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Saginaw ISD hearing impaired program students, teachers reunite | MLive.com
With tears of joy, Mary Spadafore greeted former students.
Not everyone could hear cries of welcome, but that didn’t matter at all.
About 50 teachers and former students from the Saginaw Intermediate School District gathered at the Spadafore residence in Birch Run for a reunion.
The afternoon was filled with warm welcomes, reminiscing and the graceful, enthusiastic hand motions of sign-language. Not all attendees were deaf, but smiles were ubiquitous.
“The deaf community is very close,” Spadafore said. “I’m not sure all the people know each other, but they share a common language and that’s what keeps them together.”
The reunion also notes a change in the program.
The high school hearing impaired program was at Arthur Hill High School, 3115 Mackinaw in Saginaw, until five years ago, when it moved to Saginaw High School, at 3100 Webber in Saginaw. In 2011, hearing impaired students from the tri-counties will report to Freeland High School, 8250 Webster in Freeland. The new location, Spadafore said, is well-located and may make parents feel better that their students are in a safer place. Spadafore said the teachers are also hoping to attract more students from areas such as Chesaning, Merrill and Hemlock.
There are about 30 students from preschool to 12th grade each year in the program.
Spadafore worked with fellow teacher Gail Hester to bring people together. Facebook was essential, as many teachers and students reunited first through the social networking site.
The teachers found it special to see their former students, some of whom they haven’t seen since the students graduated.
“You don’t know what happens to them,” she said. “It’s good to know they are leading happy lives.”
Retired SISD translator Jean Darling, 64 of Saginaw Township said some of the students had to come up an introduce themselves to her because she didn’t recognize them, but was glad to see them once she did.
“I love these kids,” she said.
The students and teachers look at old photos and class project and swapped memories.
Retired teacher Sally Pichiotino, 73, of Saginaw Township said she took students on field trips about once a week, as deaf children learn best through experience.
One of her best teaching memories was a day camp at the Spadafore’s, where the students had the chance to go swimming and fishing.
“It’s a whole different world,” she said.
Darling helped teach the students they could do anything.
“I told them, ‘the only thing you can’t do is hear. You can do anything else,’” she said.
Spadafore will help establish the program at Freeland before she retires at the end of the 2010-11 school year, with more than 25 years of teaching.
“But I won’t be done with the deaf community,” she said.
With tears of joy, Mary Spadafore greeted former students.
Not everyone could hear cries of welcome, but that didn’t matter at all.
About 50 teachers and former students from the Saginaw Intermediate School District gathered at the Spadafore residence in Birch Run for a reunion.
The afternoon was filled with warm welcomes, reminiscing and the graceful, enthusiastic hand motions of sign-language. Not all attendees were deaf, but smiles were ubiquitous.
“The deaf community is very close,” Spadafore said. “I’m not sure all the people know each other, but they share a common language and that’s what keeps them together.”
The reunion also notes a change in the program.
The high school hearing impaired program was at Arthur Hill High School, 3115 Mackinaw in Saginaw, until five years ago, when it moved to Saginaw High School, at 3100 Webber in Saginaw. In 2011, hearing impaired students from the tri-counties will report to Freeland High School, 8250 Webster in Freeland. The new location, Spadafore said, is well-located and may make parents feel better that their students are in a safer place. Spadafore said the teachers are also hoping to attract more students from areas such as Chesaning, Merrill and Hemlock.
There are about 30 students from preschool to 12th grade each year in the program.
Spadafore worked with fellow teacher Gail Hester to bring people together. Facebook was essential, as many teachers and students reunited first through the social networking site.
The teachers found it special to see their former students, some of whom they haven’t seen since the students graduated.
“You don’t know what happens to them,” she said. “It’s good to know they are leading happy lives.”
Retired SISD translator Jean Darling, 64 of Saginaw Township said some of the students had to come up an introduce themselves to her because she didn’t recognize them, but was glad to see them once she did.
“I love these kids,” she said.
The students and teachers look at old photos and class project and swapped memories.
Retired teacher Sally Pichiotino, 73, of Saginaw Township said she took students on field trips about once a week, as deaf children learn best through experience.
One of her best teaching memories was a day camp at the Spadafore’s, where the students had the chance to go swimming and fishing.
“It’s a whole different world,” she said.
Darling helped teach the students they could do anything.
“I told them, ‘the only thing you can’t do is hear. You can do anything else,’” she said.
Spadafore will help establish the program at Freeland before she retires at the end of the 2010-11 school year, with more than 25 years of teaching.
“But I won’t be done with the deaf community,” she said.