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Children sing, sign seasonal melodies - Vallejo Times Herald
There was a song about a poor meatball that rolled under a bush. And another about a reindeer with a shiny nose. The singers even pleaded for the snow to continue to fall and warned that Santa Claus is coming to town.
Pennycook Elementary School kindergarten children and first-graders brought a bit of holiday cheer to Merrill Gardens at Vallejo on Tuesday, using their voices and newly acquired sign language skills for a medley of seasonal tunes.
"The innocence is beautiful," said one man as he watched the tiny singers perform.
For the past few months, kindergarten and first-grade students from Pennycook's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program have joined with their mainstream peers for some cross training in communication.
"It has really broadened everyone's horizons," said Pennycook K-1 teacher Alison Burns, who has a class of 13 deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
Burns' students already learn sign language and were able to share their skills with their mainstream peers. All the children -- about 35 total -- sang and signed throughout the holiday medley, reaching a crescendo at the end of "Jingle Bells" as they shouted "in a one-horse open sleigh."
"For them, it's really good to be around all that life," Merrill Gardens at Vallejo Active Living Director Denise Flowerday said of the nearly 50 seniors who watched Tuesday's performance. "And they're full of life, too."
Several seniors said they enjoyed the program, which ended with the students dispersing throughout the crowd delivering handmade Christmas cards.
"Kids are always cute," said one woman.
Many parents and relatives came to watch the children, including Bobby Holland, whose 6-year-old niece performed.
"It was pretty amazing. I'm proud of her," Holland said.
Pennycook first-grade teacher Patti Whitehill said her general education students were very excited about learning sign language and singing for the seniors. Burns and Whitehill agreed the project not only enhanced their students' communication skills but also fostered a sense of kinship and concern among them.
The mainstream students now watch out for their deaf and hard- of-hearing friends on the playground, the teachers said.
Shylo Amador, 26, said Pennycook's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program has had a major positive impact on her daughter's life.
"She's blossomed," Amador said of 6-year-old Anabel as the first-grader signed passionately in a conversation with two other giggling students.
The Merrill Gardens staff also presented 16 quarts of pennies to the students to help with a drive to raise money for the Christian Help Center and a battered women's shelter. Pennycook students Olivia and Kalani Taitano spearheaded the effort.
There was a song about a poor meatball that rolled under a bush. And another about a reindeer with a shiny nose. The singers even pleaded for the snow to continue to fall and warned that Santa Claus is coming to town.
Pennycook Elementary School kindergarten children and first-graders brought a bit of holiday cheer to Merrill Gardens at Vallejo on Tuesday, using their voices and newly acquired sign language skills for a medley of seasonal tunes.
"The innocence is beautiful," said one man as he watched the tiny singers perform.
For the past few months, kindergarten and first-grade students from Pennycook's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program have joined with their mainstream peers for some cross training in communication.
"It has really broadened everyone's horizons," said Pennycook K-1 teacher Alison Burns, who has a class of 13 deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
Burns' students already learn sign language and were able to share their skills with their mainstream peers. All the children -- about 35 total -- sang and signed throughout the holiday medley, reaching a crescendo at the end of "Jingle Bells" as they shouted "in a one-horse open sleigh."
"For them, it's really good to be around all that life," Merrill Gardens at Vallejo Active Living Director Denise Flowerday said of the nearly 50 seniors who watched Tuesday's performance. "And they're full of life, too."
Several seniors said they enjoyed the program, which ended with the students dispersing throughout the crowd delivering handmade Christmas cards.
"Kids are always cute," said one woman.
Many parents and relatives came to watch the children, including Bobby Holland, whose 6-year-old niece performed.
"It was pretty amazing. I'm proud of her," Holland said.
Pennycook first-grade teacher Patti Whitehill said her general education students were very excited about learning sign language and singing for the seniors. Burns and Whitehill agreed the project not only enhanced their students' communication skills but also fostered a sense of kinship and concern among them.
The mainstream students now watch out for their deaf and hard- of-hearing friends on the playground, the teachers said.
Shylo Amador, 26, said Pennycook's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program has had a major positive impact on her daughter's life.
"She's blossomed," Amador said of 6-year-old Anabel as the first-grader signed passionately in a conversation with two other giggling students.
The Merrill Gardens staff also presented 16 quarts of pennies to the students to help with a drive to raise money for the Christian Help Center and a battered women's shelter. Pennycook students Olivia and Kalani Taitano spearheaded the effort.