Alexandra Parrillo, a senior at Mt Olive HS is presented with her Girl Scout Gold Award certificate by Dr.
Robert Zywicki, Superintendent of Schools and the Board of Education. Parrillo’s project was to bring
American Sign Language to the district as a World Language and spread awareness and appreciation of
the deaf community and culture. Parrillo started the ASL club at MOHS and teaches a Sign Language
Storytime monthly at the library.
As part of her outreach, she has also been teaching at Tinc Rd School with Mrs. Darnesto’s classes for
three years. She presented her idea to the BOE last November. It was well-received, and they told her
they would consider her proposal for the high school. She provided a sample curriculum, cost of the
program, and shared her experiences learning ASL. In August, she earned her Gold Award, the highest
honor a Girl Scout can achieve. At the meeting on Dec. 17, she was informed that, indeed, ASL will be a
World Language. She is proud that she is part of this new change coming to the district.