication. We affirm the importance of both ASL and English for success in school and beyond for our students. To these ends, the academic program maintains clear separation between ASL and English in instructional and communication contexts.

In addition to teaching core content areas, the school recognizes that teaching ASL as a first language is critical to the future success of our students. Dedicated ASL instructional time occurs at the elementary level on a daily basis and is a required content class for the majority of secondary level students.

In addition to the WSD ASL-English bilingual framework, WSD adheres to Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in all subject areas, and students participate in annual statewide tests pending IEP team decisions.

Selected classes offer curriculum delivered on iPads and Chrome books. These electronic devices are issued through the library to individual students. Students are expected to adhere to the WSD guidelines for responsible use of these devices.

With ASL I could learn everything. I’ve made so much progress since I came here. I’m grateful to my parents for sending me to WSD. In my opinion, you’ll want to come here.

Yajaira

WSD Alumna

ASL is their language. That gives them the self-esteem and they have a foundation then to support their English development.

Jennifer Ellis

Former Work Education Teacher, Transition Needs Team

I like that I can look directly at my teacher. I don’t have to look at the interpreter. I can get the teaching directly from the teacher.

Ashantay

Student

Before I got to WSD, I didn’t sign well. I used a little bit of gesturing. When I got here, I got better and better.

Julian

Student

I am very thankful for all the support given to us as a family, for every word of encouragement and time dedicated. Since day one we had a very warm welcoming and we felt the passion and dedication that everyone has, of teaching with a smile. Thank you as well for all your patience with [her] throughout this new learning experience.

Parent

It is very crucial that the children have access to language development. A natural acquisition of language right from the very beginning.

Pamela Whitney

Pre-School Teacher

Our daughter’s first language is ASL. It’s very important she understand ASL.

Minh Truong

Parent

He would start telling me ‘I just want to read at recess. I don’t want anybody to talk to me,’ and I’m like ‘no’. He’s outgoing. That’s not in his spirit. We started looking at different schools and was wowed by this school because of the socialization at recess and lunch and in the classroom is amazing.

Lafawne Robinson

Parent

[We] came to the school. She fell in love with it. The teachers, the one-on-one, the bi-lingual, the support for speech, for occupational therapy Gabby had at that time. There was a plethora of resources for us. And my husband and I had children. They are our responsibility. We want the best for her. We want her to succeed in the world. Here she goes.

Samantha Grosmick

Parent

I can tell he just feels like a whole new world has been open to him in how to communicate with his hands and he has already made soooooo much progress….I’ve always felt like I had to micromanage everything for him and like nobody else understood what he needed and it’s just so nice now to just know he is in good hands and around people who understand him in a way even I don’t and we are all just amazed at how much even a month has affected him. He wakes up begging to go to school.

Parent

A strong language foundation is very important for their success in life. Research shows that deaf students who have American Sign Language skills are then more successful in English.

April McArthur

Former ASL-English Bilingual Program Service Director

I asked my mother to send me here. It was a big decision for her because I lived 8 hours away from here. My mother made the right choice to send me here. It was worth it.

Randall

WSD alumnus

Every deaf child can learn just the same as hearing children can. I think that one problem is that often there are misconceptions about deaf children’s abilities.

Jane Mulholland

Former Superintendent, WSD

We know that learning is a social activity. It’s social in nature. People learn from each other all the time. Children learn the fastest from their peers.

Shauna Bilyeu

Superintendent, WSD

So in one year [Jonathan] has made amazing progress. I think that just how much ASL is going on in the classroom has really made all the difference. So he is exposed to it all day.

Lisa Ronda

Parent

I’ve seen a lot of changes because the communication was there to be able to interact, socialize, boost her self-esteem. The teachers, the staff, very positive reinforcements here.

Brent Neatherlin

Parent

Once Nicolas started coming here, he blossomed and bloomed. I’m happy to say he walks, talks, runs, reads and plays basketball and does all the things they said he would never do.

Jeanmarie Moore

Parent

Attendance Hotlines:
Elementary: VP (360) 334-5449
Secondary: VP (360) 334-5618

Attendance Emails:
attendance.elementary@cdhy.wa.gov
attendance.mshs@cdhy.wa.gov

Main Office:
611 Grand Blvd
Vancouver, WA 98661

Phone: (360) 696-6525
Fax: (360) 696-6291
Email: contact.wsd@cdhy.wa.gov

School Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8am-3pm
Friday: 8am-12pm

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday: 7:30am-4pm

© Copyright 2017-2023 Washington School for the Deaf. All rights reserved.