Wisconsin School for the Deaf - The Wisconsin Times Vol. 133 No. 2 Winter 2011-2012

Teen Getaway Weekend Ten campers from WSD, along with seven high school students from neighboring cities, boarded a coach bus on Friday, November 4th, at noon. The final destination was the Central Wisconsin Education Station in Amherst Junction. Along the way, they stopped to pick up more high school students in Sturtevant, Milwaukee, and Lomira. Upon arrival, they were met by more high school students, team leaders, and staff from the Wisconsin Educational Services Program Deaf and Hard of Hearing Outreach. This was the annual Teen Getaway Weekend (TGW) sponsored by WESP-DHH Outreach. In all, 45 high school students registered to attend this camp. Led by Outreach staff, Dan Houlihan, campers enjoyed a selection of ice breaker games to encourage introductions and socialization. The games worked! The campers also attended presentations on Cyberbullying, by WSD Guidance Counselor Leslie Eldred, Social Communication by WSD staff Scott Kendziorski and Interpreting Options by University of Wisconsin McBurney Campus representative Kate Skarda. In addition, the Quest theatre group from Maryland offered a large group presentation as well as a series of workshops. Teen Getaway Weekend has been alternating between middle school age campers and high school age campers since November, 2007. Specific activities and topics vary each year; however, in general campers enjoy learning about communication, self-identity, self-advocacy, socialization, and leadership. Favorite activities from this year’s campers included: the DJ and dance on Saturday evening, and the Fireside Chats led by team leaders Don Mueller and Megan Kenyon. The topic of the chats this year was struggles and challenges with communication, and tips and ideas for overcoming them. Campers participated in two different team activities: the Conquest Game, led by Scott Kendziorski, and the DeafDeafWorld Activity led by Outreach staff Bonnie Eldred. Campers had to use sight, taste, smell and feeling, as well as answer trivia questions. This was done in groups of six to emphasize teamwork. Incorporating technology was accomplished by asking each camper to individually use gestures, signs, or demonstrations for the various meanings of the word, run. This was videotaped and is available on the website. To view the slideshow of Teen Getaway Weekend 2011 and for all upcoming events view: www.wesp-dhh. wi.gov/Outreach. Next year, will be for middle school campers! High School News By Maryann Barnett Life as a Grape, by: Anna McCartney, WSD Student Hey you!! Yeah you! Yes, I am talking to you! Don’t look at me like I’m some crazy thing. No! Don’t look up. No! I said DON’T! Geez, why do people always do the opposite thing I say? I don’t care if I’m this puny little thing talking to you. Look down. Finally- there we go. Yeah, do you see me now? Yes, I’m the grape you were about to eat. I know I have a lovely shade of purple, don’t I? You can close your mouth now. It’s kind of scaring me half open. Okay, so now that I have your attention, do you want to hear a joke? A duck walks into a hardware store and says to the clerk, “Got any grapes?” The clerk says patiently, “No, this is a hardware store; we don’t have any grapes, try a grocery.” The duck leaves. The next day, the same duck walks into the same hardware store and says to the clerk (coincidentally, the same clerk), “Got any grapes?” The clerk says, a little less patiently, “No, like I told you yesterday, this is a hardware store, we don’t sell grapes here.” The duck leaves. The next day the duck walks into the store again and says to the clerk, “Got any grapes?” By this time the clerk is thoroughly angry with the duck and says, “No! We don’t have any grapes! This is a hardware store! If you come in here and ask me again, I’m going to nail your feet to the ﬂoor!” The duck leaves. The next day, the duck walks into the hardware store and says to the clerk, “Got any nails?” The clerk, relieved, says, “Finally! A sensible question! But no, I’m sorry; we’re all out of nails. I just sold the last package.” And then the duck says, “Good, in that case….Got any grapes?” Winter 2012 - 15

Wisconsin School for the Deaf - The Wisconsin Times Vol. 133 No. 2 Winter 2011-2012 | Page 15