A record number of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students from across the province came together for an event in °µºÚ±¬ÁϹÙÍø, where they shared their talents, competed, and connected with one another.
The two-day event, called DHHproud, included both a Showcase and Friendship Day for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students. The Showcase drew children and youth from Kindergarten to Grade 12 from 19 school districts who competed in a series of contests on the identity-celebrating theme: This is my Deaf/Hard of Hearing Superpower. Organized and led by the Provincial Outreach Program: Deaf and Hard of Hearing (POPDHH) – a °µºÚ±¬ÁϹÙÍø School District-administered program – the third annual Showcase grew from 80 participants last year to 125.
The Showcase featured DHH Art, ASL Poetry, and Spotlight Presentations. The following students from °µºÚ±¬ÁϹÙÍø Schools placed in the top three in their categories.
Category: ASL Poetry Grades K-3
Everly Hohnadel, Grade 2, BCSD, 1st place
Rustem Drebotii, Grade 2, BCSD, 2nd place
Zoe Kaleniuk, Grade 3, BCSD, 3rdÌý±è±ô²¹³¦±ð
Category: ASL Poetry Grades 4-7
Kobane Koshman, Grade 6, BCSD, 2nd place
Aurelia Braun, Grade 4, BCSD, 3rdÌý±è±ô²¹³¦±ð
Category: ASL Poetry Grades 8-12
Teanna Kay, Grade 11, BCSD, 1st place
Aqida Nazari, Grade 9, BCSD, 2nd place
Balqis Mushfiq, Grade 10, BCSD, 3rdÌý±è±ô²¹³¦±ð
Category: DHH Art Grades K-3
Rustem Drebotii, Grade 2, BCSD, 1st place
Category: DHH Art Grades 4-7
Kayden Chen, Grade 6, Aubrey Elementary, 2nd place
Sophia Shimek, Grade 6, Forest Grove Elementary, 3rdÌý±è±ô²¹³¦±ð
Category: DHH Art Grades 8-12
Kenneth Kang, Grade 11, °µºÚ±¬ÁϹÙÍø South Secondary, 3rdÌý±è±ô²¹³¦±ð
Kristin Schnider, Vice-Chair of the °µºÚ±¬ÁϹÙÍø, delivered opening remarks:
While the competitions are the reason bringing us all together, the coming together part – as a community from throughout the province – is perhaps equally important.â€
Making new friends is an integral part of the two-day event, with the Showcase preceding Friendship Day, which included a trip to Science World, games, and meals together. A record 261 Deaf and Hard of Hearing students – representing one-fifth of the provincial DHH student population – and 135 teachers and chaperones from 23 school districts participated in Friendship Day.
Students were also invited to tour Victory Hill Dorm in °µºÚ±¬ÁϹÙÍø, where children living away from home stay while attending the BC Provincial School for the Deaf. BCSD is also administered by the °µºÚ±¬ÁϹÙÍø School District.
Scroll down to see the full list of contest winners. To see entries from across BC, .
Posted May 2024