By Sara Ballenger

LAC students write to peers near ground zero in NYC

Don Parker’s third-grade class at Los Altos Christian School (LACS) has been learning how to write letters. While the students learn about the structure of letter writing, it’s what they are saying in their letters that has become most important.

Students are writing letters to Heidi Fernandez’s third-grade class at Public School 126 in New York City, which is just a few blocks away from ground zero. Fernandez, a 1989 graduate of Los Altos Christian School, witnessed the tragedy with her students. The school closed for four days, but no students were injured.

“We have come full circle,” said Susan Torode, LACS principal.. “That we could see a student that we had the privilege of educating do such a magnificent job during this crisis, to emotionally, physically and spiritually meet the needs of these students during this time is wonderful.”

The idea came from two of Parker’s students, Sarah and Emily Blaha.

“Her parents are good friends of ours,” said Martha Blaha, Emily and Sarah’s mother. “The school is two fold in its goals with both an academic and spiritual emphasis. We teach the children to look beyond their own back yard and they came up with the idea for a class project.”

Parker, who is also trained in grief counseling, agreed to the project and the letter writing began.

“In third grade, they are just learning those writing skills,” Parker said. “There is so much to teach in order to bring a child to the point where they can write a letter.”

Once the students learned how to write letters, they focused on what they would write.

“We talked about some of the things we wanted to discuss (in their letters),” Parker said. “Then I gave them the freedom to write. The essence of what the kids wrote revolved around ‘How can we help?’”

Many of the letters students wrote to Fernandez’s class expressed concern for her class and their loved ones.

“We want you to know how much we love you,” said Natilee Ruiz in her letter. “This is a sad time and we hope you will be comforted. Every time we think of you, we know how sad you are.”

Fernandez and her students were excited to receive their letters from Los Altos Christian School.

“Our students are ecstatic over the letters and pictures,” she said. “They are fascinated to think that kids so far away from New York City are reaching out to them.”

Many of Fernandez’s students expressed their gratitude in their return letters to Parker’s class.

“I am so glad that you are concerned about our school,” said one letter by Sabrina Morales. “Now when we go to school, it is like any other day, except the tragedy is affecting some of the kids.”

Students also relayed personal feelings and experiences.

“Man! The World Trade Center fell,” said Henry Lee’s letter. “I saw the second tower fall. The towers were close. I feel like I was sad. I have never seen anything like this.”

Though now living on the East Coast, Fernandez has not forgotten her Los Altos roots.

“I am extremely touched to receive letters from the elementary school that I was a student at,” Fernandez said. “We had such a heartwarming response from schools across the country. It has proven to us how connected we all really are.”