STSJP Celebrates World Down Syndrome Day

"Penelope Visits for World Down Syndrome Day"

Students and teachers wore crazy, mismatched socks as well as blue and yellow clothes on Monday, March 21 in recognition of World Down Syndrome Day. The recognition date of 3-21 was set because a person with Down syndrome has 3 copies of the 21st chromosome.

To help the Preschool through second-grade students better understand Down syndrome, STSJP parent Sandy Estep and her daughter Penelope visited each classroom; Mrs. Estep read the book 47 Strings: Tessa’s Special Code to each class. Penelope, who was born with
Down syndrome, enjoyed playing with the students in each class as well.

Her brother Henry is in third grade, and her brother Sam is in Pre-K. Sam was glad to have his mom and sister visit the classroom. “She did a lot of cute stuff,” he said of his younger sister. “She had the Legos and played with them.”

Shaun, a second grader, enjoyed having Penelope visit his classroom as well. He said he learned that sometimes people with Down syndrome “learn stuff slower, but they can still learn it.”

First-grader Allie said, “I think Penelope was really cute and she’s really nice.”