Hawke’s Bay NZSL Deaf Hub is a group of 10 students aged between 7 and 15 who meet once a week at Ebbett Park School.

We come together to learn more about ourselves as deaf learners. Continuing to upskill in NZSL and participate in themed activities throughout each term such as learning about our New Zealand Native Birds and being able to create the bird using play-dough. Sharing with the group facts learnt about their chosen bird and having this video recorded to share with whanau. The retelling of the Gingerbread Man story both individually and in small groups, having fun mixing, baking and icing our gingerbread men. Using NZSL hand shapes and bodies in imaginative ways to show ‘It’s Not A Stick’ with a stick, from the book with the same title.

During Lockdown and for the rest of the term we met on zoom from our various homes or schools. We also have Nash who is 5.5 hours travel away from us, who enjoys catching up with his friends on zoom during our meetings and when we are all online.