Helping Kids Cope With Unknown

School after school touched by tragedy

By Jason Molinet | STAFF WRITER

September 15, 2001

Students often seek the spiritual advice of the Rev. James Williams, the 32-year-old president of Chaminade High School. But his office has never been filled with such empty hope or grief.

Williams had the grim task of comforting students who were touched by Tuesday's attack on the World Trade Center. Several students and faculty at Chaminade, an all-boys parochial school in Mineola, have been anxiously awaiting word on missing family and friends.

In some cases, their worst fears have been realized. Twenty-four students at the school of 1,600 know of family or friends who have not come home since Tuesday, including one father and one uncle already confirmed dead.

"My day has been spent in dialogue with different students, and I've put in a lot of time and energy dealing with this tragedy," Williams said. "I have an advantage over my public-school counterparts. I can talk about God. It's part of the fabric of our education."

It's the second tragedy to confront the school in the past year. One student and teacher died July 8, 2000, when their van crashed in Arizona during a trip to the Grand Canyon. The latest event has hit just as hard.

Students attended a Mass on Thursday morning and had a prayer service for the victims before lunch Friday. The school also has made contributions to the relief effort, collecting water, T-shirts, work gloves and toiletries.

"I tell the students who to turn to for answers," Williams said. "It's God."

At virtually every school across Long Island, there are students and staff who know of someone touched by Tuesday's attack. Like Chaminade, the four schools that make up the Manhasset school district have up to 24 students with missing family members.

"It's difficult to get a handle on this," Manhasset superintendent Lawrence Bozzomo said. "Almost everyone is holding out hope of something positive - that they might be found alive. We're monitoring the students and offering counseling. Quite frankly, we're keeping our eyes on the teachers as well."

The tragic events have had a crippling effect this week. After-school athletic events and activities at Long Island public schools have been suspended until Thursday to take into account the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah.

Some healing has already begun. President George W. Bush designated Friday as a national day of prayer, and the 10 schools of the Great Neck Union Free School District answered the call.

Each school had a student assembly or memorial service, according to superintendent William Shine, who attended a ceremony at Lakeville Elementary.

"We're talking 6-, 7-, 8-year-olds all holding hands and singing, 'We Shall Overcome,"' Shine said. "It was real touching. There was definitely an emotional reaction."

Shine was particularly moved by the compassion of one third-grade boy, who offered his life savings - $300 - for the relief effort.

"I'm sure we've just begun to find out about people who came through the school district," Shine said, "or have roots in this community."