What is 3/21?

 

What is 3/21 you ask. 

Every year on March 21, people all around the world come together to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day by wearing brightly colored, mismatched socks. March 21 is symbolic because people with Down syndrome have 3 copies of their 21st chromosome. 

Together we can create a single global voice advocating for the rights, inclusion, and well-being of people with Down Syndrome in our community and around the world. Socks were chosen because the shape of DS chromosomes actually looks like mismatched socks! 

To celebrate this day ASA has gone all out with their crazy socks! A thankyou to all who wore them. The support ASA has for inclusion is amazing, and this is just the beginning! 

Below is a prayer for those with Downs Syndrome: 

St. Robert Bellarmine A patron Saint for individuals with Down Syndrome 

The mission of the St. Robert Bellarmine Apostolate is to support and strengthen individuals with Down Syndrome, their families and their caregivers through prayer. We entrust the St. Robert Bellarmine Apostolate to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus! 

The members of the Apostolate live out this mission by: 

● Praying certain intercessory prayers to St. Robert Bellarmine to increase devotion to this Saint as a patron for individuals with Down Syndrome. 

● Praying the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for individuals with Down Syndrome, their families and caregivers on the Sunday before or after his feast day (September 17). 

● Encouraging Catholic parents to join or to form a MOMs+DADs (Mother of Mercy spiritual Divine Advocate for Down Syndrome) prayer/support group at their local parishes

St Patrick and Ireland

 

The preschoolers love learning about St. Patrick. He was  one of God’s special helpers who went around Ireland teaching of God’s Glory.  St. Patrick  used the shamrock to teach about The Holy Trinity. The  leaves represent God The Father, God The Son and God the Holy Spirit-Three in One.

We heard that a lot of potatoes are grown in Ireland so we used potatoes for March Math. We had fun observing, measuring and weighing potatoes.

We also read a lot about those silly Leprechauns that come over from Ireland once a year on St. Patrick’s Day. Many of the LC classrooms start out the month of March engineering and building a trap in hopes of capturing a Leprechaun and getting his pot of Gold. We had no luck again this year but the Leprechauns shared a lot of gold with us!

2nd grade visits the Grand Rapids Public Museum

 On March 5, the second graders had the opportunity to go to the Grand Rapids Public Museum on a field trip. The students first started out at the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium.  Our presenter told them all about the upcoming eclipse and then we watched a show on meteorites and asteroids called: Incoming!  From there we were able to explore the museum for a bit with our parent chaperones.  

After that, we all came back together and had a tour of The Streets of Grand Rapids.  Our presenter took us through a re-creation of Grand Rapids in the 1890’s.  They were able to tour the department store, the drug store, and the print shop.  At each stop our guide would teach them about the place and show them artifacts from the era. We had a great morning visiting the Grand Rapids Public Museum!