American Sign Language presents each student with an embodied way to express thoughts, ideas, and emotion with movement and facial expressions. Sign Language connects concepts to signs; and challenges students to find pathways to communicate thoughts without spoken language. Each student at our school engages with curriculum, teachers, and each other through sign language.
A willingness to make mistakes with grace, patience, and gentle support between students is present in each sign language class. Rich in history and culturally diverse, ASL is both physically & cognitively engaging. Deaf history and culture are incorporated into the curriculum, challenging students to examine audism and become allies to the Deaf community.
Signs can be seen throughout the school, as students play and experiment outside of Sign Language class. Sign Language is seen throughout the year in assemblies, festival performances, and school plays. WHWS graduates have the opportunity to continue studying ASL as it is offered in all of our local high schools.