CR South to Honor 9/11 Victims in Ceremony, Through Art

Just over a year ago, Council Rock South art teacher Martha Taylor's longtime dream was realized with the opening of the Sculpture Garden, the first of its kind in the state.

About eight months before the garden opened, Taylor found an article in the New York Times detailing how much wreckage the Sept. 11 attacks left behind. The article mentioned how much of the remains were waiting in Hanger 17 in Kennedy International Airport. She sent three letters to New York's Port Authority, requesting that Council Rock receive a small artifact from the collection for the Sculpture Garden, according to a press release.

Taylor's work paid off, and artifact #G-0128-D was sent to South. It's part of a steel i-beam whose dimensions measure eight inches wide, 32 inches tall and 11 inches deep.

The beam will be on display in the Council Rock South lobby during school on Friday, Sept. 9, and then Sunday, Sept. 11, at Northampton Days. 

Taylor designed the second sculpture project for students and they got down to business right away. Each student artist will create a maquette, a miniature version of what the sculpture would look like, under the direction of art teacher Elizabeth Kroberger. After those are complete, Jon Byrnes of the Bucks County 3D Sculpture Club will critique students’ designs and provide feedback. By January 2012, Byrnes, Taylor, Kroberger and others will select one design to be used for the sculpture, the release said.

“As students begin the design process, we will determine how the artifact will be displayed with the sculpture," Taylor said. "Our original vision was to have the artifact displayed in a clear protective case, with the chosen sculpture mounted on top, but art doesn't come fully transcribed, so this is a fluid vision."

Another feature of the sculpture will be added by math and science students. These students will calculate the angle of the sun into the courtyard at exactly 8:46 a.m. on Sept. 11. The sculpture will be put in a place so that the sun will shine directly on it each year, and after volunteers from the Bucks County 3D Sculptre Club construct the sculpture, students from the industrial technology class will pour the concrete foundation, the release said.

“We are honored to be the recipient of such a significant piece of history," Superintendent Mark Klein said. "Adding the I-beam to the sculpture garden at South will serve as a lasting memorial to the events of 9/11. It will also serve as a symbol of hope and peace for our Council Rock community and for all who view it.” 

Students are asked to wear red, white and blue to school on Friday in honor of 9/11. In addition, the English department is opening up a school-wide assignment to the community and asking for their input.

From English teacher Sheryl Miller Hosey:

Please join the students and faculty of Council Rock High School South in commemorating 9/11/01 as we mark a decade since this historic event. We invite you to write 150-250 words to share your memories of this monumental day. 

You might consider:

• where were you when you first heard of the attack?
• how has that day impacted you as a person or a family?
• how has America changed since 9/11/01?
• what are your hopes for the future of the country as we move farther from that fateful day?

Send sentiments to mtaylor@crsd.org with the subject line "Tell Us Your Story."

Other Council Rock organizations and schools will be commemorating the day in their own ways. Science teacher Jerry Fetter will share a commemorative video he created in 2001 with students from . A special performance to commemorate the events that took place on 9/11 has been planned by South’s music department. Also, Holland Elementary has a special assembly planned honoring Sgt. Ken Elwell, who died on active duty in July.