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The first annual JCPS Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Spelling Bee was held
at Gheens Academy.
Students competed in elementary middle and high school divisions
and the winners advance to the regional competition later this year.
MUSIC
"Awkward" We are Gheens Academy this morning
with our first regional Jefferson County and
deaf and hard-of-hearing spelling bee. "Brochure" Our competition was given
probably a little differently than typical spelling bees
in that all the students compete at one time. "Academic"
All the students sit at the table. they all have a whiteboard or a piece of paper in
front of them.
One word is given. It has spoken and signed
and then all of the students write the same word
and turn the word upside down. When the judges are ready they hold up their piece of
paper or their whiteboard
and the judges go down a line and tell them whether they stay or whether they
have to leave the table. Because it just
got to challenge my mind and I had
compete with other kids and I like to see how smart deaf people are.
When I sat down to actually compete I
had to make sure that have any gum in my mouth. I had to think positive.
I did calm down make sure that I was breathing and then the interpreter would
sign the word
and I have to keep myself calm and go slow and spell the word
and I knew I couldn't second-guess myself
and once I wrote it down that's what I stuck with. Our deaf and hard-of-hearing
students in Jefferson County are
a unique population. We have a lot of communication modes
some are signs, some do not sign,some use
different variations of sign and typically our vocabulary
is not as good as our hearing population.
So, academically this plays into that; this is a fun and social event.
They get to see other deaf and hard-of-hearing students from across the district
and around Jefferson County. They get to meet deaf adults. We have three deaf judges today.
But they also get to learn vocabulary that is
pertinent to learning the new Common Core
and to being successful. [high five] The most important reason
why it's important to spell is because
the only way to succeed in the future
is if you know how to spell. You can't do stuff like
OMG or CUL8R
You have to spell it because it is the only way
you are going to succeed and to apply to college
and jobs and a normal lifestyle.
This is a great event in supporting their own culture
their own deaf culture and also
using that to motivate kids to learn new vocabulary and new words.
I got a trophy that says 2013
Regional DHH Spelling Bee First Place