Most high school students are eager to learn any new mode of communication and students in Red Bank Catholic High School are no exception. They have a unique opportunity to learn that not all communication requires the latest technology or smart phone.

More than 150 students and teachers have taken a course in American Sign Language since it was introduced in the school in 2005. The course is taught weekly by certified instructor, Mary Guenther.

Guenther said she became interested in sign language while serving as a Jesuit volunteer after college. She served as an aid to a young hearing impaired man.  Guenther recalled feeling sad that she couldn’t fully communicate with him and recognized the challenges he faced not being able to interact verbally.  The experience inspired her to seek a degree in ASL.

Guenther’s RBC students begin the class with the study of American Sign Language, an exploration of deaf culture and basic sign language skills.  They move on to signing in sentences and practice with activities like role playing and scavenger hunts. 

Guenther explained, “I give them tasks such as finding out how many windows there are in the nurse’s office. I go with them to make sure they only sign to each other.”  The students then take advantage of their downtown location as they hone their skills by visiting local retailers and interacting with each other in public settings. 

Guenther emphasized that the trips are important because “the students experience what it is like to have adults, not children, staring at you.”

Red Bank Catholic principal, Bob Abatemarco said he believes these experiences, “educate both the hearts and the minds. These experiences may trigger a recognition of how a disability alters someone’s experience in the world.  This knowledge plants the seeds of awareness and compassion.”

RBC ASL students use their skills at special Masses and graduation.

Senior Andie Gardiulo has been in the program for three years. She explained that she took the course because she “had a great uncle who was deaf. “

“My Dad knew some signs from him and now we practice signing to each other,” Gardiulo said. “I plan to go into the medical field so I think knowing ASL will be useful.” 

The course gives students not only an intermediate level of fluency in ASL but more importantly, an awareness of some of the challenges people with disabilities face, Guenther stated.