Middle School Collects For Rescuers In New York City

By Tanjua Damon

Newtown Middle School students have collected enough supplies to fill the length of the wall outside the school’s guidance department to support the rescuers in New York City.

Eighth grade students in cluster 8C organized the collection, that quickly spread throughout the school. Students wanted to help in some way with the tragic events that struck America on September 11. Water, Power Bars, cereal bars, and juices were collected for the Salvation Army and AmeriCare.

“They wanted to help out the people who are looking for survivors,” teacher John Girard said. “It’s great because they all learn to help out, learn about humanity, and work well together.”

Newtown Middle School Principal Diane Sherlock was glad to see the school community respond so positively.

“I think when, especially when you work with middle school students, there is a tragedy like this, they want to respond by doing something,” Mrs Sherlock said. “They see it as a way to take something absolutely awful and make something good out of it.”

The teachers and staff at the middle school have been keeping things as normal as possible, but at the same time listening and helping students grasp the situation teaching students that diversity is good.

“What we’re trying to do as a school is talk about how we can deal with getting along better with one another,” she said. “The challenge for us as a school is to learn to be good and kind to each other. Different is good. Everybody doesn’t have to be the same. In fact we don’t want them to be the same.”

Middle school students also made yellow and black ribbons to remember those who were lost and continuing hope for those missing and the families who have been directly affected by the tragedy.

“It think it’s been really gratifying to see,” Mrs Sherlock said. “We have got to learn to live together. For kids to learn not to stereotype. That’s another real societal danger. That’s why education is so important so students can learn to communicate, think and to reason.”