Extra-Curricular Activities

MSDB has a full and comprehensive extra-curricular program, with activities available both on and off campus. The residential and education staff strive to include and encourage all of our students to be as involved as possible in the variety of programs offered.

Inter-Scholastic Sports

The Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind (MSDB) believes student participation in athletics provides experiences that will help students to grow physically, mentally, and emotionally. Participation in sports promotes physical fitness, the desire to excel, self-discipline, and builds self-esteem.

At the junior high and high school level, students can participate in volleyball, basketball, track and field, cross country, softball (girls), golf, swimming, tennis, soccer, and wrestling. Students can access these activities either through the Mainstream Program with Great Falls Public Schools or through a cooperative agreement with Great Falls Central Catholic High School . Great Falls High School competes in the AA Division, whereas Great Falls Central competes in the District 8C, Northern Division.

MSDB also offers intramural sporting activities for students. These activities are offered on the MSDB campus and include basketball, bowling, swimming, volleyball, and soccer.

Expressions of Silence

Expressions of Silence is a performing group comprised of 6-12th graders who perform to songs using sign language and dance. The goal of the group is to provide the students with an opportunity to increase their self-esteem, travel (throughout Montana to perform for various groups), learn new songs, signs, and various choreography. They practice diligently throughout the school year to make each performance a memorable event for those fortunate enough to attend.

Jr. Nad

Junior National Association of the Deaf (Jr. NAD) was founded by the National Association of the Deaf as a youth program to develop interest and leadership among young deaf students in state associations and/or organizations of the deaf and to provide a meaningful group activity for them.

The objectives of Jr. NAD are to provide teens opportunities for growth and development, training in good citizenship, training in leadership, teamwork, and an opportunity to contribute to the development of their school and community. The organization is open to MSDB students from 7th grade to 12th grade.

VIP

Visually Impaired Performers, or VIP, was founded by a group of students from the Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind. Though they have only been an official group for a few months, they are very enthusiastic about performing in front of a variety of crowds. They have included drama, comedy and music in their repertoire.

VIP has performed with Electric City Harmony, Inc., Lady Barbershoppers of Great Falls, and had a great time performing at the Parents Let's Unite for Kids (PLUK) family night. They will be entertaining people at other events around Great Falls and are looking forward to creating a variety of new material for their audiences.

Cane Club

Cane Club was first established in 1999 by a group of students from the Visually Impaired department at MSDB. Its purpose is to learn more about blindness and low vision from blind adults in our community, to educate other people at our school and in the community about blindness and low vision, and to be a service organization helping others.

During the 2004-2005 school year, Cane Club is meeting twice each month for a variety of activities. Cane Club students enjoy visiting with the elderly at retirement homes, planning field trips such as the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, the Montana Children's Museum and Malmstrom Airforce Base. Field trips are planned by students with the hopes of making our community aware of the abilities and challenges of students with visual impairments.

Members of the club range in age from third through twelfth grades and the group welcomes visitors, guests and new members.

Goalball

Goalball is a sport played by athletes who are blind or visually impaired. This game was developed after WWII to keep newly blinded veterans physically active. Goalball is a popular sport among blind and visually impaired athletes, but anyone can play. The game can become competitive. With much practice and strategic planning, goalball can become very fast paced and challenging. To learn more about goalball and other sports for the blind and visually impaired, go to http://www.usaba.org.

To learn the rules and obtain more information about Goalball please visit http://www.usaba.org/pages/sportsAdaptGoalball.html

To order a videotape from USABA, please download and/or print the following form:
USABA Goalball Video Tape Order Form (Word format)

Games for the Visually Impaired

The Games for the Visually Impaired is held each spring at the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind Campus in Great Falls. Approximately forty athletes from around the state compete in track and field, gymnastics, gym activities, bowling and swimming. This event is a competitive weekend for blind and low vision students ranging in age from three to twenty. The students were awarded medals, trophies and ribbons. The weekend is truly a positive weekend for students, because of the great support provided by the MSDB Blind Department staff. Malmstrom Air Force Base sends out men and women to assist athletes in their individual events. Volunteers are willing to swim and run with athletes. Any student with a visual impairment is welcome to attend the event and can participate in all or some of the events. For more information, please contact Carol Clayton-Bye at 771-6080 or info@msdb.mt.gov

Games for the Visually Impaired Guidelines (PDF format)

VI Games Letter to Parents (PDF format)

VI Games Entry Form (PDF format)