In response to the shooting at the Islamic Center Mosque that happened May 18th, 2026, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) organized a healing event where Preuss kids had the opportunity to make letters for the families that were affected and have a safe place to talk about what happened. 

The event took place on May 22, 2026, during lunch in the Walton Center.  Students, teachers, and community members gathered to show support, reflect on what happened, and stand together through these difficult times. The event provided a welcoming space for all to heal, to learn, and to be united. 

The idea for the event came together very quickly.

Ms. Zamora, the teacher supervisor for MSA, explained, “It was started because of a local school district participating in a solidarity event, and then our MSA president heard about it and told me about it. In a very short amount of time, we were able to collaborate with MSA to put it together.” 

Once plans were in place, students and staff worked together to make the event meaningful. Our ASB helped set up the space and provided cards for students to write messages of support and encouragement which would later be given to the mosque. Students were also given the opportunity to talk about the incident and share their thoughts with others. 

For some students, the event felt very personal. 

Safa Hanifi (‘31) shared, “My brothers were there when it happened. Seeing everyone come together and support us meant a lot.” 

The healing event was originally intended for high school students, but several middle school students also chose to attend to show their support. Students such as Barwaaqo Mohamed (‘30) and Debora Michael (‘30) participated in the event and helped create cards for people who were affected by what happened. 

MSA Co-President Reham Haji (‘28) appreciated seeing students from different grades come together. Their participation showed how much the event meant to the entire school community. 

“Seeing people from different grades and backgrounds come together to show support was really inspiring. It showed that our school values kindness, unity, and respect,” states Haji.

The event allowed students to learn from one another and reflect on the impact their words and actions can have on others. More importantly, it reminded students that even during difficulty, Preuss can come together to support one another.