Message on September 28, 2024
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the WPSD homecoming weekend. It was truly wonderful to see everyone come together for the competitions, Senior Recognition, and the WPSD Community Block Party. Your participation and enthusiasm made the event memorable. Thank you all for being part of such a special celebration! - Kallie
Message on August 19, 2024
We are proud to announce that our Fall Sports Coaches have completed the NFHS Coach Level 1 certification, marking a significant milestone in their professional development. This achievement ensures that they are well-equipped to provide the highest-quality training and support to our athletes.
Message on August 13, 2024
Message from Kallie Mendenhall, Athletic Director, August 13, 2024
Dear WPSD Families,
I hope this letter finds you and your family in good health and well spirits during this time and ready for the summer. I know that we are wrapping up the school year for 2023-2024 and this year has flown by so quickly. I want to take a moment to thank our student-athletes, families, WPSD Coaches, and staff. We wouldn’t have an important impact on our Athletic Program without your support and support for your child. I want to thank every coach who came on board this school year and coached our student-athletes. Being a coach is not an easy task; investing in our student-athletes takes time to help them thrive and allow them to learn and develop athletic skills through training, discipline, teamwork and competition. We always encourage to teach, encourage, and support each athlete in his/her endeavors to accomplish a personal best while building good character and exemplary sportsmanship.
Before we get busy and relax for the summer, I would like to prepare us for the our WPSD Sports Camp and the School Year in 2024-2025 Athletics. Please complete this packet if your child is interested in playing sports in the Fall, Winter or Spring. The WPSD Sports Camp will be conducted on August 23 to 25, 2024 and the Soccer and Volleyball season will start on the same first day of school, August 26, 2024. Before each sports season, you must sign a form to give your child permission to participate in that sport.
Your child must complete their yearly physical examination, signed by your family doctor attesting that your child has been examined and is physically fit for athletic completion, is required before participation in a team sport. This includes all related team practices. Also, the “Consent for Treatment” form must be handed in before the student’s participation. There will be no more “mini-physicals”. The physical examination covers all sports for the entire school year, provided the examination occurs after May 1st of the previous academic year. PIAA had changed their examination date after May instead of June 1st. This is good news! WPSD adheres to the PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) guidelines pertaining to sports physicals. The Health Center should be contacted if questions arise in this area.
I look forward to meeting and hearing from you soon. You may contact me at kmendenhall@wpsd.org if you have any questions.
WPSD Athletic Director - October 6, 2023
Message from Kallie Mendenhall, Athletic Director, October 6, 2023
Did you know October 6 is National Coaches Day? WPSD Athletic Department would like to take a moment to recognize our WPSD Fall Sports Coaches. As we all know, being a coach is not an easy task, and it requires commitment and dedication to coach youth, Middle School, and Varsity level sports. These coaches do not work for personal glory, it takes commitment to coach our young student-athletes. We want to recognize the efforts of coaches and promote an understanding of respect for the coaching profession, their knowledge, and skills, as they are the backbone of our sports program for our students. WPSD Athletic Department would like to take a moment to thank all of the coaches on the WPSD campus. Thank you for everything you do for our WPSD student-athletes and WPSD Community.
WPSD Athletic Director - August 21, 2023
Message from Kallie Mendenhall, Athletic Director, August 21, 2023:
I am excited and humbled to serve as the new Athletic Director for Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. I am looking forward to taking on this role. I want to thank Mr. Valentine J. Wojton for his dedication and commitment to the Athletic Department for the last 21 years at WPSD. I look forward to positive changes within our school and our Athletic Department.
WPSD offers a comprehensive program in Athletics. Participation in sports is a privilege. The basic purpose of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf Athletic Program is to provide our students the opportunity to learn and develop athletic skills through training, discipline, teamwork, and competition. We will teach, encourage, and support each athlete in his/her endeavors to accomplish a personal best while building good character and exemplary sportsmanship.
Together, we must be recognized as an important activity contributing to the overall development of school life; therefore regarded as a vital part of the overall development of school life. However, it is understood that academic achievement takes priority. The responsibilities of the student-athletes are greater than those of other students. Athletes play an essential role in our student-athletes. Respect is the foundation of sportsmanship and it creates a positive environment with our student-athletes, coaches, parents, administration, teachers, staff, and our community.
Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf’s athletic programs are more than just athletic competitions; athletics is an extension of the classroom that promotes building character, fostering teamwork and lifelong learning and skills that extend far in life beyond sports.
I look forward to meeting and hearing from you soon. You may contact me at kmendenhall@wpsd.org if you have any questions.
Be sure to click on the Staff Directory below for our Coaches in the Athletic Department.