| Summary: | Newsletter of the North Dakota School for the Deaf. NEW DORMITORY REPORTS Starting with the last six-week period the houseparents have been completing a new dormitory report form to be sent to the parents. It was the feeling of the houseparents that the old form was much too short to give the parents an adequate -and complete idea of how their children were doing in the dorms. It was also felt that a new rating system was needed since a mark such as 85 per cenl in disposition didn't really tell the parents very much. The new report form also includes space for the houseparents to comment on what duties the students are required to do. One pari that is especially beneficial to the houseparents is the blank where they may ask the parents to comment on any of the items; that are marked. This; will give the houseparents some information as to whether the students' behavior is consistent in the dorm and at home. II will also provide other information that the houseparents may need. Parents are asked to please reply to any items that are marked. There have been several comments so far from parents regarding the forms. There also has been one letter opposing the forms. Parents are invited to comment on the new dormitory report forms, and any suggestions for improvement will be appreciated. that she went to high school for three- years in Minnewaukan. She married in 1935, and she and tier husband had six children, five of whom are living. She has lived in Devils; Lake for the last flVi years. We are happy to have her working here tit the school, especially keeping our "sweet tooth" satisfied. MRS. SELMA GRONAAS Mrs. Gronaas has been matron of our domestic department for eleven years. She is the one we turn to regarding cleaning, meals, lunches for parties, supplies, and a hundred other things. She spent the early years of her formal education in a one-room rural school near her parents' farm. Following that, she completed her high school education a! the Northwood, N. D., High School. Mrs. Gronaas' interest was in education so she attended the State Teacher's College for a year and a summer session. Following that she- taught school for seven years. Mrs. Gronaas met her husband after seven years of being a teacher. They farmed -100 acres until his death in 1957. They had a daughter. Mrs. Gronaas may continue being a second mother to many of us for a long time to come. and attended high school for one year. Mrs. Aardahl met her husband, Norman, our chief engineer, at Whitman, N.D., and they were married in 1935. They farmed near Lisbon, N.I)., and Petersburg, N.I). For the last eighteen years (hey have been living in Devils Lake. She worked at the Nakota Hatchery for five years in addition to working at NDSD. She usually spends the first two weeks in June working tit the lunch counter at Camp Grafton, seeing thai our National Guardsmen never go hungry. During her spare time, Mrs. Aardahl enjoys crocheting afghans and sewing. Staff Life Sketches By Rodger Wetzel DOMESTIC DEPARTMENT MRS. HELEN MAHANY Mrs. Mahany, our pastry cook, was born near Elbow Lake, Minnesota. When she was three weeks old, her mother brought her back (o their farm home near Sheyenne, N.I). At three years of age, her family moved to a farm which they had purchased near Minnewaukan. That area east of Minnewaiikaii is referred to as Graham's Island. Mrs. Mahany completed eight years of school in a white, one-room school- house near her home. She says it has since been painted red and serves the community as a township hall. After 4 THE BANNER MISS ESTHER CONWAY Esther Conway, one of our busy kitchen helpers, was born at Shawnee, N.I). Unfortunately for her, her mother died when she was only two years old. Following this, she was placed in an orphans' home in Beloit, Iowa. Esther grew up at the orphans' home, and when she was older, she was employed as a houscparent at the home, this hasted for four years. She then went to the big city in Minneapolis to work for the next six years. After her six years in Minneapolis, she came to North Dakota and has been working here at the school since that time. We know she enjoys people because she has taken such a special interest in many of us and can be seen visiting with her friends during her free time. MRS. RUBY AARDAHL Mrs. Aardahl, who serves as our cook-helper, grew up on a farm near Lisbon, N.D. She finished eight years at one of those little country schools MEDICAL STAFF MRS. HENRIETTA TRACKER, LPN Mrs. Thacker, LPN, is our school nurse and supervises our little infirmary. She is kept busy during the winter sestson taking care of colds, coughs, and giving out needed vitamins. She was born, grew up, and went to school in Fredericktown, Missouri, which is just south of St. Louis. Al sin early age and after much persuasion, her parents consented to her coming to North Dakota to teach in a rural school. The next summer she went, to Valley City Teachers College. But she decided to marry a North Dakota farmer rather than continue teaching. Mrs. Thacker loved the farm and this is where they raised their two children. Her husband died in 1952, and she returned to SI. Louis to tit- tend the Board of Education Technical School for a one year's course in practical nursing. She has been working as a nurse since that time. sifter being the school nurse for six years, she decided she should do hospital work again to keep up with the fast changing trends in nursing. In 1963, Mrs. Thacker attended summer school at the University of Maine, spending her free lime touring the New England states. She returned |() the School for the Deaf and has been our nurse for Ihe pasl two years. She loves to travel and has been in the 48 stales. She also has traveled to Mexico, and had one very interesting trip throughout western Canada, which included a trip to the Columbia glaciers. During her free time she likes to read, sew, and knit, and plans to do more traveling in the future. MARCH 1970
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