Annuziata School in Ladue celebrates 25 years of serving special-needs students

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Judy Chiodini, a teacher at Annunziata School in Ladue, worked with Nora Baker on a spelling exercise Feb. 1. The school is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a special-needs school. Annunziata provides a complete-school experience for elementary students with attention disabilities who require small classes to succeed. The students were allowed to dress out of uniform for Catholic Schools Week.

There was a momentary hush when school principal Gerre Book dropped in during a spelling class at Annunziata School. A few seconds later, one student introduced herself and her classmates. Some of the students were playing games on the floor, and none of them were in their seats. But Book, dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans, was not there to scold them.

"Awesome job, Mary!" she told her, before explaining that one year ago, the student would likely have hid behind a desk. "I love hearing about the little milestones they reach," Book later said.