Aaron Smith, first class at St Ernan’s NS, presenting the funds raised to Bridget Smith (Aaron’s mother), for Down Syndrome Association Longford Westmeath, with Catherine Daly, school principal.

GALLERY: St Ernan’s ‘Rock Their Socks’ for Down Syndrome Association

Published: Thu 8 Oct 2020, 10:43 AM

Last updated: Thu 8 Oct 2020, 11:28 AM

St Ernan’s NS Celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Day on Friday September 25.

World Down Syndrome Day is a special day to create awareness and honour people who have the unique triplication of the 21st chromosome that results in Down Syndrome.

World Down Syndrome Day 2020 was on March 21 2020, and the St Ernan’s school community had planned to mark it then, but plans had to be put on hold when the school closed, due to Covid-19, on March 12.

On return to school in September the organisation of the school’s own Down Syndrome Day went ahead and the day was marked on Friday September 25.

Pupils and staff were asked to ‘Rock Their Socks’ for the Down Syndrome Association and there was a fabulous array of mismatched and brightly coloured socks on display.

The idea of using socks stems from the shapes of chromosomes being similar to socks and wearing mismatched, brightly coloured socks is to show that even if the socks look different they do the exact same thing as regular socks.

In advance of the day and on the day itself, the pupils learned about Down Syndrome from their teachers in order to raise their awareness and to give them a greater understanding of people with Down Syndrome.

Pupils were asked to make a contribution on the day and everyone received an ice-cream treat in the afternoon.

A total of €340 was raised for a very worthy cause and everyone is thanked sincerely for their generosity.

On Friday last the cheque was presented to Bridget Smith, on behalf of Down Syndrome Association Longford Westmeath, by her son Aaron who is a pupil in first class at St Ernan’s NS.