SIGNING WITH FRIENDS

Sign language students welcome American School for the Deaf

BURLINGTON >> After visiting the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford in February, Lewis S. Mills High School students welcomed a group from the school on Wednesday, May 17. Lewis Mills’ American Sign Language students, under the guidance of teacher Robin Mengual, spent the day with their guests,visiting classrooms in the high school, working in groups to create ASL poetry, had lunch together and took tours of the school. The day ended in the music wing at Lewis Mills, playing games, signing and singing.

The experience was a good one for her classes, Mengual said, which was reflected in their comments at the end of the day.

“I loved having ASD at Mills,” a student said. “At the beginning of the day I thought it would be stressful. As the day went on it became less stressful and more enjoyable. I feel everyone bonded during our time in the band room. We all had a great time together doing songs and dancing. Thank you for the awesome experience and opportunity.”

Lewis Mills students had pen pals from the American School for the Deaf, and had an opportunity to meet them.

“I learned a lot about my pen pal and got to know the other kids better as well. I still have to work on my finger-spelling but it is getting better,” another student noted.

Another student said, “I felt more comfortable with the ASD pen pals. I already considered all of us to be fairly good friends. The pen pal letters and videos forged a special connection between myself and my pen pal. We exchanged social media a while ago and have been keeping in touch. While she was here we signed quite a bit and it is very comfortable and easier than usual.”

And many of the students realized the progress they had made since their visit to West Hartford in February.

“Last time I could not communicate as well with my pen pal but this time was better,” said one of the girls. “Having learned new words during ASL class made it easier. Creating poems with them was a lot of fun.”

To learn more about Robin Boe Mengual’s American Sign Language class, go to http://lewis. region10ct.org/for_staff/ t_w_s/robin_mengual

PHOTOS BY ROBIN MENGUAL A student from the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford poses with a new friend from Lewis S. Mills High School’s American Sign Language class during a recent visit.

PHOTOS BY ROBIN MENGUAL Lewis Mills students sign with students from the American School of the Deaf in West Hartford during a recent visit to Burlington. The students, enrolled in a class in American Sign Language with teacher Robin Mengual, visited the school in West...

PHOTOS BY ROBIN MENGUAL Lewis Mills High School students welcomed students from the American School of the Deaf in West Hartford to Burlington during a recent visit. The students, enrolled in a class in American Sign Language with teacher Robin Mengual, visited the school in...