School News
The joint Carol service of the School for the Deaf and the School for the Blind, Ratmalana was held at the Chapel of the Holy Child, Ratmalana on Monday 2nd December. The Rt. Rev. Diloraj Canagasabey, the Bishop of Colombo and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the schools graced the occasion.
The choirs of both schools led the worship, the Blind School choir leading the singing and the Deaf School Choir ‘signing’ all the songs. It was indeed a moving experience to those present to see and hear these differently able children expressing the joy of Christmas. The chapel was filled to capacity and so was the marquee on the chapel lawn.
The carol service was arranged by the Chaplain, the Revd. Jayanath Panditharatne. The first lesson was read by three hearing impaired students, the result of speech therapy which is now an integral part of the education of hearing impaired children. The manner in which these three children read the Bible, in spite of their difficulties, at times pausing and fighting for words, to read God’s message moved many to tears. It was indeed a Bible reading with a difference. The congregation listened in rapt attention, even as these three children struggled to express themselves.
When the little children from Blind School attired in Red & Green dresses started to sing the ever popular Christmas Carols, little ones from the Deaf School, dressed in same the colours, stepped in to convey the message of the carols in sign language.
Even as the academic staff of the two schools were singing Christmas Carols, the tiny ones who were hearing impaired enacted the events of the birth of Baby Jesus in Bethlehem by performing the Nativity
The Carol service was followed by a Christmas sale where items designed and created by the hearing impaired students were on offer and showing how talented & gifted these children are.
Our thanks go out to all those teachers and others, who were involved in the training of the choirs and a number of volunteers who helped in many ways. A special word of thanks go out to Mrs. Susila Hensman who coordinated these efforts, to make it a very meaningful act of worship to celebrate Christmas.
The choirs of both schools led the worship, the Blind School choir leading the singing and the Deaf School Choir ‘signing’ all the songs. It was indeed a moving experience to those present to see and hear these differently able children expressing the joy of Christmas. The chapel was filled to capacity and so was the marquee on the chapel lawn.
The carol service was arranged by the Chaplain, the Revd. Jayanath Panditharatne. The first lesson was read by three hearing impaired students, the result of speech therapy which is now an integral part of the education of hearing impaired children. The manner in which these three children read the Bible, in spite of their difficulties, at times pausing and fighting for words, to read God’s message moved many to tears. It was indeed a Bible reading with a difference. The congregation listened in rapt attention, even as these three children struggled to express themselves.
When the little children from Blind School attired in Red & Green dresses started to sing the ever popular Christmas Carols, little ones from the Deaf School, dressed in same the colours, stepped in to convey the message of the carols in sign language.
Even as the academic staff of the two schools were singing Christmas Carols, the tiny ones who were hearing impaired enacted the events of the birth of Baby Jesus in Bethlehem by performing the Nativity
The Carol service was followed by a Christmas sale where items designed and created by the hearing impaired students were on offer and showing how talented & gifted these children are.
Our thanks go out to all those teachers and others, who were involved in the training of the choirs and a number of volunteers who helped in many ways. A special word of thanks go out to Mrs. Susila Hensman who coordinated these efforts, to make it a very meaningful act of worship to celebrate Christmas.
