A Carlisle Catholic elementary school encourages its students to let their creative juices flow when it comes to its civvies day, and Triplet Day in November was no different.

On November 27, all Our Lady of Mount Carmel students were presented with the opportunity to team up with their classmates and coordinate their outfits. For the day, children had a blast pretending they were a twin, triplet, or even an octuplet.  

The idea for a special civvies day, noted principal Vito Colella, was born a few years ago when the Centre Road school had a set of twins in attendance. This year, Twin Day was upgraded to Triplet Day, as OLMC now boasts a set of three fraternal brothers.

Joseph, Thomas and Charlie Giammichele are currently enrolled in the split Junior and Senior Kindergarten class at OLMC. Although not identical, the Giammichele triplets look very much alike. And for the first weeks of school, many classmates just referred to each of the boys as “triplet.”

As the school year progressed and members of the school community got to know the boys, the Giammichele brothers’ unique personalities made it easier for their teacher, Meagan Levert, and educational assistants, Marie O’Hara and Geraldine Beckley, to tell them apart.

Born three weeks premature and weighing a combined total of less than six pounds, the Giammichele brothers are a joy in the classroom – and at home.

At first, Mary Giammichele had no clue she was pregnant with triplets. And when the ultrasound technician revealed the good news, the Carlisle mom-to-be was shocked. “I thought I was miscarrying,” said Giammichele. “I was just shocked.”

At birth, the Giammicheles’ boys were extremely tiny and, as a result of being premature, two of the three brothers are delayed. Charlie, the Giammichele couple’s firstborn, suffers from hydrocephalous as a result of a bleed in his brain when he was two days old. A shunt has been permanently put into place to help drain excess fluid.

Thomas, “the baldest one,” explained Giammichele, weighed only 1.5 pounds at birth. He has grown up to be the most active of the brood and suffers from speech delays.
Independent Joseph is very self-directed, noted his mom. He also plays the role of peacemaker with his siblings.

Key characteristics help educators at the Centre Road educational facility identify the Giammichele brothers. “We notice in the eyes,” said O’Hara, who works closely with Thomas.

Assisting Charlie throughout the day, Beckley supports the Junior Kindergarten student by offering verbal cues following the teacher’s instructions. “Just an added verbal cue sometimes is the extra that he needs,” said the educational assistant. At the start of the school year, the Giammichele family struggled with sending them to school early, wondering whether it would be best to hold the boys back one year.

“They were really premature,” said Giammichele. “We weren’t sure if they were ready.”

The boys, explained O’Hara, are very independent and have adapted well to the school setting.
OLMC has provided reassurance to the Giammicheles with regards to helping the boys in the classroom. “It is so comforting for me to know that they are not lost in the shuffle here because they are so little,” said Mary. “When I look at the work that comes home, it is amazing what they are doing.”

This year was a first for Levert to teach a set of triplets. She noted that she has not needed to adapt her teaching format to guide Thomas, Joseph and Charlie through the curriculum. She explained,

“You adapt for any child. You meet them, you get to know them and you see what they need.”

Although they are part of the youngest student group at OLMC, Thomas, Joseph and Charlie are well known amongst their peers – but soon they won’t be the only triplets to grace the hallways and classrooms at the Centre Road school. Next year, another set of multiples, the Salteri triplets, is slated to enter Junior Kindergarten at OLMC.

Seth, Matteo and Chiara visited their prospective classroom recently, where they had the opportunity to play and socialize with other Kindergarten students, including the Giammichele brothers. And their moms were quick to share their triplet tales.  

Carrie Salteri and her family recently moved to the Freelton area from Brampton. When Colella advised her that OLMC already boasted a set of triplets, she couldn’t believe it. “What are the chances in such a small community?” said Salteri. “I was thrilled.”

Quickly, Giammichele and Salteri bonded as they watched over their children playing in the classroom.

Unlike the Giammicheles, the Salteri family struggled with infertility for many years before they tackled their third – and final – in vitro fertilization treatment. “We wanted three to be put in,” said Salteri. “Sure enough, all three took.”

And with the good news of becoming parents to multiples, came the bad news of trading in their vehicle for a mini van. “My husband said the same thing,” said Giammichele. “He traded in his Jeep for a van.”