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2021 Graduating Class
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Pioneering Education for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
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American School for the Deaf
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Founded in 1817, the American School for the Deaf was the first permanent school for the deaf in the United States and a nationally renowned leader in providing comprehensive educational programs and services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
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2021-2022 reopening plans
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Dear Parents/Guardians:
We hope you have all enjoyed the summer and found time to spend with friends and family while continuing to stay healthy. We are very excited to start the new school year and look forward to seeing our returning students as well as many new faces as we welcome them to the ASD community. Our first day of school will be Monday, August 30, 2021 (you can find the 2021-2022 calendar here). Please note the change for early dismissal this year which can be found on the second page of the calendar. As we begin the new school year, we want to update our families regarding our plans for a safe return to school and our continued commitment to the health and safety of our students and staff.
ASD, along with schools across the state of Connecticut, will be opening the school year for in person learning. We have all seen how important it is for children to attend in person for their education, socialization and mental health and we do not anticipate the need to change to a hybrid or remote learning option. It is also important to note that the Connecticut State Department of Education has stated that schools will not be permitted to use remote learning during inclement weather. Students will now have a “traditional” snow day and school will not be in session if we need to close due to the weather. Throughout this pandemic, we know that guidance can change but we are optimistic that combining what we have learned with our mitigation strategies will allow us to keep our students learning in person. We will continue to work with our partners at the Connecticut State Department of Education and our local Department of Public Health and will communicate any changes to our families.
Our mitigation strategies will be similar to how we ended the previous school year including a mask mandate for all students and staff, regardless of vaccination status. This decision is based on the guidance from the Center for Disease Control, the Department of Public Health, as well as the Governor’s executive order that is still in effect. We will also maintain the recommended minimum of 3 feet (or more) between desks and frequent hand washing. If you have any questions about our reopening plans, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We would also like to share that Jennifer Labriola-Megee will be the new principal of ASD. Our former principal, Julie Tibbitt, has decided to follow her dream of teaching at the university level and we wish her great success. Mrs. Labriola-Megee joined ASD at the start of the 2020-2021 school year as our literacy specialist. Prior to joining us, she was the principal of the New York School for the Deaf. You can reach Mrs. Labriola-Megee by contacting the school or by email at jennifer.labriola-megee@asd-1817.org.
You will be receiving an email shortly from our principal and the Academic Hub regarding completing the back to school forms, who your child will have as a teacher, as well as other important information. As in the past, ASD will continue to provide all school supplies to your child on the first day of school.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Darlene Borsotti at 860.899.1203 (VP) or via email Darlene.Borsotti@asd-1817.org.
Many thanks and enjoy the rest of your summer.
Warm Regards,
Jeffrey S. Bravin,
Executive Director
Paula Morabito,
Assistant Executive Director
Executive Director
Paula Morabito,
Assistant Executive Director
The American School for the Deaf strives to be an inclusive community that welcomes and celebrates diversity. As a society, we have work to do in the fight against racial violence and discrimination. ASD maintains the fundamental principle that equity should prevail regardless of skin color, and we uphold the school-wide values of respect, responsibility and safety. As a learning community, we must engage in productive dialogue to combat systemic racism and social injustice. By teaching the importance of equality, we will allow our students to grow into responsible citizens who will change the world – for the better.
