1st anniversary of Santa Fe High School mass shooting marked with 'service and healing' events

A makeshift memorial outside the McLeods’ house on May 19, 2018, in Santa Fe. A makeshift memorial outside the McLeods’ house on May 19, 2018, in Santa Fe. Photo: Yi-Chin Lee, Staff / Houston Chronicle Photo: Yi-Chin Lee, Staff / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close 1st anniversary of Santa Fe High School mass shooting marked with 'service and healing' events 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

As the one-year anniversary of a mass shooting at Santa Fe High School nears, the school district and community are planning two days of "service and healing" for students and local residents to pay tribute to the survivors and 10 victims of the tragedy.

On Friday, Santa Fe High School will observe a Day of Remembrance and Resilience, with attendance optional for students. The day will consist of student-led activities and community service projects, including game sessions, yoga and culinary classes, and letter-writing to military service personnel and veterans. Counselors will also offer group sessions for students and staff.

Tom Maher, a first responder and founder of The Honor Network, was to deliver a presentation at 1 p.m. in the high school auditorium entitled, "A Message of Hope and Resilience." The presentation is closed to the news media but open to students and Santa Fe community members.

The day was to conclude with a tree dedication ceremony outside the science wing at the high school at 2:30 p.m., an event open to the public and media.

Saturday, May 18, is the anniversary of the shooting, and the Santa Fe Resiliency Center will be moving its programs and projects to the Galveston County Fairgrounds at Jack Brooks Park. The programs, beginning at 2 p.m., include craft activities such as a butterfly mosaic led by Gulf Coast Center counselors, and creating gifts for the Santa Fe High School staff and first responders.

Food will be served starting at 5 p.m. and the day will conclude with a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. led by Tommy Maher and the Santa Fe Ministerial Alliance. Mayor Jason Tabor will proclaim May 18 Resiliency Day.

Counselors will be on site throughout the day to provide support to the community.

The Santa Fe Resiliency Center asks that in lieu of mementos or other expressions of condolences, visitors bring a canned food item to support H.I.S. Ministry, the food bank in Santa Fe.

Nick Powell covers Galveston County for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and send him tips at nick.powell@chron.com