COMMUNICATION: (back) Ben Buskell, Elke Swadling, Owen Evans, Kobie Thomas sign the school initials SHPS while (front) Katie Mckay, Jack Knight, Mya Higgins (Tess O’Brien in the background) all use the sign language for applause or clapping.
SINGLETON Heights Public School’s students celebrated Hearing Awareness Week on Tuesday with a ‘signathon’.
Each class from kindergarten to year 6 enjoyed a sign language session in the school’s hall with teacher of the deaf Tess O’Brien.
The students and teachers learnt the basics of deaf awareness and how they can become better communicators through signing and Ms O’Brien also had fun by getting everyone to sign along to the national anthem and some popular songs.
“The involvement of an entire school in this way is very rare and is great to see, I’ve been overwhelmed by the way the Heights has embraced the inclusion of deafness awareness within its programs,” Ms O’Brien said.
“In Australia deafness affects one in six people to a varying degrees and that’s why there needs to be a greater understanding of the issue from the community as a whole.”
“When it comes to children those who hear well learn well that’s why the school environment needs a better understanding of the implications of deafness and how they can help.”
Deafness can impact a person’s life in many ways because of the difficulties with communication it can cause frustration, social isolation and loneliness.
“People need to recognise the aspirations of hearing impaired people and the contributions they can make to our communities, schools, workplaces and nation,” Ms O’Brien said.
The school’s other deafness programs include a signing choir who practice weekly and a year 2 deafness awareness/signing class.