New Zealand Sign Language has been a third official language in Aotearoa since 2006. To celebrate this, Deaf Aotearoa promotes NZSL Week in May every year.

This year at UHC, we put NZSL alphabet and greetings posters in every classroom, and Mrs Hall and Esther ran a workshop in the Library on Friday 12 May. 

Students learned to fingerspell their names, ask if someone was Deaf or hearing, and a few phrases about family and school life. 

They also learned about Deaf culture, such as how name signs are a taonga/gift given to a person, how to get attention (don't tap them on the shoulder from behind; come to the front and wave a little), and how to celebrate things without applauding (handwaves).