Two killed, 18 injured, a state traumatized, families distraught and once more a nation struck by the horrors of gun violence. Aug. 27 was filled with terror as the news of the Annunciation Catholic School shooting spread fast. Whether or not there was a personal connection, the events affected many, especially the Minnesota educational community.

“What happened is just a nightmare for any parent and educator,” middle school principal Virginia Andres said.

For many, the shooting was not just a wake-up call, but a push for systemic change.

Like other schools in the Twin Cities, St. Paul Academy and Summit School responded to this tragedy quickly. First, Randolph campus administrators met to discuss a plan to help students and faculty feel physically and mentally safe. In the upper school, Head of School Luis Ottley and upper school principal Minnie Lee held an assembly. Upper school counselors Jake Turnbloom, Clare Roney and Steve Van Driest also made an appearance on stage, letting students know that they were available to support those in need.

“When we met as a team, our goal that day was to think about how we hold space for students who may have connections, who may have had past experiences or who are just feeling scared,” Roney said.

Within hours of the assembly, a letter sent to the parents discussed safety precautions, student resources and temporarily increased security measures provided by the St. Paul Police Department. “There is no indication of risk to our SPA campuses at this time. Our security and safety protocols remain in place, and events like this always lead to increased vigilance, including increased perimeter monitoring and circulation from our security staff,” Ottley wrote.

John Cole, director of operations and security, provided insight on the school’s regular actions to prevent acts of violence. “When you look at the process that someone might go through to get to a point where they feel like their only option is to do what happened at Annunciation, along that process are multiple places where we can step in and impede that,” he said.

Cole believes that SPA does a good job of making connections between community members whether that be, “at the front door where you just say hi every morning, or its a counselor, or a teacher or anyone who’s a trusted adult in your life,” he said. He believes these connections will prompt students to seek help before turning to things such as violence.

Cole said he thinks about threats to campus security “every day.”

The school’s response to the Annunciation shooting didn’t stop with faculty and staff, but grew as students turned their feelings into positive actions to support the Minneapolis school and its community. Students participated in walkouts, signed a poster in honor of Annunciation, attended vigils and engaged in discourse surrounding the events of Aug. 27.

One form of action students took was a walkout consisting of students from SPA, Cretin-Derham Hall and Highland Park. At noon Sept. 5, students left school and congregated at CDH. From there, they walked in unison, with signs held high and chants called out, such as “Stop this silence, end gun violence.”

Junior Soren Zuehlke reflected on his participation in the walkout. “Often it feels like all this bad stuff is happening, but nobody is doing anything about it, and nothing is happening, but this made me feel like we actually can do something, and that feeling was super cool,” he said.

Additionally, a poster of support was crafted and signed by the student body and given to Annunciation Catholic Church. The poster was placed in the hallway outside on the first floor of the library. Students, faculty and staff left written notes of support on the poster until the poster was filled.

Although there have been other school shootings in Minnesota and across the nation, the Annunciation shooting was eye-opening to many. The educational community struck with shock and trauma is only starting their process of grief and healing in light of Aug. 27.