ASL Honor Society [ASLHS] took a trip to Independence Primary School (IPS) to teach kindergarteners through fourth graders sign language on Tuesday, November 24.
ASL teacher Mrs. Meg Popa organized the trip with the primary focus being “to interact and teach little kids, and they look at us as mentors.” Popa also aims for ASLHS to be good role models and promote positivity among IPS students. This is the fourth year doing this trip and the first time conducting it at the primary school. The event used to take place at the Civic Center.
This year, however, Popa was ill and unable to attend, so Dean of Students Mr. Matt Grendel served as a supervisor on the trip. He even participated in some of the activities and learned a few signs. Grendel said he enjoyed “being able to see our older students interact with the younger students in the district.”
The ASL students were divided into different colored groups and each took on groups of students from kindergarten to fourth grade. ASLHS taught the kids a few signs relating to friendship, family and Thanksgiving. Afterwards, they played a game of collecting ASL-themed feathers on the ground to place on a paper turkey. ASLHS President Sonny Sears ran the activities and kept the events running smoothly.
ASLHS Vice President Penny Averre sees the trip as an opportunity to “raise awareness that not everybody just speaks one language.” She wants the primary schoolers to realize the diversity in our community and to be aware of the Deaf community, even if they don’t see it.
Senior Officer Gianna Carlucci holds a similar perspective. She hopes that IPS students “understood there are other ways to communicate that’s not just verbally talking to people.”
Moving forward, Popa wants to include input from a larger variety of ASLHS members in planning the activities. She also hopes to create activities that are accessible to everyone with a disability so every student can feel included.
