Wisconsin School for the Deaf - The Wisconsin Times Vol. 135 No. 1 Fall 2013 | Page 14

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 2013
By Maryann Barnett and Lori Lindau

Chesebro Hall
Groundbreaking for the new WSD high school building
began in October, 2012 and continued throughout the
entire school year and summer of 2013. The rst of ces
to move into the new building were Principal, Mrs. Marla
Walsh, and her of ce staff. Staff moving into the new
building took to using atbed carts, laundry carts, and
any wheeled cart available they could nd. The WSD
maintenance golf cart was even called into service.
On the morning of Wednesday, September 4, 2013, the
WSD student body assembled in the Lee Gymnasium
for the formal rst day of school welcome assembly that
occurs each fall. Later, everyone assembled a second time
at 10:00 AM in the Clerc Circle for the of cial ribbon
cutting ceremony. Representatives from the local and
state government were on campus for the grand opening.
Director of Wisconsin Educational Services Program
for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WESP-DHH), Mr.
Alex Slappey welcomed the crowd. He introduced Mr.
Tom Harbison of the Wisconsin School for the Deaf
Foundation, who gave a brief history of WSD, including
WSD’s rst student Miss Ariadna Chesebro and her
father. It was Mr. Chesebro who petitioned the Wisconsin
Legislature for the creation of the school in 1852.
Perhaps, without the Chesebro family, WSD would not
be in existence today. Thus, at this time, Mr. Harbison
revealed the new name sign for the building – honoring
the entire Chesebro family. The name sign is a C on the
chin moving downward to the top of the chest; similar to
the well-known Ariadna’s name sign.

Revealing the new Chesebro Hall name plate.

LEFT: The crowd
awating the Ribbon
Cutting Ceremony
and the grand
opening of the new
Chesebro Hall.

Fall 2013 - 14

Locker Wonders! For the rst time in ages, staff
marveled at bewildered high school students and
their new lockers WITH combination locks or keys.