PENFIELD, N.Y. — School music class during the COVID-19 pandemic has been anything but ordinary. Music teachers are finding ways to connect with kids and perform. St. Joseph’s School in Penfield is preparing for a special musical end-of-school-year-sendoff.

What You Need To Know

  • St. Joseph School in Penfield has 246 students grades pre-k to 6

  • The mission of St. Joseph School is to serve God by providing a challenging academic education integrated with Catholic values and morals

  • Students are busy rehearsing a Louis Armstrong song using American Sign Language

From opera to rhythm to jazz, first-year music teacher and professional musician Linda Wojciechowski is sharing her knowledge and love of music with every one of the 264 St. Joseph’s students in pre-k through sixth grade. Students studied a different composer each month. They are learning all about jazz right now, and are busy rehearsing a Louis Armstrong song using American Sign Language.

“This project grew out of a unit on jazz," said Wojciechowski. "We watched and listened to a video of Louis Armstrong singing 'What a Wonderful World.' And it occurred to me that because it’s the right pace and the tempo is right, I thought the children know this. And it’s used in a lot of movies and things that they’re familiar with. So I thought OK, we could maybe make this work for sign language. We can perform chorally if you will and so they were very excited about it."

Students will share the ASL song performance at St. Joseph’s "Moving-Up Ceremony" and they couldn’t be more proud.

“I think we all really know how important it is to have people see us if they can’t hear. It was really fun to learn,” said Scarlett Speranza, St. Joseph’s third grader.

St. Joseph's last day of school is June 23.