Grade 1 students at École Vickers Public School sign for true patriot love. They have learned O Canada in sign language. (submitted photo/Sheryl Lepine)

By Dawson Thompson

From singing to signing

École Vickers students learn sign language to accommodate COVID restrictions

Dec 2, 2020 | 5:00 PM

When students went back into classrooms in September, they were presented with new guidelines to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. One of these guidelines prohibits singing in the classroom.

But for the Grade 1 students at École Vickers Public School, the restriction became a creative catalyst — instead of singing, they’re signing.

Grade 1 teacher at Ecole Vickers, Sheryl Lepine originally had her students sing the national anthem as part of their morning routine. Since the restrictions, her students began learning O Canada in sign language.

“We’ve been practicing since day one,” Lepine said. “It is learning a new language, so it has been a little tricky.”

The school posted a video of students signing the song to its Facebook page. It has received plenty of positive feedback.

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Comments on the Facebook post include, “This is beautiful. So heartwarming” and “What a great idea. Way to go Vickers School.”

Lepine explained she does not have previous experience with sign language. Her class is learning through an instructional YouTube video. Lepine said she is learning alongside her students.

“The kids love doing it. It helps me get them ready quickly in the morning because they’re excited to do O Canada on time,” Lepine said. “The parents saw it just the other day and were quite excited their kids were able to do the whole song.”

Due to her students doing so well with O Canada, Lepine is considering more sign language lessons.

École Vickers is a duo language learning school. O Canada is played in both French, and English at the school which also has a program where students learn language through pictures. Sign language is just one more language being incorporated for staff and students.

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Dawson.thompson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: dawsonthompson8