September 11 Remembered in Local Schools

Each day Hanover Park students walk past a monument on the school campus that pays a tribute to two alumni who lost their lives on the tragic day of Sept. 11, 2001.

The names on the plaque surrounded by flowers and two bushes representing the twin towers, Capt. Robert Dolan '76 and Donald Delapenha '81, are going to be recognized by Principal Thomas Callanan in Tuesday morning's announcements to commemorate 9/11's 11th anniversary.

Dolan, a Florham Park native, was a 43-year-old Navy captain working on the first floor of the Pentagon as the head of the Strategy and Concepts Branch during the attacks, and is described by his wife as "the best and the brightest this country had to offer to the altar of freedom."

Delapenha, 37, also born and raised in Florham Park, was living in Allendale at the time he was working in the World Trade Center as the vice president of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods.

While students take a moment of silence to remember the two men who once walked in their own footsteps, they will also honor all of the other lives lost during the terrorist attacks on that day over a decade ago.

Callanan said he will also give a brief history about the events that took place on 9/11 in his morning announcement before the moment of silence.

Some of the classes at will incorporate 9/11 in their lessons for Tuesday, Callanan said. One of the U.S. History classes will have a silent discussion where students will write phrases, key words and short sentences on a diagram to show what comes to mind when they think of Sept. 11, 2001.

"We try to be sensitive but at the same time recognize that it's an important day to remember and to remember the tragedy and everybody who sacrificed their lives for the good of America," Callanan said.

Students from the East Hanover and Florham Park districts, comprised of kids who were either a few years old or weren't even born yet at the time of the attacks, are taking part in remembrance activities as well.

At the , the three schools will observe a moment of reflection and take part in different types of activities depending on the age and development level of the student.

District superintendent Dr. Joseph Ricca said that the kids at in grades Kindergarten through Grade 2 will be focusing on the community and the first responders, and the importance of their jobs on a daily basis.

At , the students will be focusing more on the historical aspects, and fifth graders will be reviewing a video done by Nickelodeon News.

"It's a good resource for the children to be able to learn about and understand the impact of the events that occurred, but at the same at an age appropriate level," Ricca said.

The students at will be participating in conversations in their classes, which Ricca said is critical for students to do in order to understand events like 9/11.

"It gives us an opportunity for children to talk to adults about what they know, what they think they know, and to have candid conversations in class about 9/11," Ricca said. "It's a really important part of the educational experience to allow the kids to talk about these topics in class with their teachers, and hopefully have a really reflective conversation."

Florham Park schools are participating in similar activities for the students who grew up in the 9/11 decade as well.

Principal Dr. Steven Caponegro said the school is having a moment of silence and teachers will prompt discussions with their students.

At , Principal Mark Majeski said the students are encouraged to wear red, white and blue. The school community will pledge allegiance to the flag outside and observe the 9/11 memorial at the school.

The teachers are also incorporating the new state approved 9/11 curriculum in their classes, Majeski said.

While the concept of 9/11 is hard for many adults to grasp, school administration and teachers are working to help the students in the East Hanover and Florham Park communities make some sense of the tragic events of 9/11.

"Teaching tolerance and understanding differences at all ages, especially starting in the younger grades, creates a value of civic duty and the importance of civic duty in students," Caponegro said.