2010s
2010
WPSD won the championship in the ESDAA Northern Region/Upstate Soccer Tournament, playing 7×7, 8×8, or 9×9 outdoor games.
Boy Scout Troop 802, a member of Laurel Highlands Council, was started to give our students an opportunity to develop skills, character traits and social interaction.
A building in Camp Hill was purchased for our Outreach Program, providing services to students, parents, school districts, intermediate units, and the deaf community. It was a transportation “hub”.
The 13th year program included workshops that covered a range of transitional skills such as problem solving, time management, dealing with changing roles from high school to college, how to manage being Deaf in a hearing college, using outside agencies for activities and resources, as well as budgeting and the need to generate income. The students continue to work on improving reading and writing skills. Students lived in an off-campus apartment.
2011
The Western Pennsylvanian (WPAN) added “Bear Tracks in One” to cover the Scranton School for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children.
2012
WPSD honored legendary pitcher and former Pittsburgh Pirate, ElRoy Face for his dedication to deaf children. For the past 19 years he hosted a golf tournament that raised one-half million dollars for the Choices for Children program.
2013
The Boys’ Dormitory was demolished in the spring, and the boys moved over to the Red Wing of the Girls’ Dormitory while the girls moved to the Blue Wing. The snack bar was relocated to the yellow wing of the Girls’ Dormitory.
Daniel Emerick, who retired as a physical education teacher and track coach after 34 years, passed away. In his memory, students and staff participated in a 20-minute walk around the campus as part of the First Annual Fitness Walk.
The members of the Alumni Association built a replica pavilion. It stands on the far-right side of the Main Building where the old Infirmary stood.
A preschool classroom for 3- and 4-year-old children was set up in Hershey.
Two years ago, softball replaced track as a spring sport at WPSD. The boys’ and girls’ teams won the championship at the Annual High School Softball Tournament held at Keystone College near Scranton.
2014
In another exchange program nine students and four chaperones spent one week visiting the Oak Lodge School for the Deaf Children in Wandsworth (London), England.
The new Student Residence features state-of-the art technology, increased energy efficiency through a geo-thermal system, and an improved emergency warning system. Each housing pod houses eight students in individual bedrooms with a common living area.
Established in 2014 and recognized in 2015, the Booster Club covers costs for uniforms, equipment, tournaments, skill camps and athletic opportunities outside of the classroom.
2016
WPSD boys and girls won the ESDAA soccer and volleyball championships respectively — and were named Deaf Soccer Team of the Year and Deaf Volleyball Team of the Year. Christie Homell ’94 was honored as the Volleyball Coach of the Year.
Donald Rhoten retired after 22 years of service. Dr. Steven Farmer replaced him as the 10th Superintendent/Chief Executive Officer.
2017
WPSD boys and girls won the ESDAA soccer and volleyball championships respectively – and were named Deaf Soccer Team of the Year and Deaf Volleyball Team of the Year in 2017.
2018
For the third year in a row at the school, WPSD teams won the Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association championship in both soccer and volleyball, and WPSD was named Deaf Soccer Team of the Year and Deaf Volleyball Team of the Year in 2018.
Through the Auction and Gala fundraiser, the Alumni Association met its goal of $5,000 for the expansion of the Children’s Center.
2019
The Discovery and Removal of the Time Capsule! A copper box remained hidden in the cornerstone of the School’s Main Building for 118 years (1901-2019). Letters written by students, information about the big fire of 1899, past WPSD and national publications, and old photographs of campus buildings and students were found when the box was opened.
