By Arcadia Unified Digital Communications Interns Sofía Nagy and Bethany Chow Nearly 4.000 Arcadia High students and Arcadia Unified staff gathered at Salter Stadium for Arcadia High’s annual all-school assembly, which takes place annually on September 11. As in years past, members of the Arcadia Educational Foundation and Board of Education, the Mayor of Arcadia, and representatives from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Arcadia Fire Department, and Arcadia Police Department also joined in this annual tribute assembly, which is also the only time each school year that an all-school assembly is held . A moment of silence was observed, and the silence was deafening. Not one of the thousands in attendance made a sound, each standing in quiet solemnity and remembrance of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, and in honor of the innocent lives claimed that day and the bravery of the nation’s first-responders. Followed with further shows of patriotism, in addition to a performance of “Amazing Grace” on bagpipes by an Arcadia High student musician, the silence was relieved by the soothing voices of the AHS Chanteurs, who sang the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Arcadia High Associated Student Body (ASB) president Braden Wong provided an eloquent speech with a message centered on a Dr. Seuss quote: “To the world, you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.” He tied this in with the day’s significance by including the story of a 9/11 first-responder. “Keith Roma made the decision to go to the North tower not once, not twice, but four times to save lives,” said Wong. “On that day, one man and thousands of other first responders became the world for tens of thousands of people.” Arcadia High Principal Angela Dillman provided closing remarks for the all-school assembly and tribute. “We are all shaped by events and circumstances, some in our control and some beyond,” expressed Principal Dillman “What we do have control over is how we respond. If the students can still learn a lesson from 9/11, it’s to just think carefully how to respond and how to treat others because the way you come back from adversity is going to shape the person that you become.”
In a post-assembly interview with Arcadia Unified Superintendent Dr. David Vannasdall, Dr. Vannasdall shared, “I was a high school principal when the attacks first started in 2001, in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was a difficult day because we had 6.000 students [in the high school], and you’re trying to wrap your head around this while kids are looking to you for answers.” A tear slid down his cheek as he reflected on this memory. “I remember it as a day of mourning, of grieving the loss, and also trying to figure out what this meant for our future; however, I have to say that, quickly, that void of grieving and death was filled with community,” Vannasdall continued. “Good people come together and support each other. That’s why having this event every year is very special to me.” Executive Assistant to Dr. Vannasdall, Rachel Abeyta, was also present at the assembly and shared her recollection of the day. Abeyta was both a staff sergeant in the army reserves and an instructor for civil affairs on September 11, 2001. “I just want [everyone] to remember that freedom isn’t free,” she said with candor. “It’s important to me that we continue the tradition of holding an assembly because we should never forget our history. From our history, we can make improvements in the future.” The assembly’s end saw Arcadia High students and staff standing arm in arm as they sang Arcadia High’s alma mater. The Apache Pep Band provided the instrumentals as students and Pep Squad members let their voices reign loud in unity. “To the world, we are just one school, but to each other, we will always be Apaches, Wong said to all of his peers. “I’m not asking, you, one person, to change the world for everyone, but I'm asking you, everyone, to change the world for one person.”
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DCI Interns on the news writing team publish articles that are often published on local newspapers, such as Arcadia Patch and the Arcadia Weekly. The articles, ranging in subject, dive into the AUSD world and cover events, opportunities, news, and first-hand accounts of unique stories in the community.
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