GPS Schools Remember 9/11 and Work to Serve Community
GPS Schools Remember 9/11 and Work to Serve Community
Tristan Chavez
GILBERT, Ariz. (September 22, 2025) – Over the past week, many campuses across Gilbert Public Schools (GPS) held special events to honor first responders and commemorate the 24th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. GPS schools in Gilbert and Mesa came together to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by first responders every day and to remember those who lost their lives.
Commemorative Assemblies
Several GPS schools held commemorative assemblies to honor and remember those who serve the community. At Carol Rae Ranch Elementary, the annual September 11 Assembly featured police officers from various East Valley municipalities and Arizona State Troopers, who provided a helicopter flyover. Similarly, Spectrum Elementary hosted an assembly that included a presentation of colors by the Gilbert High color guard. Gilbert Classical Academy (GCA) held a ceremony where students from the advanced vocal group performed the National Anthem. A moment of silence was observed at 9:11 a.m., followed by trumpet players from the orchestra performing Taps from a campus rooftop. The event concluded with the GCA Symphonic Strings performing a tribute to the Armed Forces. These assemblies served as a way for students and staff to reflect on the events of September 11, 2001, and honor the bravery of first responders and everyday heroes.
Community Service Projects
In addition to the commemorative assemblies, several schools also honored the spirit of service with large-scale projects that benefited the community. Desert Ridge High School hosted its Annual Day of Service on Friday, September 13, 2025, which brought together 1,350 community members, staff, and students to its campus. This event involved a variety of service projects, which had volunteers pack 8,000 snack packs for students, collect 1,500 pairs of shoes for the non-profit organization Soley for Kids, and make six quilts. Participants also worked to beautify the school by painting 12 pillars and the "DRHS" letters in the courtyard. Desert Ridge High also honored first responders by wearing specialized jerseys and encouraging students to participate in a school-spirit day for its football game on Thursday, September 18.
Pioneer Elementary also held a school-wide service project, packaging roughly 3,000 pounds of donated soap from a local company, The Soap Gal. The donation included bars that were damaged but still usable. Students gathered in the school’s multi-purpose room and formed an assembly line to package the soap for organizations that benefit children and families. Volunteers from a local Fat Cats also assisted with the preparation of the soap.
“Through service, we can bring this day back,” said Ruthanne Vanwagoner, a Reading Specialist at Pioneer Elementary. “9/11 is a day of remembrance, and we can bring people together to provide services to others. It’s important that we all learn to serve and look for opportunities to serve others.”
All 39 schools across GPS dedicated a portion of their school day to learn about the September 11 attacks. In addition to the schools previously mentioned, several other GPS schools also held assemblies on 9/11, including Ashland Ranch Elementary, Canyon Rim Elementary, Greenfield Elementary, Harris Elementary, Islands Elementary, Meridian Elementary, Neely Traditional Academy, and Patterson Elementary. Together, these schools honored the memory of those lost on September 11th and reinforced the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by first responders every day.