Mendham Teacher Sends Lunch, Love to Sandy Hook

The world watched as 20-year-old Adam Lanza fatally shot 20 children and six adult staff members in a mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., on December 14, 2014.

Hilltop School teacher Victoria Legacki was among those riveted to the coverage, in part because of the enormity of the tragedy, but also because before moving to New Jersey, Legacki was a member of the Sandy Hook Elementary School staff.

“December 14 was a day I will never forget. I was in my classroom while my students were at specials and a coworker, also from the Newtown area, came into my room and said, ‘Tori there's been a shooting in Sandy Hook at the school,' " Legacki said. “I didn’t know how to respond. I sat at the computer with her and watched the live streaming. I went from shock to panic quickly and had to leave school.”

According to Legacki, the worst part of that day was the waiting.

“When I left Hilltop that day I did not know about the children or the teachers. By the time I was home I heard the rest of the story,” Legacki said. “I just stared at the television hoping to see the faces of my old friends. It was awful. Listening to Caitlin Roig describe how she fit all her students into the bathroom still haunts me to this day because that was the classroom that I used to teach in.”

The next few weeks were difficult for Legacki, who said her emotions were scattered.

“All of my memories of first grade at Sandy Hook were happy ones,” Legacki said. “I felt guilty for having the happy memories when the images of the school that kept showing up on the TV were so tragic and sad.”

A Plan of Action

On Dec. 25, Legacki went back to Sandy Hook with husband Michael and volunteered for the day at the new Chalk Hill School to help set up the new classrooms. While working there, Legacki said she realized there was hope.

“I realized that these amazing teachers will somehow get through this. They will pick up the pieces and move forward. They will find the strength to carry this burden,” Legacki said. “In January I visited many of the Sandy Hook teachers again along with many alumni. It was a time to grieve but also a time to celebrate all the wonderful parts of Sandy Hook School. Seeing my friends, holding them and listening to their stories of Dec. 14 will forever be in my heart.”

Not wanting to sever her connection with a community she loves, Legacki began the Thinking of You Thursdays blog. The teachers of Sandy Hook had mentioned some local groups had been providing meals for them and that simple act had “really taken a huge burden off of their shoulders and made their days a little bit easier.”

Legacki’s blog hopes to do the same.

“My hope for the blog is to provide one lunch a week for the rest of the school year for the staff of Sandy Hook. Ten dollars pays for one lunch, and there are approximately 100 staff members at the school,” Legacki said. “Right now, mostly schools are working together to send funds but I have also had individuals send checks to Vazzano's Catering (the local restaurant providing the meals) to contribute.”

According to Legacki, they’ve raised enough to provide three lunches so far and she is close to booking a fourth. Legacki said it was nice to finally have something she could put her energy into to try to help the teachers get through the rest of the school year. 

Legacki said there are a lot of positive parallels that can be drawn between Sandy Hook and Hilltop School in Mendham.

“Sandy Hook was an incredible place to teach. The worth ethic of the staff was inspiring, and the parents and administration were so supportive. It truly was a special place to teach, and I was very nervous about finding a school that would meet my expectations of my experiences at Sandy Hook,” Legacki said.

“When we decided to move to New Jersey, I interviewed in Madison, Short Hills and Mendham Borough and quickly decided Mendham Borough was the place for me. I was drawn to the small class sizes, the closeness of the teaching staff, the parental involvement in the school district and the philosophy of using Teachers College Reading and Writing workshops along with Responsive Classroom practices. I absolutely love teaching at Hilltop School.”

Despite the painful side to her Sandy Hook memories, Legacki said she wouldn’t change one moment of the career path that led her to Mendham.

“I couldn't be happier with my choice to become part of the Hilltop School community. Hilltop and Sandy Hook are both parts of my life that I cherish,” Legacki said. “My time teaching at both schools has been fulfilling, and I consider myself lucky to have been the part of not one but two incredible school districts.” 

Those who are interested in contributing can contact Legacki through her blog site or her e-mail. Or those interested can make payments directly by check to Vazzano's Catering. Those mailing checks can put them to the attention of Chris for the Sandy Hook Lunch Funds and send them to 416 Horace Street, Bridgeport, CT  06606.

Payments can also be made over the phone with a credit card.