By Sara Ballenger

Photo by Monique Schoenfeld, Town Crier

Almond School

“The teachers are doing many things in their classrooms to support (the victims of) what has happened, from grade level appropriate discussions to singing,” said Principal Jeff Baier. “The sixth-graders made and are selling red, white and blue ribbons. They made over $1,000, which they will be sending to the New York City schools for children affected by the tragedy.” The donation will be sent to the World Trade Center School Relief Fund. Students will also write letters to students in Manhattan schools, Baier said.

Bullis-Purissima

“Sixth-grade teacher Tina Rogers organized a sixth-grade bake sale,” said fellow sixth-grade teacher Judy Jorgenson. “The whole school participated by purchasing bake sale items. It became the school event.” Students raised a total of $1,116, which will be donated to the Red Cross for the National Disaster Relief Fund in New York, said Deepa Arora, public relations manager of the Palo Alto Area Red Cross.

Loyola School

Students have been contributing to the school’s annual “Spare Change Drive,” the proceeds of which will most likely go to the World Trade Center School Relief Fund, said Linda Eckols, principal.

A donation booth will be set up at the school’s annual Walk-a-thon, scheduled 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oct. 13. The Parent Teachers Association will send in the donation after the Walk-a-thon, Eckols said.

Oak School

“We have chosen to donate to the Widows and Children’s Fund in care of the New York City Uniformed Firefighters Association,” said Principal Leslie Crane. Students of all grade levels can also participate in a letter-writing campaign to the T Bolts, a squadron of Marine fighter pilots stationed on the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt.

“There are 85 marines in the T Bolt Pen Pal Program so far,” Crane said. “There are over 220 people in the squadron so there is potential for more participants.”

Santa Rita School

“At our Back to School Picnic on Sept. 20, we raised just over $1,500, which will be going to the Red Cross, said Steve Peck, principal. “It wasn’t just parents writing checks,” he said. “Kids wanted to do this as well.” First-graders started the Friday assembly that week by singing patriotic songs.

Springer School

“We had our family picnic scheduled on the 20th, and one of the parents organized a ‘Bring Your Own Change drive,’” said Connie Ingram, school secretary. “We raised over $500 which has been donated to the American Red Cross. A schoolwide assembly was held on Sept. 14, where Principal Bob Celeste talked to students about the tragedy,” said Ingram.

Blach Intermediate School

“In terms of fund-raising we are doing something very simple and direct,” said Arthur Harris, principal. “We are collecting money through the homerooms and are hoping to write a check by this week.” Like all of the schools in the area, the focus has been on making the kids feel safe and secure in their environment, Harris added.

Egan Junior High School

“The entire student body voted to send $500 of the profits from the student store which will be donated to the Red Cross,” said Brenda Dyckman, principal. “Seventh-grade world history classes are studying Islamic culture and had guest speakers from the Islamic Speakers Bureau.” The guest speakers were also available to talk with eighth-grade students. Teachers were given an informational sheet about Islam, muslims and the Middle East so they can answer students’ questions accurately, Dyckman added.

Los Altos High School

A tree will be planted in the quad dedicated to the victims of Sept. 11, said Principal George Perez. Students wore red, white and blue ribbons in remembrance and the Red Cross New York Relief Fund donation containers are in all classrooms, Perez added.

Mountain View High School

Some have emptied their piggy banks while others have held bake sales, observed moments of silence and sold red, white and blue ribbons. Los Altos students from kindergarten through high school have heeded the call to help the victims of the Sept. 11 disaster and their families.

“Giving back makes people feel they are being an active contributing member of society, making the best of, in this case, a terrible situation,” said Richard Wing, a Palo Alto Area Red Cross mental health professional volunteer in disaster relief services. “I think it is one positive manner which helps release the anxieties and tensions we may be feeling.”

Schools in the Los Altos and Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District have responded in a variety of ways.

“On the day that it happened we allowed students to watch current events as they evolved on TV as they got to school,” said Donna Peltz, assistant principal. “Students planned a back-to-school dance on the 14th, but rescheduled it for the following Friday and held a candlelight vigil on the 14th.” Students signed a banner expressing their feelings about the tragedy which was sent to New York City, Peltz added. Proceeds from the back-to-school dance of over $1,000, were donated to the New York firefighters.