Hyde Park Public School students dressed in blue lined up to receive Persians topped with blue sugar on Monday as they rallied around a schoolmate they understood a little bit better.
Five-year-old Zoey McDonald pushed her way to the front of the school assembly in her Mustang walker and waved.
‘Hello’ is among a few hand signals McDonald can communicate.
She was born with Angelman’s Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects only two known children in Thunder Bay. McDonald is non-verbal and experiences challenges controlling her limb movement.
Hyde Park raised $400 for the Canadian Angelman Syndrome Society from its Persian sales last year. This year, Vice-principal Shannon Jessiman-MacArthur estimated fundraising might have doubled that.
Jessiman-MacArthur organized the assembly for her students, complete with an explanation of Angelman’s Syndrome and a song about diversity and inclusivity.
“I think it’s important as we have students with varying abilities coming into our schools that we recognize we aren’t all the same,” she said. “We all need different things to learn the best way and we as a school are going to work hard to make that happen.”
McDonald’s mother has been at the core of fundraising and awareness efforts for her daughter’s condition.
While some of those living with the syndrome sleep only four hours each night, her daughter sleeps more than eight. Where some can walk at two or three years old, McDonald could be walking by 10.
Amanda MacDonald has seen progress in her daughter’s motor skills and is teaching her to communicate her desires for food and water.
“The school has been very supportive of Zoey with her syndrome and doing different fundraisers,” she said.
“It’s very rewarding to have a great support system here at the school and to know that Zoey is so loved. Watching all the kids with her is just amazing. Having the assembly and the song that they had was very heart-warming.”
