'Signing for Haiti' a success at OCHS

Featuring colorful costumes and more than 30 eager participants, the fourth annual American Sign Language performance “Signing for Haiti” was a huge success.

With the theme of the television show “Glee,” the Ocean City High School sign language performers did more than just use their hands to communicate; they sang, danced and acted each of the 14 melodies, bringing sign language to life.

“I’m extremely proud of these students,” said ASL teacher Amy Anderson.

Sign language is not communicated totally through the hands. Facial expressions affect the meaning of the signed words; adding choreographed dance and acting tells an exciting story, even when the audience can’t hear the music.

“Facial expressions are very important,” said Anderson. “You really have to act it out. You can’t show your emotion through your voice so you have to use facial expressions and body motion.”

Several students in the program are long-time dancers, so they choreographed the numbers as though they were producing a music video.

“They sang, danced and acted to the music,” she said. “Someone who can hear is easily entertained; someone who can’t needs a lot more. In one of the numbers, ‘Misery’ by Maroon Five, which has a very slow beat, the students performed a skit. There were two students acting in the background. A young girl found another girls’ message on a cell phone and they had an argument. They did a phenomenal job.”

Ninety students participated in the ASL program this year. The performance was open to all of them.

“Translating is difficult, you have to think what is behind the lyrics, it’s like interpreting poetry,” she said. “You have to play around, stretch it to fit with the beat of the music. It has to be more artistic, rather than conversational.”

Emily DuBrille, a former student who is now studying at Bloomsburg University, returned to help Anderson as assistant director. The students added their own touches to the performance.

“One student is an accomplished artist, so she designed T-shirts,” she said. “They all contributed things based on their talents.”

A children’s number included six year-old Delaney Ringer of Upper Township, seven year-old Jordan Severino, Anderson’s son, and several of his friends who know ASL.

Anderson said her students really “studied” their parts.

American School For The Deaf Begins Yoga Program For Its Students ...

The idea for the program came from Bonnie Nicol, who is the PACES Clinical Program Coordinator at the school. She has a son who is handicapped and took advantage of a similar program. Administrative assistant Peg Higgins coordinated the program. An avid yoga buff, Higgins said the program sounded perfect for the small group of autistic students at the school. (The American School for the Deaf has six students with autism, although others fall within the autism spectrum.

The American School for the Deaf

American annals of the deaf

Talking with your hands, listening with your eyes, a complete photographic guide to American Sign Language

A survey of American schools for the deaf, 1924-1925, conducted under the auspices of the National research council

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