February 2015 These are exciting times for our children. With today’s technology, they have educational opportunities available like never before.

In January, six students who are deaf or partially deaf had the opportunity to participate in a unique educational opportunity that reached across the nation. This took place without ever leaving the campus of Smithfield Middle.

These students were members of a special Battle of the Books team that competed against three other deaf/hearing impaired teams from across the nation. Those teams were at state schools for the deaf in Georgia, Louisiana and Massachusetts. The competition occurred through simultaneous video webcast using sign language interpreters from Gallaudet University. The competition was coordinated with the assistance of Beth Muirhead, Smithfield Middle School librarian; the Deaf Education staff (particularly their teacher, Teresa Fuller); and Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. (Gallaudet University sponsored and coordinated the event.)

Each team spent months reading and learning facts from books on a designated reading list. They then used technology to join together to see interpreters, written questions and opposing teams. Questions were asked about the books through the interpreters, and teams had to answer the questions correctly within a designated time.

I am so proud of our students and staff for participating in this unique opportunity. Though they did not win the competition, they are winners for all they learned and for what they taught us in never giving up, despite the challenges they face every day.

Thank you to the BISD community for continuing to support our students, staff and schools.