| Delaware School for the Deaf
Margaret S. Sterck School |
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|---|---|
| Location | |
| 630 E. Chestnut Hill Rd, Newark, Delaware, USA |
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| Information | |
| Type | Public school |
| Established | 1929 |
| School district | Christina School District |
| Dean | Richard Pelletier |
| Director | Della Thomas |
| Staff | 90+ |
| Grades | K-12 |
| Number of students | 130+ |
| Campus size | Small |
| Campus type | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Royal Blue and White |
| Athletics | Boy's & Girl's Basketball and Girl's Volleyball |
| Athletics conference | ESDAA Division II & Maryland Independent League |
| Mascot | Blue Hawks |
| Languages | American Sign Language, English |
| Website | http://www.christina.k12.de.us/dspdhh/ |
Delaware School for the Deaf is a public K-12 school in Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, USA. The School is part of the Christina School District and is located on East Chestnut Hill Road. Delaware's school colors are royal blue and white. Their mascot is the Blue Hawks. A brand new state-of-the-art school building will open in August 2011, right next to the currently school building on E. Chestnut Hill Road.
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The mission of the Delaware School for the Deaf, a program serving deaf and hard of hearing students birth through eighteen years of age, is to educate students with rigorous achievement standards, to develop linguistic competence in both American Sign Language (ASL) and English, and to prepare them to become contributing citizens, by providing them access to language and information in a safe and supportive learning environment.[1]
The history of Delaware School for the Deaf (DSD) began in 1929 in Wilmington, Delaware. The founder, Margaret S. Sterck decided to become a teacher for deaf children in her own home on Van Buren Street. Sterck taught until 1945, when state regulations forced all deaf children to be taught in schools. Some were transferred to specialized deaf programs in schools across Delaware while others went to Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD) in Philadelphia. In 1960, space restrictions made PSD to bar additional deaf children from Delaware from enrolling. Parents of deaf children expressing concern led the Delaware State Board of Education to initiate plans for building a school for the deaf in the state. Funding and planning took place from 1960 to 1968. Construction was completed in 1968 and the school was open in 1969. The building was named in honor of Margaret S. Sterck. In 1997, the name of the school was changed to Delaware School for the Deaf.[2] The school is situated near the city of Newark, in the northern part of the state where a majority of deaf children are located.
Delaware School for the Deaf have total of three sports teams; Girl's Volleyball, Girl's and Boy's Basketball. The DSD mascot is the Blue Hawks and the school's colors are royal blue and white. Delaware School for the Deaf is a member of the Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association (ESDAA).[3]
Since 1996, at least one of the school's three sports teams has entered ESDAA championship games at least once a year until the last one in 2007. The three teams have won a total of ten championships out of 18 appearances in ESDAA finals during the span of 11 years. Boy's Basketball won Division III twice in 1996 and 1998 and finished second in 1997 and placed 2nd for Division II in 1999. Delaware Girl's Basketball finished second in 2001, and took three straight Division II titles in 2003, 2004, and 2005. The Girl's volleyball team won several Division II titles in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005, won more titles than other deaf schools in Division II, and the Girl's Volleyball team had appeared in all of ESDAA Div. II championship games every year from 1999 until 2007.
The girl's volleyball reappeared and finished 2nd place in 2010. The Boy's Basketball finally reappeared in ESDAA Division II finals twice, in 2010 and 2011 but both time they finished second place. The current overall is 10 championships, and 21 appearances in finals.