The Kiwanis Club of Waynesboro Foundation is partnering with Waynesboro Public Schools to create a welcoming environment for students, teachers and staff at Westwood Hills Elementary School, which is set to reopen next week, two weeks after a school shooting.
The Kiwanis Club is launching a fundraiser to provide new décor and replace items lost in the cleanup and remediation of the school following the Sept. 2 shooting.
“Kiwanis believes in bringing people together to make a difference for children,” said Samantha Bosserman, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Waynesboro. “We hope people from across our community and beyond will join us in creating something positive for the students and staff of Westwood Hills.”
From the archives
- Coverage of the Westwood Hills shooting: click here.
The school system reported in an update that went out on Friday to parents that many items from classrooms and hallways ended up being discarded during the post-shooting cleanup and remediation, “including many of the things teachers and staff used over the years to give classrooms, hallways, shared spaces and staff areas warmth, color, personality, and a sense of belonging.”
The school system has worked directly with Westwood Hills teachers and staff to identify and prioritize needs and provide oversight so resources are distributed thoughtfully and equitably, we learned in today’s update.
How to help
- Donate through the Kiwanis Club of Waynesboro Foundation’s Nonprofit GoFundMe Crisis Support Account: me/0cadfb5fb
- Email [email protected] for directions on sending a check.
Needs include furniture, bulletin board and display materials, visual elements, signage, storage and organizational solutions, learning-space enhancements, and other teacher- and staff-identified items that help make the school welcoming and functional.
“We want Westwood Hills to feel like Westwood Hills again — a place where students and staff feel comfortable, supported and ready to learn,” Assistant Superintendent Ryan Barber said. “We are grateful to everyone, near and far, who wants to help make that happen.”
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Chris Graham
