Dorset Deaf Children's Society

 

In addition to our Senior winner Yazz, also nominated in the Senior category were:

 

Bradley Farmer was nominated by Dawn Wrench, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service, for his visible development, improved self-confidence, successes and attainment achieved over the last three years. Bradley has a mild to moderate unilateral hearing loss and wears a hearing aid. His transition to secondary school is commended as he is focused and happy and this was evidenced in his whole demeanour, hard work and positive interactions with teachers, SEND colleagues and peers. He is also commended for his improved self-worth and confidence, focus and application to all aspects of his learning. He is an excellent role model and he was kind, welcoming and supportive of a new student with a hearing loss who joined the school.

 

Francis Hayward-Nevitt was nominated by Dawn Wrench, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service. Francis has a reverse slope severe to moderate bilateral hearing loss and wears hearing aids. Francis is an outstanding role model demonstrating and explaining to peers and school staff why her hearing aids and radio aid is fundamental for her to be able to access conversations and information. She and another student delivered a bespoke INSET to school staff and she was articulate explaining and demonstrating how to check her equipment and how to use the radio aid. She has boundless energy, enthusiasm and warmth and she offers mentoring friendship to younger HSS students. She is an inspiring example of all that can be achieved with enthusiasm for life, and a hard working ethic. She is a thoughtful and caring and thinks of others.

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Harry Lake was nominated by his mother Judy Morris, Aunt Tina Morris and Sarah Joiner, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service. Harry has a moderate to severe bilateral hearing loss and wears hearing aids. He has made amazing progress in his GSCE’s over the last two years. He found many subjects difficult and tried his hardest to achieve his full potential. He has excelled many teachers’ expectations and has achieved fantastic GCSE results. As well as studying hard for his exams he has struggled with many challenges along the way but he managed to overcome them which is not easy for him as he lacks confidence with communication, socialising and concentration. He was recognized for his hard work, dedication and for being a role model by the head teacher. He got himself a summer job which has boosted his confidence, experience and earning his own money. He helps his aunt with caring for his Nan by siting with her whilst she does the shopping. He has a calming nature and is always keen to help others.

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Molly McSharry was nominated by Dawn Wrench, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service. Molly has longstanding bilateral conductive hearing loss and wears hearing aids. Molly is nominated for their excellent GCSE results enabling them to go on to study A levels and for their willingness to be a mentor to new students who have just joined the school. Molly is applauded for their focus, hard work, kindness to others and enthusiasm throughout their GCSE years. Molly is a natural role model to younger HSS students and a beacon of all that can be achieved with a conscientious, caring for other, thoughtful attitude and totally modest about their great achievements

 

Francesca Murphy was nominated by Samadhi-Rose Christopher, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service. Francesca has a mild to moderate conductive bilateral hearing loss and wears hearing aids. She is severely sight impaired, has a medical diagnosis of Osteopetrosis, a rare bone disorder, and has other diagnosed medical illnesses. She has experienced prolonged periods of illness and time in hospital including a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy. She is nominated for being positive, with a fabulous attitude to life and learning. She has a great sense of humor and a wonderful personality. She perseveres and is always polite and grateful for the support she receives. She always tries her best and never gives up. She gives her all and rises to every challenge asked of her and contributes to her friends and the community. She recently did brilliantly sitting on an interview panel for the Hearing Support Service and she has been nominated for Deputy Head Girl at school. Even though she has had to undergo many medical procedures and hospital visits in her life she never complains.

 

Jennifer-Marie Roe was nominated by Jemma O’Rourke, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service. Jennifer has a bilateral moderate to severe hearing loss and wears hearing aids. Jennifer is a superb role model and is a wonderful young person. She has worked hard and is now in sixth form doing an EPQ on young children with first language BSL and the impact it has on their lives in a hearing world. She has a part time job saving to buy a car and has a two year plan to raise money so that she can travel to Borneo to work with orangutans and help build a community building with a charity organisation. She needs 5K and she has already raised 2K for her trip including making and selling crochet flowers at a local artisan shop. She is also running a marathon to raise funds.

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Sienna Watson was nominated nominated by Dawn Wrench, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service for her resilience, maturity, developed self-confidence and huge personal growth and development over the last 4 years.  Sienna has a bilateral profound hearing loss and has cochlear implants. Earlier this year Sienna successfully underwent explant, re-implant CI surgery. Significant preparation went into pre and post operation and Sienna displayed a developing inner confidence, pragmatism and composure and was always receptive to support. She maintained her school work during this time and wanted to return to the full school timetable as soon as possible which reflects her commitment to her studies, friendship groups and school life. She is an excellent role model to her peers and has achieved excellent results in her studies at school. She is polite and focused.

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In addition to our Junior winner Felix, also nominated in the Junior category were: 

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Ebony Barnes was nominated by Jemma O’Rourke, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service for her amazing social skills making a new deaf friend and also for being able to express herself through art. Ebony has Waardenburg syndrome, bilateral profound hearing loss and has Cochlear implants. She is nonverbal and is using sign and a PODD book to support communication. She has cochlear implants which she is gradually wearing more often. Recently she met with another deaf child visiting her school; she was friendly, welcoming and excited and took her hand to guide her round the school. She then produced a fantastic self-portrait showing her cochlear implant and they used sensory playdough to make a 3D ear collage discussing parts of the ear.

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Jacob Calverley was nominated by his father Mike Calverley. Jacob is bilaterally profoundly deaf and has two cochlear implants. He decided he wanted to audition for the lead role ‘Grandad’ in his school play. It involved learning over 100 lines and committing to a busy rehearsal schedule of many months. He impressed all his teachers with his loud clear voice and he was given the role over other confident hearing peers. He had to ensure that he was listening to all other cues during the production and he confidently and clearly delivered all his lines He was an absolute superstar.

 

Darcey Gooch was nominated by her mother, Leanne Gooch for the way she has taken to wearing her hearing aid so well. Darcey has a unilateral hearing loss and has had her hearing aid for 8 months. She has shown resilience and responsibility and has coped with her school day being adapted and with the challenges it brings socially. She had been extremely brave when she had to have an MRI scan and CT scan even reassuring her mum when she was having the procedure. She is a star.

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Alex Gray was nominated by Dawn Wrench, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service. Alex has had middle ear surgery and reconstruction of tympanic membranes following the removal of bilateral cholesteatoma. He has a unilateral moderate hearing loss and wears a hearing aid. Alex has blossomed and matured into a confident, articulate, intelligent, inspirational young man. He is applauded for his enthusiasm regarding all aspects of school life. He has had absences over the last few years due to ear operations which he has been positive and articulate describing the procedures to his peers and teachers. He was brilliant in explaining to new teachers during bespoke INSET deliveries how his equipment works and how it is important. Recently he was very mature and confident explaining to his new Year 4 teacher how his aid works and that it is vital to be used correctly and strategies that best help him. He is a positive role model for his peers; he was kind and supported a new hearing aid wearer in his year group last year.

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Buddy Holian was nominated by Sarah Joiner, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service for his amazing first year at school despite many challenges. Buddy is bilaterally profoundly deaf and wears two cochlear implants. He was implanted in 2023 when he was 4 years old, starting school when he had only had his implants for a very short time. He was reluctant to wear them at first but he soon built the confidence to wear both processors during the whole day at school. This has had a positive impact on his learning and access to speech sounds. He has been learning basic BSL signs and he has come on so well with this that he is now able to use basic signs to help him communicate with his family, peers and adults. He has achieved so much in a short time and has been an amazing young person to see blossom so much and take so well to his new ‘magic ears’

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Charlotte Hudson was nominated by Jemma O’Rourke, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service for enjoying interaction with a new deaf peer via sign and shared art experiences, Charlotte has Down Syndrome, has a bilateral mild to moderate hearing loss, uses sign and some verbal words to communicate and she is a BAHA wearer. She has some motor issues and she does not find painting easy. When she recently visited a deaf peer at her SEN school she painted a self-portrait showing her green soft band with BAHA devices on and made a 3D sensory ear model using playdough.

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Todd Jewer was nominated by Jemma O’Rourke, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service. Todd has Auditory Processing Disorder and uses a radio in school. At the beginning of the school year his Advisory Teacher visited Todd’s new senior school to deliver training about APD she invited Todd to attend the training with his family. He was extremely anxious but came up to the front of the auditorium in front of 30 teachers and was able to tell them how to use his radio aid and where to seat him in classes so that he could hear best. All the teachers said the best thing about the training was hearing from Todd himself. His family were super proud of the courage he showed considering his complex needs.

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Isla Lloyd was nominated by Sarah Pool, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service for showing confidence and resilience. Isla is bilaterally profoundly deaf and wears two cochlear implants. Isla stood up in front of her class and delivered a lesson on the ear and how we hear. She helped plan the lesson and confidently drew and labelled a diagram of the ear on the white board explaining each part of the ear. She then took questions about her own hearing loss and gave out a worksheet for groups of children to complete and helped pupils with anything they needed help with.

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Ava-Rae Rose was nominated by her mother Hannah Rose for how she has coped starting a new school which is much bigger than her primary school which has been overwhelming for her. Ava has a bilateral mild to moderate hearing loss and wears hearing aids. Ava has been wearing her hearing aids since she was 4 years old and at the beginning she took it in her stride and was proud of her hearing aids. As she has got older she has become more self-conscious and over the last few years she has become very anxious. She started a new much bigger school and really struggled. She copes with her challenges and does not let her hearing get in the way. She dances and sings outside of school. She is such a trooper and a star.

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Betty Walke-Myles was nominated by Sarah Turpin a professional MSI Practitioner for how she has grown in confidence and working hard to communicate her needs and wishes. Betty has a severe to profound bilateral hearing loss and cerebral visual impairment. Betty is an incredible young lady who is determined to enjoy life despite the challenges of being deafblind. She is curious and willing to explore new experiences even though she is nervous, she perseveres until she is confident to touch a new object or to engage with a new person. She is developing her communication skills. She has objects of reference, some on-body signs and beginning to learn some BSL signs. She is funny, playful and keen to communicate and interact with others.

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Well done to everyone who was nominated!

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