MISSION:
The mission of the Rocky Mountain Deaf School is to provide Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children, preschool through 12th grade, a publicly-funded bilingual education which promotes academic excellence, full proficiency in ASL and English literacy, and which supports the home-school connection by offering a language rich environment that includes the RMDS personnel, the RMDS Board, parents, and the Deaf community.
PURPOSE:
To inspire every deaf student to think, to learn, to achieve, to care.
Rocky Mountain Deaf School is founded on the belief that deaf children can and should succeed. The driving force behind the school is a theme of excellence in research-based academic programs. In this intellectually stimulating environment, communication is totally accessible throughout the day from every person in the child’s environment. Each student’s potential is maximized as teachers continue to instill in each child the joy of living and learning.
VISION:
As a high performing, innovative educational program for students who are deaf, we are deeply committed to providing a rigorous, standards-based curriculum. We prepare each deaf student to be literate, academically successful, and technologically competent. We provide a linguistically rich learning environment through the acquisition of American Sign Language and English both inside and outside the classroom.
Through strong collaboration with parents, the deaf community, the educational research community, the school community, and the business community, we are a model of best practices and an exemplary resource in the field of Deaf Education both nationally and internationally.
CREDO:
We recognize that:
- “deaf” means individuals who have varying hearing acuity (deaf, Deaf, and hard-of-hearing);
- each deaf child is unique, important, and inviolate;
- each deaf child is the child of his or her parent(s), not the product nor the property of any culture theory, or establishment;
- parent(s) are partner(s) in each deaf child’s educational program;
- being deaf is a positive state of being;
- deaf children needs school personnel who are competent in and knowledgeable about the current trends of education, deafness, and research;
- deaf children deserve, and are capable of, an American education and English literacy on par with non-deaf children;
- deaf children should be educated in the company of other deaf children; deaf children need an education that uses and develops accessible language and communication methods and respects the child’s visual skills and strengths:
- deaf children deserve a rigorous curriculum and fair assessments;
- deaf children can succeed with innovative instructional methods, materials, and leading-edge technology: and
- the world is the classroom.
VALUES:
High expectations. We expect the best work from our students, faculty, administrators, board, and parents.
Family atmosphere. We create a welcoming and intimate environment where students, parents, and educators feel comfortable and can work productively together through respectful open communication.
Exceptional teamwork. We work collaboratively and inclusively to help each other succeed and to ensure that our collective efforts result in more than what we could accomplish individually.
Continuous innovation. We seek out and find creative new ways to be more effective in everything that we do, including thinking outside of the box.
Zest. We maintain high motivation to be the best
September 29, 2023 Announcement: New Value "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility"
Since its founding in September of 1997, RMDS' values have evolved through ongoing and thoughtful input from our students, families, staff, board, and stakeholders. Currently, RMDS has five values: high expectations, family atmosphere, teamwork, continuous innovation, and
zest. We are pleased to announce that there's a new value on campus, and just in time to celebrate RMDS' 26th birthday month, too! Recognizing the incredible need for work in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, this value is perhaps RMDS' most solemn vow in upholding its mission, purpose, vision, and credo.
Empowering through diversity, we embrace equity and promote inclusion at Rocky Mountain Deaf School. Our mission is to celebrate differences, break barriers, and create a united community where every individual thrives.
The responsibility for upholding this value belongs to our collective of students, families, staff, board, and community members. Stakeholders who are individually empowered to do all they can to encourage diversity, dismantle barriers, and co-create a united community where each individual thrives.
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Desde su fundación en septiembre de 1997, los valores de RMDS han evolucionado a través de aportaciones continuas y reflexivas de nuestros estudiantes, familias, personal, junta directiva y partes interesadas. Actualmente, RMDS cuenta con cinco valores: altas
expectativas, ambiente familiar, trabajo en equipo, innovación continua y entusiasmo. Nos complace anunciar que hay un nuevo valor en el campus, ¡y justo a tiempo para celebrar el mes de cumpleaños número 26 de RMDS! Reconociendo la increíble necesidad de trabajo en el área de diversidad, equidad, inclusión y accesibilidad, este valor es quizás el compromiso más solemne de RMDS en cumplir con su misión, propósito, visión y credo.
Empoderando a través de la diversidad, abrazamos la equidad y promovemos la inclusión en la Escuela de Sordos Rocky Mountain. Nuestra misión es celebrar las diferencias, derribar barreras y crear una comunidad unida donde cada individuo prospere.
La responsabilidad de mantener este valor recae en nuestro colectivo de estudiantes, familias, personal, junta directiva y miembros de la comunidad. Los interesados están empoderados individualmente para hacer todo lo posible para fomentar la diversidad, desmantelar barreras y co-crear una comunidad unida donde cada individuo prospere.