On March 21 Northeast Elementary School participated in World Down Syndrome Day. This global awareness day has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012, designated on the 21st day of the 3rd month to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.
The school was treated to a presentation in the morning centered around 5th grader Gianluca “Luca” Di Benedetto who has Down syndrome. His siblings, 3rd grader Max and sister Gabriella, an 8th grader at Glenfield Middle School, led the assembly which focused on helping classmates learn not only more about the characteristics of Down syndrome but to get to know Luca better. View the entire presentation
here.
"Dr. Putrino and his team did an incredible job welcoming our family to present to the school for World Down Syndrome Day and tell Luca's story directly to his peers," said dad, Nicolino Di Benedetto.
Students continued learning about Down syndrome throughout the day with classroom activities.
To read more about Luca and the Northeast presentation,
read the story in the Montclair Local and Principal Joseph Putrino’s
newsletter recapping the day.