Greenhouse School Mourns With Virginia Tech

For Immediate Release

Greenhouse School Mourns With Virginia Tech

Students brainstorm with teacher Julia Nambalirwa-Lugudde on what words to include in their "quilt of cards"

Like those at schools across the country, students at The Greenhouse School watched in horror at the tragedy unfolding at Virginia Tech last month. It wasn't until a few days ago that they realized they had a connection there. Meryl Ann Butler, a friend of the school who is including GHS in the promotion of her new book, 90-Minute Quilts, has a daughter attending oesteopathic college at Virginia Tech.

Wanting to express some sympathy the Virginia Tech community, the kids' first instinct was to send cards to Rainbow, Butler's daughter, wishing her luck on her exams. But Butler demured, saying both she and her daughter subscribed to Martha Washington's perspective: "I am determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."

Instead, Butler suggested the kids address cards to "Rainbow and friends," and take special note of the 27 wounded. "These are the ones that especially need our support and uplifting thoughts," Butler said.

The Virginia Tech lap quilt made by Butler for her daughter in Virginia Tech colors. The quilt was hung on display in Salt Lake City to raise awareness and contributions for the Hokie Fund before being shipped off to Blacksburg.

Butler, who has written grants for the school in the past, is a renowned quilter who, not surprisingly, turned to her favorite craft in time of tragedy. Using Virginia Tech colors, she sewed two quilts: one lap quilt for her daughter, and a wallhanging of hope and hugs for Virginia Tech, which will be presented to them at commencement on May 11. Taking both suggestions to heart, and knowing there isn't much time before the semester ends, Greenhouse kids brainstormed a "quilt of cards" expressing 27 words of hope and strength for the wounded.

Butler has known GHS Director Dan Welch for years, though ironically, the two have never met. "Modern technology is amazing: we first collaborated on a political campaign, then on grantwriting for the school, and more recently on quilting, he says. "From Salem to Arizona to Salt Lake to L.A. to Blacksburg, the world is more connected than we've ever known it." Students at The Greenhouse School hope that this connectivity provides some solace and hope that something good can come out of the tragedy at Virginia Tech.

CONTACT: Dan Welch
EMAIL: wpdanny@netzero.com
WEBSITE: http://www.greenhouseschool.org

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