In the Wake of the Election, Wakefield Reacts
Around the country, people are responding in very different ways to the news that Trump is President- Elect. According to Arlington Now, some local teens have spread messages of love around their schools. It seems that #lovecertainlydoestrumphate.
Monday was the first really, really cold morning of the school year, the kind where it is hard to part ways with the warmth of the blankets. As students and staff at Wakefield dragged themselves towards the building after a halting on-off 3 days of school the previous week, many stopped in their tracks before they could hit the doors.
Colorful chalk messages greeted their sleepy eyes. Sticky notes glittered around the front doors. Bright and bold signs were hung in Town Hall centered around love and acceptance and tolerance and diversity and beauty.
Senior, and Chalk Movement Organizer, Lauren McCarter said this of the messages, “We did it because we wanted to spread love. It was important because there was so much tension last week in the school considering the election results. We wanted to remind everyone that we are all worthy. We all deserve respect.”
Veteran English Teacher and beloved Wakefield icon, Mr. Burns said it best the day after the election, “To every single student at Wakefield High School: You will always be taken care of here. Always. #WarriorNation”
Some of the important messages left for everyone to see on Monday morning were:
Everyone. Accepted. Always.
No Walls Here.
All Religions Accepted.
Women Are Powerful.
LGBT+ Love.
We Love All Races.
Be Kind.
Same Love.
We Love You.
Love Is Love.
and most importantly…
BE THE CHANGE.
It is good to know the senior class is ready to take these messages out into the world.
#proudtobeawarrior
Proud of the new crop of Warriors – From an old fart, Class of ’78.
Our grand daughter, Emily, is a freshman at Wakefield and we are so proud of each one of you. A job well done!!!
Much Love!!!!
Great job warriors!,things haven’t changed since the class of 59?
Always remember you are the future!
It was a warm and soothing feeling to open up facebook and see that our own Wakefield High School in Arlington Virginia, Embraced all of their students by welcoming them with what they needed most and that’s a feeling of love and acceptance at a time when so many are feeling displaced and labeled as outcasts. We are better together! Thank you to everyone practicing that concept.❤
Our classmates were friends, were included, were loved, were supported and were as diverse as you could imagine. That was nearly 30 years ago and so proud you all continue that today. So proud of you and of all WHS Warriors!
I am so impressed and proud of my school. Way to go, Wakefield. Everybody is valued, included, held up. Thank you, Mr. Burns for this post. Sending love and support to you all.
Christy Lewis
Class of ’73
Proud of the Warrior Nation. We could all learn a thing or two from all of you.
Susan Steeper ’73