The students and staff at an elementary school in the US state of Maine have started learning sign language to help welcome a new deaf student.
The Dayton Consolidated School welcomed Morey Belanger, 6, to the classroom with a singing Cinderella character actor who performed using American Sign Language.
The Daily Mail reports that Morey is the first deaf student to attend the primary school. Teachers wanted to educate the rest of the school's 140 students on sign language so Morey could easily fit in with the rest of her peers.
School principal Kimberly Sampietro told CNN that the little girl has taught the school so much without even realising.
"She has brought a culture to our building that we didn't have before," Sampietro said.
Teachers have posted signs around the building showing students the sign language for different common things, reports the Daily Mail.
Morey has also taken it upon herself to show her classmates some sign language, reportedly showing students how to learn the alphabet.
The school have also implemented a hearing assistive system and have incorporated sign language into each classroom. Many teachers have taken the initiative to educate themselves on sign language and special education.
"The kids have really embraced her. They look up to her," said Sampietro.
Newshub.
