West Jordan Middle School students, who weren’t alive when the 9/11 terrorist attack occurred, know September 11 as National Day of Service and Remembrance, a day for joining together as a community to strengthen one another.

“We are better when we’re united and 9/11 helped us learn that,” eighth-grader Claire Mathias said. 

West Jordan Middle School health teacher Kathy Howa spoke to her students about what happened on 9/11 and how it affected the people who lived through it.

“I told them that things like that happen, but we have to really learn how to step up for each other and help each other through these tragedies,” Howa said.

Eighth-grader Alison Johnson said the message she got from Howa’s lesson is that looking outside yourself to serve others is a good way to remember the 9/11 tragedy.

“It was a big deal,” she said. “It was scary. Lots of people lost their lives. It’s good to remember that. It doesn’t have to be just about us—it’s about everyone helping our community.”

All six of Howa’s health classes spent this Sept. 11 outside the classroom doing community service. They weeded and picked up garbage on the school grounds and then took their trash bags into nearby neighborhoods to clean up streets and yards. They also helped with cleaning tasks inside the school.

The service activities fit into the health curriculum by emphasizing the importance of having a social support system.

“Health isn’t just about you, but it can be about the environment,” eighth-grader Brylee Thompson said. “So this is about helping our community, not just about us, just helping out community.” 

Students also planted four trees, donated by Glover Nursery, in front of the school in memory of WJMS students who’ve lost their lives to accidents and illness. Howa said talking about tragedy is healthy for kids, because many knew or were even good friends with the students who passed away.

The week following Sept. 11, WJMS’s counseling department staff held Dare to Care Week to encourage students to continue to show up for each other with kindness, empathy and courage.

“We hope this week our students will learn that caring about one another can transform our school community,” WJMS Principal Raimee Jensen said. “This week is dedicated to helping students understand the importance of empathy, inclusion and the positive impact they can have
on others. “ 

Dare to Care Week included lunch time crafts and activities and a No One Sits Alone initiative to encourage students to make connections with others during lunch time. Students participated in discussions about mental health and resources, such as the SafeUT app, to help them to take care of themselves and others. 

WJMS also launched a Kindness E-Wall. Students and staff members post positive messages and memes, which are then shared with the student body on monitors throughout the school. The online space, run through YouUpLift.com and sponsored by Weber State University, will be used all year long to spread positivity among the student body.

“This is a great way for our students to post and see positive social messaging in the school and about the school and our community,” Jensen said. λ