Here is the article:
The annual “Ugly Christmas Sweater Day” at Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin was meant to be a festive precursor to the long-anticipated winter break, a respite of nearly two weeks to gather with family and friends, unwrap gifts, and reflect on the year that passed. However, for families of the 335 students from kindergarten to 12th grade, it may be hard to think about anything other than the fatal shooting of a classmate and a teacher by a 15-year-old student on Monday. Six other people were injured.
Those who were killed were identified as Erin Michelle West, 42, a teacher, and Rubi Patricia Vergara, 14, a freshman. The students heard the shots, and one of them, Mackynzie Wilson, described the terror she felt, saying she thought she might not live through it.
The school, which serves some 200 families from more than 50 churches in the Madison area, will have a hard and unforgettable holiday season. A second-grade teacher called 911 at 10:57 a.m. to report a shooting, and police said the shooter was in a study hall classroom with students from various grades. The shooter, identified as Natalie Rupnow, who went by the name “Samantha”, was found dead about 11:05 a.m. when officers entered the school.
The motive behind the shooting is still unclear, but investigators are exploring whether bullying was a factor. The students were shaken, with many expressing fear, sadness, and relief. A sixth-grader, Adler Jean-Charles, described the scene, saying, “I was scared. Why did they do that?”
The community is reeling from the tragedy, and many parents are struggling to come to terms with what happened. One parent, Mireille Jean-Charles, said, “I pray with my kids every morning that this won’t happen, and it’s the world we live in. God is good, God is gracious, and my kids are safe. My family is safe.”
For now, the school is focusing on supporting its students and staff, while many in the community are left to grapple with the reality of the new normal in American education, where lockdowns and active shooter drills are a necessary but unsettling reality.