COMMEMORATION

On Friday, April 21, Burke reached the one-year mark since last spring’s shooting, which occurred during dismissal on Friday, April 22, 2022. In the months before, students and adults discussed how we might approach that day and how we could incorporate the breadth of experiences among both returning and new students. Rather than hold a formal ceremony or large community event, we chose to redesign the school day, offering different programming based on the grade level and plenty of choices for students. That day drew upon two principles:

• Centering student voices and ideas in the design of the day

• Providing different options and opportunities to engage, depending on what each student, faculty, and staff member might need

To that end, Burke did not hold classes or extracurriculars on April 21, and shifted dismissal from its usual time. Instead, each division had its own distinct programming.

Middle School dedicated the day to field trips:

6th grade: a full day on the water, in a research vessel and in flatwater canoes, thanks to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Arthur Sherwood Environmental Education Center in Maryland

7th grade: a morning down at Peirce Mill crafting land art with rocks, sticks, and found materials and an afternoon at Sportrock, run by Sean Taft-Morales ‘05

8th grade: a pre-planned, four-day trip to Selma, Montgomery, and Birmingham, Alabama, as part of their study of the Civil Rights Movement (see pg. 6)

High Schools students had an abundance of choice in how they spent the day. First, all high school students and faculty gathered for a morning assembly, with a performance by the Advanced Chorus and remarks from Officer Tony Harris.

Next, high schoolers chose three different activities from among a range of options:

• Art-Making

• Chair Yoga

• Cooking and Baking

• Letter writing and Advocacy

• Music Jam Session

• Nature Activities in Rock Creek Park

• Photography

• Processing space with One Common Unity

• Pulling invasive plants

• Sports and Games in the Gym

• Tabletop / board games

To close out the day, students gathered for lunch at Howard Field – the same place where we ceremonially re-opened school last spring.

BY MEL A. ‘26

Our Candle

April 22 was, at first, any other day. It was Friday. remember lingering in a classroom, waiting for a friend to finish packing up. was standing in the doorway when the shots rang out and the glass broke. remember the panic and confusion briefly paralyzing me. Seven of us rushed behind the teacher’s desk and two of us hid in an empty closet. We waited. A few of us texted and tried to call loved ones. All we could do was sit in our growing fear and wait. I clutched my hamsa and my friend’s hand and prayed. I prayed: “God if someone in this room has to get shot, let it be me. God, give me the strength to protect them if it comes down to it. God, give us the strength to survive.”

My small class was rushed down to the theater hours later. Huddled in a corner with our other classmates, we were still terrified. To this day vividly remember a small puddle of blood that sat next to on the floor. I closed my eyes and felt myself begin to shake. I could not recall the frantic thoughts had in those moments if I tried.

In that small closed off theater we only had each other. We attempted to comfort one another, not fully knowing what was waiting for us outside. We were alone in that darkness for what felt like ages, with nothing but a candle to fend off the monsters. But we made that candle blaze on as bright as we could. We held that candle high even when the hot wax dripped down and burned our hands.

We survived that day. By some miracle we all survived. But many of us were shattered and damaged beyond belief. Some of us mentally and a few of us physically. And many of us are still wounded. There is no shame in that. There is no shame in our scars. That pain is proof that we are still alive. That we can still fight. That we can still heal. Our school is still standing. We are still here. And in this past year, we as a community have grown and changed.

We have new faces. New friends. And while they might not have experienced the full force of this horrific moment in our school’s history, they too were affected. And they have their own scars to bear. We should welcome and accept their scars as they should for ours.

We might never fully go back to the way we were. But that is okay. We just need to be each other’s shoulder to lean on like last year on April 22, 2022. Going forward believe there is something we need to remember: We can’t fix the pain. We can’t stop the guilt and sorrow. But we can together make it bearable. We can keep the candle burning.

To this day, when I see friends or extended family who I have not seen since the shooting last April 22, and they ask how am doing, they literally always say, “I am sure you’re tired of talking about it,” and always reply, “I never get tired of talking about it and telling my story.”

I also never get tired of hearing other people’s stories, most of which I have not heard yet. It still impresses me how many different experiences there were and how terrifying it was from so many different perspectives.

It is important that people hear every story about those affected by gun violence, because the impact has a ripple effect, reaching many besides the immediate victims. Perhaps if enough people tell their stories, society will finally do something about it, similar to how society came together to change our tolerance of drunk driving and smoking. I finished teaching that day at 2 PM, and on any other Friday I would have left for home, but I had offered to cover the last 15 minutes of last period for a colleague who had an early dismissal for sports. After the class ended I was about to put my key in the door to the band room, and I heard what sounded like a bunch of fireworks going off on the bridge about 25 feet away. My first thought was: “Yesterday was senior prank day and this is someone doing one last end-of-the-week prank.”

Almost immediately, there was another burst of noise and could see the glass flying on the bridge through the head of school’s office’s open door. Past Head of School Damian Jones ran out into the commons and yelled to take cover. I quickly opened the door, and some passing students also took cover in the band room. Thankfully, they remembered the protocol we practiced and we barricaded the doors with heavy guitar amps. We were lucky that we had phones and were able to call family, and we were also able to peek out on Connecticut Avenue to see the instantaneous response from multiple law enforcement agencies.

I will be forever grateful that no one was killed and so few were hit, but the thought of the trauma for those who were struck, especially Officer Tony Harris, remains intense. find it helpful and important that I tell my story to whoever will listen. Not only does telling my story bring awareness, but it also lets others know that they are not alone. Your stories are important and I hope that you will tell yours as often as you can.

BY JOHN HOWARD P’11, ‘14 OUR STORIES

J.D. SAND (DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS)

Burke Tenure: 2009-2023

This past spring, J.D. was appointed the Athletic Director at Dwight Englewood School, a PK-12 independent school of 1,000 students in northern New Jersey. J.D. started teaching at Burke in 2009 and has led the athletics program since 2014 – always ensuring that student athletes are supported in their growth and progress, offering an invaluable voice at the leadership table, and navigating innumerable complexities associated with sports during the pandemic.

Congratulations to J.D., and we will miss your wisdom, spirit, and indefatigable good humor.

We hope to see you on the court again soon.

LIZ RINGENBERG (PERFORMING ARTS FACULTY)

Burke Tenure: 2018-2023

In her five years leading the vocal music program, Liz has directed myriad choruses, concerts, and musicals from Urinetown to The Lion King She has traveled with Burke singers to the National Cathedral and Capital One Arena, to Hershey Park and New York City. And she has gone above and beyond many times, from playing the violin during virtual graduation in 2020 to editing a 2-hour “hybrid” musical in 2021. We will miss your talents, artistry, and profound care for your students.

JAMES ROBERTS (DIRECTOR OF AUXILIARY PROGRAMS / ADMISSIONS ASSOCIATE)

Burke Tenure: 2022-2023

James joined Burke during a record-setting year for Admissions, juggling tours and interviews along with summer and rental programming. Our best wishes as James moves on to a new role at St. Andrew’s Episocial School.

In Memoriam