Letters to Marjory Stoneman Douglas students from LHHS students

There hasn’t been a school shooting at Lake Highlands High School, knock wood, but, in the aftermath of the shooting in Parkland, Florida, those survivors have been on the minds of LHHS kids. Wildcats have been following the students’ newfound activism on the news and online, according to LHHS teachers, and they’ve been buoyed by the way they’ve turned tragedy and victimization into a call to action.

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When Diane Wolk-Rogers, an AP World History teacher at Stoneman Douglas High, reached out via Facebook requesting handwritten letters of support to her students when they return to school, three LHHS teachers shared her invitation with their students. Young people in Tracey Bishkin, Emily Ramirez and Casey Boland’s AP classes jumped at the chance.

Dear AP Gov Student of MSD High School-

I can’t imagine what you are going through right now. What you and your classmates have endured is a tragedy that I will never understand. I admire your strength, comradery, and boldness. Speaking out against injustice that you have directly experienced is so brave, and so powerful.

One day people will look back on these events and remember the courage of the students, selflessness of heroic teachers, and the outstanding effectiveness of the voices of young people. You are an inspiration to our generation. You are destroying assumptions that young people’s voices aren’t worth listening to, and breaking through the stereotypes held by people about our generation.

Thank you for your endurance and your bravery. I pray for healing in your life and for politicians and other national leaders to have the same bravery as you and make a change!

AP Gov student in Dallas Texas

Katie Gray

Wolk-Rogers’ request for her “amazing” kids was for letters of support – “not the email kind or the texting kind, but real letters handwritten and signed by kids from our amazing community. I want them to hold the envelopes addressed from around the world to see that they are not alone.” If you’d like to share a letter with Wolk-Rogers’ class, you may mail it to: Stoneman Douglas High School, 5901 Pine Island Road, Parkland, Florida 33076.

“The Lake Highlands Wildcats are here for you”

“No one should live in fear”

Author

  • Carol Toler

    Blogger CAROL TOLER and her husband, Toby, are the parents of four LHHS graduates. She has an MBA from SMU and is the proud recipient of the Exchange Club of LH's Unsung Hero Award and Councilman McGough's Blake Anderson Public Service Award. She received LHHS PTA's Extended Service Award, FMJH PTA's Charger Award and a Life Membership from the LHFC PTA. She has moderated candidate debates for Dallas Mayor, Dallas City Council and RISD Trustee races and taught seminars on garnering publicity for nonprofits. She completed training with Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation and Inside RISD, and she's a sustaining member of LH Women's League. She has served on the boards of After8 to Educate, Dallas Free Press, Healing Hands Ministries and Camp Sweeney and chaired fundraisers for multiple Dallas nonprofits. Email ctoler@advocatemag.com.