Entire school learns sign language to welcome 6-year-old kindergartner as their first ever deaf student

An entire school in the US is learning sign language to welcome a 6-year-old kinderdergarten pupil as its first ever deaf student.

Morey Belanger was embraced by Dayton Consolidated School in Maine with a big change it to the school’s curriculum.

To make her feel at home, teachers took the opportunity to teach all the students some sign language, according to Fox News.

Sign language posters are now lining the walls of hallways while pupils learn how to sign more than 20 words, which include colours, letters and words related to school.

Morey Balanger danced around with a real-life princess visiting the school who knows sign language
Fox News 5

“Morey, without even knowing it, has taught us so much,” school Principal Kimberly Sampietro told Fox News.

“She has brought a culture to our building that we didn’t have before.”

The school installed a hearing assistive system and implemented teacher training so that sign language was incorporated into the lessons of every classroom, including core subjects, music and IT.

The entire school is learning sign language to welcome the young kindergartner.
Fox News 5

Ms Sampietro added that teachers have also begun to use their free time to watch videos and read books on sign language and special education.

Morey’s mom, Shannon Belanger, also told the broadcaster that her family has been overwhelmed by the school’s support.

I absolutely feel like it makes her feel welcomed,” Ms Belanger said.

“I think all the kids feel excited that they know another language and I think they think it’s fun.”

The school invited a real-life princess who knows sign language to come and talk to pupils this week, in celebration of their hard work.

“We wanted to show our students that this isn’t something they can only speak with Morey,” said Ms Sampietro.

“We wanted to show them that signing happens in all kinds of settings.”

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