Last week provided a fantastic new experience for these 8 students who came from Southland and Hawkes Bay and were accommodated at the van Asch residence. They enjoyed themselves and learnt so much over the full five days.

On Tuesday they learnt some NZSL and explored Deaf Culture. The whole week was an immersion experience for them in terms of a Deaf cultural approach.

On Wednesday and Thursday mornings we drove to Wharenui to connect with other Deaf kids and to focus on several leadership and communication activities. We created artwork to represent NZSL.

After the visits at Wharenui we went to Ferrymead Heritage Park and to Clip and Climb. We had so much fun as we stepped back into the 1900s and it was amazing to see how teachers treated us then and compare this to now. It was almost unbelievable and really impacted us considering how different it is today.

Clip and Climb was a full of one-hour fitness experience, where we stopped by on our way from Wharenui back to van Asch. During after school activities, they connected with van Asch Deaf students and enjoyed a BBQ together, played in the gym and went on trips to the city, Margaret Mahy etc.

Check out the cool photos.

For further information about Immersion Hui in 2020: Maori Deaf, NZSL and Deaf Culture and Transition courses please contact Nirvana at nirvana.graham@deafeducation.nz