September 11, 2011

It seems like yesterday that I was enjoying a beautiful morning preparing for an evening Board of Education meeting when an alert message flashed across my monitor stating that a plane had struck one of the World Trade Center Towers. I remember rushing across the parking lot to Lakeview to check the television in the custodial room. As I arrived the second plane struck and I was sure that we were under attack. I remember vividly the feeling of fear, anger and helplessness as we watched the news. Decisions needed to be made immediately regarding the security of our buildings and property as we doubled checked doors and patrolled the grounds looking up at the empty skies. We quickly decided that the events of that morning would be frightening to our students and disruptive to the school day. We quietly notified staff of the situation and agreed that we would make no mention of the events to our students intending to keep the day as normal as possible but not allowing the students outside for recess on the advice of the DuPage ROE and local police. Phone messages were sent home to parents stating that the students were safe and in good hands and would not be told of the horrible events of the morning so that each family could deal with this as they felt best. The events of the day until the children left all buildings flew by and many of us were struck hard in the heart when the children left and we were able to begin to try and process the events of the day. We closed up the buildings early that day and sent our people home to be with family and friends in the hope that we would gather renewed hope and strength from the company of family and friends. I remember sitting in my family room full of teachers, friends and family watching the never ending flow of news about the events of the day. Everyone sought answers to questions about the day but we all knew that life as we knew it had changed forever.

Since most of our students have no recollection of this momentous day we are trying to share reflections and remembrances from ten years ago so that they may have some understanding of this day and the changes it has made on us personally and as a country. I hope that you will have time to share your remembrances with your family this weekend.

Hold on to those close to you and let us be thankful for the lives we share.