PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER — The North Tama Preschool class poses for a group photo on Monday, Oct. 27, with their very first guest reader, Dr. McKenna Kvidera, back left, who read a story that morning about Down syndrome and inclusivity in celebration of her daughter, Addie Kvidera (back row–second from left).

TRAER — North Tama Preschool welcomed a special guest with a special message of inclusivity this past Monday as part of the program’s new initiative to bring community readers to the classroom: veterinarian and rural Traer resident McKenna Kvidera, also known as ‘Addie’s mom.’

“I’m doing something new in preschool this year … [bringing] guest readers to our classroom,” preschool teacher Jill Miller told the newspaper. “Especially people that the preschoolers might see when they are out and about.”

Dr. Kvidera was asked to launch the new initiative in tandem with World Down Syndrome Month as her three-year-old daughter Addison (Addie), a member of this year’s preschool class, has Down syndrome. Kvidera chose to read the 2021 book “You Are Enough: A Book About Inclusion” by author Margaret O’Hair. The colorful picture book was inspired by Sofia Sanchez, a young girl with Down syndrome.

As Kvidera took her place Monday morning in a chair facing the preschoolers seated on the circle time rug, Addie — flashing a grin so sweet it could have easily launched a thousand ships — took her place directly in front of her mother, ready for the story. Kvidera began by explaining how everyone is made of genes.

“These genes are inside of us and make up who we are,” she explained. “So it might give us brown hair; it could determine how tall we are; or the sound of our voice. People with Down syndrome have one extra gene, and this makes them a little extra special.” She went on to explain that even though people with Down syndrome are different in some ways, they are also just like everyone else in so many other ways.

“Kids with Down syndrome like to play outside. They like to sing and dance. They like to read books. They like to play with their friends. They like to be included, just like you guys all like to, too,” she said. “So I’m going to read this book called ‘You Are Enough’. It’s going to talk about how we can celebrate and include all of our friends, because everyone is enough just the way you are.”

As she neared the book’s conclusion, Kvidera read, “You have purpose. You aren’t perfect, but no one is. … You are enough, and your friend is enough. Your teacher and neighbors are enough, too. Remember that we all belong.”

Miller is hoping to welcome more community helpers to her inclusive classroom in the weeks and months ahead to share a story and, ideally, a short coordinating activity with the students. Those interested in being a preschool guest reader are asked to contact Miller at jill.miller@n-tama.k12.ia.us for more information.

In a recent op-ed published in this newspaper, Dr. Kvidera wrote about World Down Syndrome Month and the ways in which young children quite often display the best of who we are as people without even thinking about it.

“Sometimes, adults can learn from our kids,” she wrote. “I’ve seen countless moments where children lend a hand to Addie, helping her up the stairs or reminding her to stay seated at the table.

“Inclusion can be simple, and for kids, it often comes naturally.”