NHS Chorus Performance A Sign Of Affection And Honor

By Tanjua Damon

Amy Schermerhorn and her parents Regina and Dale had a connection Tuesday night at the Newtown High School Fall Choral Concert that could be felt throughout the entire auditorium.

Amy, a 14-year-old freshman, made her hearing impaired parents very proud as the chorus sang Love in Any Language with a very special twist.  The chorus, all dressed in white tops and black bottoms, moved their mouths in harmony and their hands and arms. They were signing the chorus of the song for Amy’s parents.

Four girls, Amy, Jen Badillo, Erica Carino, and Amy Doyle, stood out from the rest of their group and signed the entire song. Amy’s parents and her grandmother, Marilyn Schermerhorn, sat in the audience as the NHS chorus honored them with the song.

“We feel proud. It makes me happy, and I am very proud of her for teaching the class,” Mrs Schermerhorn said.

Amy’s father was also proud of his daughter for the challenge she took on to teach her class in only a month the appropriate movements to sign correctly.

“I am very, very proud. They haven’t done this in school before,” he said. “Now that they have done it, we are very happy.”

It was not an easy task for Amy, not because she felt she could not teach the group, but because she is shy and does not feel that comfortable in front of large crowds.

“I feel kind of nervous. I didn’t think I could do it,” said Amy, who is fluent in American Sign Language [ASL]. “I didn’t realize they would be good at it. They learn pretty fast.”

Mrs Schermerhorn was born deaf after her mother contracted measles during her pregnancy. Mr Schermerhorn got the measles was he was almost two years old and lost his hearing as a result. The two meet at the American School in Hartford. They have lived in Newtown for 13 years.

Amy’s parents were pleased that the teenagers took the time to learn their language and admit it is often difficult to communicate when people do not know sign language.

“It’s very hard because we can’t really understand people who hear,” Mrs Schermerhorn said. “We wish everyone could sign.”

Marilyn, Dale’s mother, helped take care of Amy and her older brother Dale, Jr, both of whom have normal hearing,  when they were little so they could be near someone who spoke.

“It’s hard. I used to be very fluent [in ASL]. I don’t really use it that much now that they don’t live near me,” Marilyn said. “But they are both very good lip readers.”

Chorus director Ann McNulty Ferraro said that in the beginning of the year she learned about Amy’s parents’ hearing impairment. She has always been interested in doing a song in sign language, but never knew anyone who knew how to sign.

“I just used it as a great opportunity for Amy to share her gift with us,” Mrs Ferraro said. “This has been just a remarkable experience. I’m very proud of Amy and the students and what they have done here tonight.”