The Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD) provides free public education to deaf and hard-of-hearing Maryland residents of age 0 to 21 years. Maryland School for the Deaf has two campuses in Frederick and Columbia, Maryland.

History

The school was established at Frederick, Maryland in 1868 (Chapter 247, Acts of 1867; Chapter 409, Acts of 1868). The original buildings for the school were the Hessian Barracks, used during the American Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War to detain Hessian mercenary, mercenaries who were hired by the British Empire, British. The buildings were later used by Meriwether Lewis, Lewis and William Clark (explorer), Clark to store supplies before the beginning of their Lewis and Clark Expedition, expedition. The film ''Audible (film), Audible'' chronicles the school.

Philosophy

The Frederick campus offers both academic and life-based education, equivalent to a Maryland high school diploma or a Maryland School for the Deaf diploma. The school teaches communications skills in both English language, English and American Sign Language (ASL), including speech and speech reading, fingerspelling, and auditory training, and the use of individual hearing aids. It also offers a broad athletic and physical education program, as well as social and recreational activities. Maryland School for the Deaf's High School offers several Advanced Placement and Honors courses, each taught in American Sign Language. Academic classes range from Politics of the United States, American Government to Social studies, History, Spanish language, Spanish, English language, English, Biology, Algebra, and Chemistry, as well as offering a variety of elective courses. In 2007, MSD students passed the state exams (High School Assessments) at a higher rate than their hearing counterparts. MSD is a competitor in the Academic Bowl and were the 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 Regional Champions. They also compete in various math and science competitions, generally placing in the top 5.

Residency

Maryland School for the Deaf is also a residential school. It offers dormitory, dormitories for both male and female students unable to travel by bus, which rooms from Monday to Friday. Maryland School for the Deaf's residential programs also offer After School Program, after-school program (ASP) activities.

Athletics

Sports are immensely popular as an after-school activity. Both campuses have athletic fields and regulation sized Basketball court, basketball and volleyball courts. One of the building has an Swimming pool, indoor swimming pool. Middle and high school students participate in organized leagues and compete against State school, public schools, private schools, and Schools for the deaf, schools for deaf and hard of hearing students. MSD teams compete in Tournaments, national tournaments in various sports. MSD students are frequent competitors in the Deaflympics, and MSD coach (sport), coaches are often invited to coach the US teams. Current MSD sports include: * Baseball * Basketball * Cheerleading *Cross country running, Cross Country * American football, Football * Powerlifting * Soccer (Elementary school, elementary only) * Softball * Track and field * Volleyball * Wrestling

Frederick

Established in 1868, the Campus, Frederick Campus of the Maryland School for the Deaf enrols deaf and hard-of-hearing students in pre-kindergarten through Senior high school, grade 12 (Chapter 247, Acts of 1867; Chapter 409, Acts of 1868). For young children (from birth to age five) and their families, the campus also provides language skill development. At the Frederick campus, about thirty percent of enrolled students live on campus weeknights during the school year (late August through early June). Residential halls are staffed by student life counsellors who supervise students and coordinate after-school programming, such as intramural games, field trips, swimming, and hiking. Underground, a 1950s (decade), 1950s style diner located on the Frederick campus, is student staffed and gives middle and high school students a place to meet friends, watch movies, buy snacks, and play Pool (game), pool and foosball. Checkers is decorated mainly with red, black and white colors relating to the game of Checkers (game), checkers and 1950s diner colors. Checkers' sparkly red booths give it a 1950s feel. The snack bar offers sweets, chips and drinks. It also provides hot foods such as french fries, hot dogs, and Mozzarella cheese, mozzarella cheese sticks. Students also have the opportunity to gain experience by working at Checkers as a cashier or Chef, cook. The Maryland State High School diploma or the Maryland School for the Deaf diploma is awarded to each graduating Senior (education), senior, and many graduates pursue higher education degrees. Vocational or Technical Trainer, technical training, and vocational rehabilitation services are available to help other graduates secure employment. * Ely Building (1972–present): middle school and high school grades 6-12 * Veditz Building (1974–present): Career and Technical Education, CTE, Study Work and LBE High School * New elementary building (2009–present): grades Toddler-5 * New cafeteria (2011–present)

Columbia

The Columbia campus of the Maryland School for the Deaf is located on a subdivision of the Otten Slave Farm Property in the former Pfeffer's Corner neighborhood. George Herman Otten combined a 91-acre parcel bought in 1853 with a 132-acre parcel, forming the Otten Farm. In 1935 his estate willed the farm to the regents of the University of Maryland. It became an agricultural research center, and later the "Horse Farm," researching race horse breeds. In 1979, a historical survey considered the property a significant historical resource, but a 25-page 1992 update considered the site not worth preservation, considering the university could move operations elsewhere. The property has been subdivided by government projects to the point where it is not recognisable as the original farm. Parcels were sold the state for the Maryland Route 100, Route 100 project, and to the county for Waterloo Elementary. The remaining 68 acres were sold by the University to the Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in 1968 to build the School for the Deaf campus, with 60 acres remaining for the university. The school opened in September 1973. It serves 120 students with a 2015 budget of approximately $10 million and a staff of 109.5.

Notable alumni

* George Veditz, George W. Veditz (1878), Founded Maryland School for the Deaf Alumni Association, President of National Association of the Deaf, Preservation of the Sign Language *Leah Katz-Hernandez (2005), first deaf Receptionist of the United States (ROTUS) in the White House for Barack Obama, President Barack Obama *Nyle DiMarco (2007), model, actor, winner of reality television shows ''(America's Next Top Model (cycle 22), America's Next Top Model'' and ''Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 22), Dancing with the Stars)''

References

External links

* http://www.msd.edu/ *https://www.msdathletics.com/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Maryland School for the Deaf Educational institutions established in 1868 Public elementary schools in Maryland Public high schools in Maryland Public middle schools in Maryland Public K-12 schools in the United States Schools for the deaf in the United States Schools in Frederick County, Maryland Buildings and structures in Frederick, Maryland 1868 establishments in Maryland Education in Frederick, Maryland Public boarding schools in the United States Boarding schools in Maryland