Her father, Michael Chambers, is a mailman in Manhattan, and her grandmother works six blocks from the World Trade Center. She and her mother were unable to reach them or any other relatives living in that area by phone Tuesday night.

Wednesday was a day of uncertainty.

''I never thought something like this could happen,'' said Tamika, a senior.

Tamika learned about the attacks around 11 a.m. Tuesday, and with other classmates and teachers monitored events throughout the day. On Wednesday in Barbara Howard's family and consumer sciences class, students wrote letters to the White House and other elected officials to express their feelings.

''This has hit home to them,'' Ms. Howard said. ''The support and the prayers and the warmth that's coming from their hearts just gives me chills.''

Gene Sullivan, deputy superintendent of Richmond County schools, said his goal through this crisis has been to ''try to keep things as normal as possible.

''That reassures students that they are safe and that they are safe in our schools,'' he said.

Mr. Sullivan said it was about 11 a.m. before school officials knew what happened Tuesday. Most high schools and middle schools monitored events, but elementary schools did not tell pupils what had happened, and elementary school officials were ordered to turn off all television sets.

''Today we are going to continue to teach as usual. I think there will be times kids want to talk today, and we've got counselors and teachers that know how to talk to kids about it. ... What purpose will it serve to dwell on this? I think we're just kind of numb today and going through the motions,'' he said.

Columbia County School Superintendent Tommy Price said he expected some pupils would be absent Wednesday, but he noted that school officials would be looking at these absences on a ''case-by-case basis.'' School counselors devoted the day to helping pupils through the crisis.

Tuesday's events particularly hit home at Harlem Middle School, which has a large population of pupils with parents in the military, said Principal Geoffrey Schlichter. He announced the attack over the intercom system after lunch.

''We are counseling on an as-needed basis and are asking teachers to identify students who might be upset and try to work with them on a one-on-one basis,'' Mr. Schlichter said.

Reach Melissa Hall at (706) 868-1222, Ext. 113, or melhall@augustachronicle.com.