“Dear Santa, This year I want...”  

Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students from Shallowford Falls Elementary School and Still Elementary School recently had the opportunity to share what they want with the jolly visitor from the North Pole. Thanks to student volunteers from North Cobb High School, the Signing Santa learned about the young learners’ holiday wishes using American Sign Language.   

This was the second year the North Cobb American Sign Language (ASL) Club hosted the Signing Santa event for elementary students.  

This event provides the elementary students and the ASL students the opportunity to interact with each other and provides Equal Access to Language with ASL. From Candy Cane toss to crafts and cookie decorating, the students engaged with multiple events beyond the Signing Santa and pizza. 

The holiday event allowed the high school volunteers to use their ASL with others, including the young students, staff, teachers, and interpreters. Engaging with the young DHH students helped the upperclassmen understand the different types of resources DHH students use to assist them, such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and Baha, FM systems.  

According to one North Cobb teacher, this event leaves everyone with memories that could last a lifetime.