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Riley Krauss is signing during a concert the words that people would hear.
Student Voice: Student Shares how an Afterschool Club helped her Learn a Whole New Language

Saugerties has played a huge role in helping me grow in ASL, especially with the support of my teacher, Nicole Gavner. She gave me the opportunity and confidence to fully immerse myself in the Deaf community and take ASL seriously– as more than just a class. Through her encouragement, I became deeply involved, eventually taking a leadership role in ASL Club. She also introduced me to events and experiences that helped me grow, including opportunities like performing a solo for “Bohemian Rhapsody” at our very own Pops Concert, and “Another Room In Your Head” at our school musical. These experiences pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me develop both my skills and my confidence.

As for ASL, it will continue to be an important part of my future. Whether I use it in a career, through volunteer work, to communicate with friends, or just as a hobby, I want to continue building my skills and staying connected to the Deaf community. Learning ASL has not only given me a new way to communicate, but it has also opened my eyes to a new culture and perspective. I hope to use what I have learned to make communication more accessible for others and to continue growing in something that has become such an important part of my life.

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Students hold bags of clothes in front of a huge mound of bags of clothes.
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Thank you to everyone who supported the Saugerties High School Senior Class of 2026 Clothing Drive! We are so grateful to all who took the time to donate bags of clothes, plush toys, and household textiles. Your generosity made a meaningful impact.

Riley Krauss is signing during a concert the words that people would hear.
Student Voice: Student Shares how an Afterschool Club helped her Learn a Whole New Language

Welcome to our next edition of Student Voice, where we highlight the accomplishments, reflections, and experiences of our incredible students. Today, we are proud to feature Riley Krauss, who shares how an afterschool club helped her learn a whole new language.

Hello, my name is Riley Krauss, and I am a senior at Saugerties High School. I have been practicing American Sign Language (ASL) since my freshman year. I first became interested in ASL during an English assignment where we were asked to write about something we had always wanted to do. I chose sign language because I had always found it interesting but had never taken the steps to learn it. Not even a week after that assignment, I attended my first ASL club meeting at Saugerties High School. From that moment on, I knew it was something I wanted to pursue. Since then, I have taken multiple ASL classes and continued learning, with the goal of becoming fluent.

Student puts on her final touches before the competition of best cupcake.
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Student holds up his powerpoint presentation on his computer during his presentation
Students Present in Pursuit of the Seal of Civic Readiness

Four Saugerties High School students recently presented their final projects as part of their pursuit of the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness. Each student shared a personal reflection demonstrating how they have applied civic knowledge and participation in meaningful ways.