20 Years Ago at Westchester

As a Westchester graduate who has returned as a staff member and parent, memories from my earlier years as a student are triggered almost daily walking around campus.

This past week I reflected on the events that happened 20 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001. Westchester faculty who were here that day -- yes, several are still around -- likewise shared vivid memories of where they were when they became aware of the tragedy unfolding. For me, a senior at the time, various aspects of how the school community responded illustrate the unique learning environment at Westchester and the special ways we care for one another, and that is what I remember having the greatest impact.

It was a Tuesday with the clearest blue sky. I was on an emotional high having just returned from our senior class backpacking trip with Outward Bound and feeling optimistic about making college plans. Mrs. Betty Flythe was teaching our AP Calculus class when Mrs. Susan Fagg peeked in and said, “A plane just flew into the World Trade Center.” The class speculated it must have been a small, private airplane -- it was probably an accident. Not having smartphones, laptops or a television in the classroom, we did not investigate. Class continued normally.

When class ended, I stayed at my desk for a few minutes and then walked out into the hall. It seemed that no one was around. The walkways were strangely empty and quiet as I moved toward Rives Hall. The only sound was the engine of a commercial plane flying very low overhead.

When I opened the door to Rives, the sound of the moving door was amplified by the absolute silence in the cafetorium, where a large crowd had gathered around a television. There was no movement, only shock on the faces of the dozens of students and teachers assembled. I knew at that moment something terrible had happened. I joined the crowd in watching the live news coverage.

My 17-year-old mind did not record many other details from the day, but I do remember feeling unsure yet safe on our campus because I was surrounded by caring and loving teachers, staff and friends. I remember that Mr. James Uhler, our 20th Century History teacher, had been prepared to teach a unit on Latin America, but he quickly pivoted us to a study on the Middle East, and he patiently fielded our many questions about al-Qaeda and U.S. foreign relations. I have always marveled at the flexibility he was allowed to tailor our learning at that moment. Turning current events into knowledge and application helped me process what was happening in our world and propelled me toward studying journalism and political science in college.

The significance of September 11 stuck with my class, which will celebrate our 20th reunion this year. We memorialized the day in our class gift, the sculpture in front of the Finch Center. It represents the four pillars -- moral, academic, artistic and athletic excellence -- found in our school mission and also commemorates the events of 9/11 and the impact it had on our community and world. May we continue to honor and remember the victims and heroes of that day as we live out our responsibility to care for one another and apply knowledge as global citizens.

I asked other faculty members to share their memories too, and they are presented below, edited for brevity and clarity. Four of them were on campus that day too. What a unique and special community we had then and continue to have today.

I'll never forget that day. I was teaching in the same classroom where I am now. My assistant asked to speak to me in the hallway. Upon hearing that the planes had crashed and it was intentional, I wanted to check on my daughter who was a senior. I walked to Rives Hall where a large group of students were watching the news on a TV. It was eerily quiet, and students were stunned beyond belief. My daughter and a few of her friends rushed to hug me with tears in their eyes. Our world had changed in a matter of minutes.

-- Rhonda Hunt, fourth-grade teacher

My memories of that day are quite vivid. I was having a normal day teaching kindergarten, when Pat Sams walked in and asked me quietly if I knew what was happening. We were very minimally connected to any media during the school day in 2001, and even less than most grades in kindergarten, so I had no idea. After taking a few moments to process what had just been shared with me, we started preparing for the parents who were rushing to school to pick up their children. I remember being struck by how calm and orderly everyone was in the midst of such a tragic day. We all worked together to maintain the safe, nurturing environment that we were accustomed to at Westchester. It was such a difficult day to live through, but I am forever grateful for our school community and how we got through it together. As always, we were a family.

-- Debbie Christiansen, pre-K teacher

I was in U.S. History class in college. A student came rushing into the classroom saying a plane had hit one of the twin towers. Our seasoned professor walked in and heard the news. We didn't have technology in classrooms at that time, so he walked us all down to the student commons to watch the news. I will never forget him saying, "YOU are watching history be made today." It brought home that all those things we were reading about in the textbook for U.S. History were real events that had happened to real people. 

-- Shelley Jennings, music teacher

I was in the middle of teaching a class when someone came in and said the towers had been hit. The only thing that went through my mind was how that had interrupted my lesson. Later, I regretted having that feeling considering the gravity of the situation. A math lesson disrupted versus the lives of many disrupted. I felt ashamed and selfish. We gathered as a Middle School community in the cafetorium to watch the news on TV. I recall it being hard for some students to see this as reality versus a fictional Hollywood movie. It took several days and weeks to process the tragedy. I will forever remember that day.

-- Debby Noyes, math teacher

I was in my office in the Cats’ Den listening to the "Murphy in the Morning Show" on 107.5 while putting together lesson plans when I heard the news of the first plane. I quickly headed up to the cafetorium and turned on the huge TV. At that moment, another plane hit the World Trade Center. I walked down the hall to let the administration know what I just saw, and within 10 minutes, Rives Hall was filled with students, teachers and administrators sitting in complete silence. I remember heading out to Hathaway Field later that morning to teach the middle school PE classes "line-soccer" on this absolutely picture-perfect day. The sky was so blue, and I vividly remember the planes flying extremely low to land at the Greensboro airport. We canceled all of our sporting events with O'Neal School that day. I remember going home to watch the news all afternoon. I remember speaking to relatives who lived in NYC to make sure they were safe that evening. I remember thinking that night before going to bed that the world will never be the same. I will never forget how the community at Westchester was there to help the students, faculty and families get through this incredibly tough time in American history.

-- Adam Schwartz, director of athletics

Westchester students continue to learn about September 11 in age-appropriate ways as a part of the social studies, character and community service aspects of the curriculum. Activities include reading books about first responders who were on the ground that day and making cards to show appreciation to local police and firefighters. In recent years, the school has celebrated Hometown Heroes, community members who are nominated by students and recognized at a C.A.R.E.S. Crews assembly. This year's Hometown Heroes will be honored on Oct. 5. Stay tuned for more on this upcoming program.

Laurie Hogan '02
Director of Communications and Marketing