The day started with a moment of silence. Teachers and students alike reflected on the tragedy of Sept. 11  from 12 years ago. Some students say that the effort to remember the event carried on in other classes, while other teachers decided to not address the topic.

“It must be difficult for them to create something not offensive yet interesting and actually reviewing the event,” said Liz Scila ’16.

Many students agreed that the Sept. 11 lessons planned for today took place in English classes with unique literature. AP Language teacher Heather Colletti-Houde discussed “In the Shadow of the Towers,” a graphic novel by Art Spiegelman. The class integrated the striking pictures with learning about visual rhetoric.

“It fit nicely into the curriculum, and it is important to understand coping in these situations,” said Colletti-Houde.

Other forms of literature were important in several teacher’s lessons as well. English teacher Delbert Shortliffe reviewed “Photograph from September 11” and discussed frightening or touching stories from the struggle.

“Although it was such a tragedy, it’s easy to forget. However talking about it, and especially reading the personal poem, imprinted a lot on me,” said Sam Kann ’16 of the emotional poem.

Similarly, in several of Alex Miller’s English classes, he discussed a poem called “The Names”, which delves into very personal stories, said Anna Daytz ’16.

Although there weren’t lesson plans in all classes, students said that many classes at least shared memories for a few moments of reflection rather than a complete class plan.

Uniting Staples’ efforts for reflection on Sept. 11 was the library’s video selection on a constant loop at the entrance. The librarians chose CNN’s “America Remembers” and CBS’s “What We Saw” to inform students.

“Some of the teacher’s lessons on Sept. 11 showed me the importance of how quickly things can change and how we should appreciate the people and safety around us every day,” said Julia Mandelbaum ’16.