Saugus High School Junior Class President Chris Tanaka shares his thoughts and experiences of the shooting before he goes to class for the first time in two weeks. Photo by Michael Brown/KHTS News.

Students Return To School After Saugus High Shooting

Posted by: Michael Brown in Santa Clarita Latest News, Saugus High School Shooting December 2, 2019 - 4:30 pm 0 2,343 Views

Students and teachers from Saugus High School returned to school Monday for instruction for the first time since the Saugus High shooting that took place over two weeks ago.

https://www.facebook.com/khtsradio/videos/1140055969517440/

Monday marked 18 days since the Saugus High shooting that resulted in the deaths of two students and the gunman.

“Today is a day for us to move forward as we return to school here at Saugus High School, with the faith, hope, strength and courage that we need to have,” said Bob Jensen, president of the William S. Hart Union High School District Governing Board.

Students were on a half-day schedule for the day, with another half-day set for the following Tuesday, according to Hart District officials.

“Our objective in today is for students to return to a normal routine,” said Mike Kuhlman, deputy superintendent for the district. “In order for that to happen, we have put a number of important supports in place as a district and as a school.”

The support systems in place include: an expanded law enforcement presence; an additional assistant principal; several additional campus supervisors; 15 counselors from the Department of Mental Health; therapy dogs; and 10 additional substitute teachers to support the teaching staff on campus.

“A lot of us are dealing with problems and issues inside of us that we never thought we’d have to deal with in our entire lives,” said Andrei Mojica, Saugus High senior and president of the school’s Associated Student Body (ASB). “I know we’ll get through it, as long as we take the time to take care of ourselves and to take care of each other.”

Saugus High School ASB Executive Vice President Tyler Wilson expresses his gratitude for the “outpouring of love” from the community. Photo by Michael Brown/KHTS News.

The support systems were put in place with the guidance of Dr. David Schonfeld, who serves as a Children’s Hospital developmental-behavioral pediatrician at the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, in order to supplement the 50 therapists that had already been permanently assigned to schools throughout the district prior to the shooting, according to Kuhlman.

“We know that it’s not enough,” Kuhlman said. “But it’s a start.”

See Related: ‘Saugus Strong’ Vigil Brings Thousands Together To Honor Saugus High Shooting Victims

Two students, 15-year-old Gracie Muehlberger and 14-year-old Dominic Blackwell, did not join their fellow students in returning to class, as they were killed during shooting, along with the shooter, 16-year-old Nathaniel Berhow.

“As we enter our campus today, we know that things will not be the same as when we stepped on, and likely in the future it will never be the same,” said Tyler Nilson, executive vice president for the Saugus High ASB. “This is not an issue that will be overcome in days, weeks or even months.”

Students gather at a memorial at Central Park. Photo by Jonathan Stratton/KHTS News.

In spite of the physical, mental and emotional stress the students have gone through in the wake of the Saugus High shooting, many of the students expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community.

“I’m not going to lie, it’s been very confusing and difficult these last two weeks,” said Skye Hanamaikai, senior class president for the Saugus High ASB. “However, as unwelcome and unwanted this tragedy has been, the response from our community has surpassed any expectations.”

That response has come in a variety of forms, from monetary support collected through the Santa Clarita Coalition for the families affected, to various donations of things such as t-shirts, ribbons and decals from the Santa Clarita community.

“In my lifetime I have moved several times, and every city I’ve moved to, not one community comes close to Saugus,” said Chris Tanaka, junior class president for the Saugus ASB.

See Related: Students, Parents, Teachers React To Saugus High Shooting

While many students spoke about how thankful they were for the support, many also urged the community to continue to support not just themselves, but one another as well.

“Keep sending your support, keep sending your love,” Mojica said. “All of the kindness, all of the positivity that other communities have brought into our small, tight-knit community has meant worlds to us as individual Saugus students.”

Mojica emphasized that while the road to recovery would be long, he ultimately believed that the students of Saugus High would manage to overcome the emotional obstacles set before them.

“It’s going to be really difficult for us, but I know that through this sense of community, we will be okay,” Mojica said. “We are ‘Saugus Strong’ always.”