Teacher, Newtown Native Remembers Fallen Students

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Today marks one week after the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell has asked for a statewide moment of silence to honor the 20 children and six adults who were shot and killed during the attack in Connecticut.

But for Sharmila Corson who teaches first grade at St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School in Woodbridge, the shootings in her hometown took the lives of four innocent children whom she once taught in preschool.

Caroline Previdi, 6, Catherine Hubbard, 6, Olivia Engel, 6, and Grace Audrey McDonnell, 7, were students in Corson’s class three years ago at Newtown’s St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church.

“All little kids are innocent, and these children loved life. No matter what was going on they would give you 110 percent, and were so excited about anything,” said Corson.

Newtown, until now, was a quiet place. Corson remembers growing up and playing outside with friends, catching $2 movies at a local theater, frequenting a teen center, and going to bible school with friends.

“It was your typical New England town,” said Corson.

That sense of safety was shattered Friday when 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot and killed his mother, a teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and then went to the school to shoot and kill 20 small children, as well as school staff.

Watching the events of the day, Corson hoped none of the injuries would be fatal.

“I thought maybe someone got wounded, but when I found out it was a kindergarten class, then I lost it, I couldn’t handle it,” said Corson.

She moved to Woodbridge to teach first grade. It was a job she couldn’t find back home.

Since the shootings, she’s kept in touch with family, friends, and parishioners at her old church. She said many of the victims’ family members are also parishioners at St. Rose.

Corson said security in the classroom is a larger concern today. Many of the children in her class have parents that have shielded them from the tragic news.

“Hopefully we will come out stronger in the end,” she said.