Santana and West Hills High may harbor an athletic rivalry, but they share the spirit of the city's middle-class community, said West Hills Principal James Peabody. Santee's involvement with race and human relations dates back several years, according to West Hills Associated Student Body adviser Larry Pear, to the time the city became a focal point following the savage beating of a black Marine by several white men at a party. Students from the two schools united to promote tolerance and cultural diversity. They marched in the streets and held forums on campus. They tackled such topics as bullying in school and conflict mediation.
All communities suffer from certain social ills.
Community building takes a long time and we've been working for a long time here to build our community. By Thursday, with the horror of the fatal shooting subsiding, the crush of media lessening and normalcy returning, some students were focusing on the future. During an afternoon meeting of the Peace Council that day, Santana English teacher Nancy Magee asked the students whether the school's second annual Peace Week should be postponed. With less than two weeks to go and funerals and memorial services to attend, it might be hard to pull it off, some figured. The biggest message they had was we want something to do that is positive.