Lakota East and St. Rita's students unite for Olympic-inspired ASL games

Students from Lakota East High School and St. Rita's School for the Deaf met for Olympic-inspired team games to practice American Sign Language and build connections; the schools' partnership began in 2023 and includes Lakota East and West.

Students from Lakota East High School and St. Rita's School for the Deaf met for a day of Olympic-inspired American Sign Language games. The gathering was designed to give students real-world ASL practice and to foster camaraderie. The partnership between St. Rita's and Lakota East (which also includes Lakota West) began in 2023. It creates recurring opportunities for students to connect and learn from one another. Key details: - The event used team-based "Minute to Win It" style challenges created to represent different Olympic events, as explained by ASL teacher Jessica Garrett. - Participants were 10th through 12th graders from both schools working in mixed teams to practice ASL while competing. - Lakota East senior Liani Tirado-Crespo said she learned ASL to break down communication barriers and noted cultural practices such as the importance of eye contact. - St. Rita's student Malia Brandt said, "Our ears might not work, but we're the same," highlighting shared experiences between deaf and hearing students. - The partnership has Lakota East and West taking turns meeting with St. Rita's students to provide ongoing interaction. Summary: The activities reinforced ASL practice and peer connections among students and provided a setting for cultural exchange. The partnership began in 2023 and continues as Lakota East and West alternate meetings with St. Rita's students. Undetermined at this time.