Students in grades 6–8 at Christ the Teacher Catholic School recently gathered to remember and honor the lives forever impacted by Sept. 11, 2001. As the nation marks the 25th anniversary of that tragic day, CTTCS used the occasion not only to remember history, but also to help students understand the importance of faith, service, leadership and community.
The day began with a special Mass celebrated by Father Ed Ogden, with students and faculty reflecting on the events of Sept. 11 and the themes of remembrance, hope and healing. The Mass provided students with an opportunity to pause from the pace of the school day and consider the profound impact that Sept. 11 continues to have on our nation and on individuals and families around the world.
Following Mass, the students gathered with the CTTCS community for a special Sept. 11 remembrance service at the school’s flagpole. The program included reflections on the events of Sept. 11, prayer, recognition of those who lost their lives, those who served and those whose lives were forever changed. Students also participated in a symbolic tribute to those we remember.
A particularly meaningful part of the day was the leadership demonstrated by the school’s eighth-grade students. The eighth graders helped lead the remembrance service, giving them the opportunity to take ownership of an important moment in the life of their school community. Their leadership reflected one of the core goals of a Catholic education: preparing young people not only to understand the world around them, but to make a positive difference within it.
“Dates don’t make history—people do,” said CTTCS Principal Joseph S. Rodia. “September 11 is an important date in our nation’s history, but what makes that history meaningful are the people who responded with courage, compassion, service and sacrifice. Our responsibility is to remember them and to challenge our students to carry those qualities forward.”
For many of today’s students, Sept. 11 is a historical event they know only through stories, photographs and lessons in the classroom. Few, if any, were alive when the attacks occurred. CTTCS believes that teaching students about events like Sept. 11 is not simply about remembering the past, Rodia said. He said it is about helping students understand how history shapes who we are and, more importantly, how their own choices can shape the future.
The Sept. 11 remembrance also provided an opportunity for the CTTCS community to live out its commitment to educating “Saints and Scholars.” Through prayer, reflection, student leadership, and service, students were reminded that being a good student and a good citizen involves more than academic achievement. It involves recognizing the needs of others, serving with compassion, honoring those who came before us and having the courage to make a difference.
“Our community is special for many reasons,” Rodia said. “Days like today remind us of the strength that comes from coming together. We remember, we honor and then we ask ourselves what we are going to do with what we have learned.”
As the CTTCS community reflected on Sept. 11, students were encouraged to take the lessons of the day beyond the school grounds—to be people who serve, lead, encourage, and stand up for others.
The message to students was simple, Rodia said: Remember the past. Honor those who served and sacrificed. And then, go make a difference.
AJUDANZEUS SLOT