IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CLARKE:
Clarke Board of Trustees, Grateful to Clarke President Bill Corwin for Nine Years of Extraordinary Service
Today, Clarke President Bill Corwin announced, "After a great deal of thought and deliberation, I have decided to leave my position as president of Clarke this spring. As president and a parent of two daughters who attended Clarke, it has been an immense privilege for me to serve during such an exciting and transformative time for the organization. I am looking forward to applying much of the experience I've gained at Clarke as a consultant to help a wider range of causes increase their impact."
Catherine Bartlett, M.D., Chair of Clarke's Board of Trustees, said, "Bill has led Clarke through a period of extraordinary innovation and expansion, strategically positioning the organization to thrive well into the 21st century. His strategic and comprehensive vision for Clarke has helped make our expertise more accessible to children, families and professionals around the country than ever before." Read the full announcement >

 NEWS:

Clarke's Annual Mainstream Conference: Another Resounding Success!
Last month, 278 professionals, parents, and students participated in Clarke's Annual Mainstream Conference, The Sounds of Success: Believe It and Achieve It!  Learn more about the conference and special student track, and don't forget to scroll through our photo galleries documenting the expertise and energy that permeated the workshops and discussions! Mark your calendars for next year! October 13-14, 2016 at the Marriott Hotel in Springfield, MA.

PA Professional Development Workshop is a Hit

Over 60 hearing and speech professionals from around the country attended Clarke Philadelphia's Professional Development Workshop, "Managing Your Listening and Spoken Language Professional Learning Dashboard: Technology, Technique and Temperament," on October 9. The day-long event was facilitated by Mary Ellen Nevins, Ed.D, who shared expertise and strategies with professionals on ways to develop and enhance their skills when teaching children with hearing loss. By all accounts, her spirited, comprehensive presentation energized participants and inspired a rapt audience. Many thanks to Dr. Nevins and our event sponsor, Cochlear Americas. View the photo album >

Philly Pesto Pride
It was a delicious win, announced live on national TV, for one very special Clarke family! The Varallo family's Ristorante Pesto cleaned up on the Rachael Ray Show, winning the program's first-ever Little Italy Showdown! Maria Facenda and her dad, John Varallo, (mom and grand-dad of Clarke Philadelphia preschooler Giovanni, known to everyone as "Gi") were featured on the program and handily beat the competition, taking home first prize for their seafood cavatelli. If you're in Philly with a craving for amazing Italian food served with love, make a beeline for Ristorante Pesto, or better yet - make a reservation now! Congratulations to the Varallo/Facenda family!

The Bounty of Fall Inspires Listening and Talking!
Apples, Pumpkins, Corn... Oh My! Preschoolers at all of our Clarke locations have been busy visiting local farms and learning all about fall foods - why they're good for you and how they grow. Students used their pickings to not only taste test and bake, but to practice counting and explore shapes, colors and textures!
 View the photo album >



Firefighters Visit Clarke Philadelphia
The students at Clarke Philadelphia and CORA Early Years received quite a thrill when local firefighters from Engine 19 arrived in full gear. Children learned about fire safety, the importance of knowing their address, and what to do in the event of a fire. Clarke preschool teacher, Sam Williamson, dressed up in firefighter gear and everyone got an opportunity to explore the fire-truck before it had to roar away... to a real emergency!      


Clarke Buddies Starts this Month!
"Clarke Buddies" is a terrific opportunity to meet and connect on a regular basis with other kids who are deaf or hard of hearing. At our in-person meet ups, kids aged 8-17 will share their experiences about being deaf or hard of hearing, participate in team building activities and build a sense of community. Meet-ups run from now until April 2016, with the first gathering at Clarke's Northampton location on November 21, 2015! Register now >

 EVENT WRAP UPS:

NYC Sing for Sound was Totally Electric, 80s Style!
Alumni parent Julie Weyne, her singing partner Diane Lutz, and their band gave a dazzling performance at (Le) Poisson Rouge to benefit children with hearing loss at Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech. More than 250 guests were on their feet for the entirety of the concert, and in the process, helped raise nearly $10,000 so that children who are deaf or hard of hearing can learn to listen and talk. View the photo album >

Team Clarke Does it Again at the New York Marathon!
Congratulations Debbie, Jon, Katie, Lauryn and Paula! On Sunday, November 1, Team Clarke hit the streets of New York to run in the internationally renowned TCS New York City Marathon. All crossed the finish line and earned well-deserved medals and memories of running their hearts out to support the children and families served by Clarke. Clarke's runners achieved something few people do and we could not be more grateful to each of them. Collectively, Clarke's marathon team has raised nearly $20,000 in support of our programs and services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Walkers Lace Up at Clarke PA and NYC Walk4Hearings
Families, staff members and friends of Clarke, sporting purple and green, joined Team Clarke at the New York City Walk4Hearing in September and in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Walk4Hearing and Homecoming in October. Many thanks to the walkers and sponsors who laced up and came out in force to support both the Hearing Loss Association of America and Clarke! View the PA photo album and the NYC photo album to see all the fun!


Clarke Northampton Homecoming
THANK YOU to everyone who attended this year's Alumni Homecoming on October 3. It was a great day filled with smiles, laughter and of course, delicious cupcakes from Northampton Alum, Leif Young. Affectionately referred to as, "The Dinosaurs," Michael O'Connell, Judy Sheldon, Pris Pike, Marilyn Buuck, Linda Larkin and Eleanor Jones, shared some of their sweetest and most hilarious Clarke memories. Recently retired after 40 years, Dianne Fanelli was the guest of honor and was presented with her new handmade beautiful Clarke Chair! It was great to see everyone and catch up. We hope to see more familiar faces next year! View the photo album >
 UPCOMING EVENTS:

An Insider's Night at the Gallery 
February 3, 2016 | Danese/Corey Gallery in Chelsea
An exclusive event is planned for Clarke Insiders on Wednesday, February 3 at Danese/Corey Gallery in Chelsea. It will be a celebration of the amazing individuals who support our Sponsor a Child Program in NYC. For details, please contact Lillian Rountree or Christina Danese.

Clarke New York Family Reunion
January 31, 2016 | Location Pending
Save the date for our annual New York Family Reunion! All current and former Clarke New York families and staff are welcome. Last year, families had a wonderful time together at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore. The location for this year is pending so be sure to keep an eye on the reunion webpage to find out more. >

Clarke's Listening Walk at the Zoo
May 15, 2016 | Philadelphia Zoo
Fun for the whole family! Mark your calendar to join Clarke on Sunday, May 15 for a listening scavenger hunt at the Philadelphia Zoo. Children will listen and learn their way through the zoo, and families and friends will compete for fundraising prizes. For details, to start a team or to find out about sponsorship, please contact Gabriel Nathan.

It'll be here before you know it: Summer Adventure 2016!
July 10-22, 2016 | Easthampton, MA
The dates are in - mark your calendars! Clarke's Summer Adventure is a two-week, theme-based camp for children ages 9 to 17 with hearing loss who utilize hearing technology (such as hearing aids or cochlear implants) and listen and talk. Summer Adventure offers campers the opportunity to interact with other children with hearing loss from all over the country, make new friends and have lots of fun! Watch videos from Summer Adventure 2015 and learn more. >



It's a New Day!
A New Day provides a glimpse into the life-changing work happening at Clarke every day. The seven minute video celebrates the profound impact of Clarke's mission with beautiful footage of children who are deaf or hard of hearing singing songs, learning the seasons, telling jokes and living lives filled with endless opportunities. 
Each day, Clarke makes brighter futures possible for the children and families we serve. Thank you for your support; we couldn't do it without you. Share the link far and wide by copying and pasting: www.clarkeschools.org/NewDay.
Clarke is Hiring: Make a Difference and Join Our Team!
To learn about exciting career opportunities at Clarke, visit our employment page. With locations along the East Coast, the perfect fit may be waiting for you!
Free Wednesday Webinar Archive Online
For those of you who missed any of our Webinars, both series are available online. You can even request professional credits after viewing! Access the Wednesday Webinar archive here or learn more >
Support Clarke with Your Everyday Purchases Using AmazonSmile
AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of your Amazon purchase price to Clarke at no additional cost to you! Signup is easy and AmazonSmile does the rest. Find out more here >

 

Clarke Voices
We close each issue of The Clarke Connection with a special quote from a member of the Clarke Community. To become the next featured Clarke Voice, send your quote to [email protected]
"Clarke, *you* got [our son] off to a great start and he is really building on that foundation [in the mainstream]. While there is part of me that still wishes he was at Clarke, he is adjusting very very well!"
- Meagan, Clarke Parent
 
Clarke's continuum of services includes Infant-Toddler Programs, Preschool Programs, K-8 Program, Mainstream Services, Clarke Hearing Center, Comprehensive Educational Evaluations, Teleservices for Infants and Families, Professional Development Offerings and Summer Programs. Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. As an IRS qualified charity, gifts to Clarke are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
At Clarke we help children who are deaf or hard of hearing learn to listen and talk. Children served by Clarke use advanced technologies, including cochlear implants and hearing aids, to maximize their access to sound. We work with children and their families from infancy through their teen years. Our teachers of the deaf, audiologists, and speech pathologists have the background, training, and experience to prepare children academically and socially for a world of limitless possibilities. Clarke children listen and learn in the classroom, run and laugh with their friends on the playground, and have lives filled with music, sports, family, and community. Many children who come to Clarke are ready to attend their neighborhood mainstream schools by kindergarten.

Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech | 45 Round Hill Road, Northampton, MA 01060
Voice 413.584.3450 | FAX 413.587.7318 | [email protected]  | www.clarkeschools.org