SNOHOMISH — Dawn Goodwin’s son received a peculiar text message Tuesday night.
One of his friends, a student at Glacier Peak High School, wanted to borrow some Snohomish High School Panther gear. Benjamin Goodwin, 13, a student at Centennial Middle School, was suspicious, his mom said. Snohomish High and Glacier Peak have had a friendly rivalry ever since Snohomish became a two-high-school town a few years ago.
The girl’s intentions were honorable. She and the rest of the student body at Glacier Peak on Wednesday were planning to wear red, white and black — Snohomish High School’s colors. They wanted the Panthers to know that they were standing by them.
“We’re two schools but one heart,” Dawn Goodwin said. “When it comes down to it, we’re all here because this is a great community.”
Snohomish has been reeling since Monday’s knife attack at the high school. A sophomore is accused of stabbing two girls before the start of class. Prosecutors on Wednesday charged the girl, 15, with attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault.
One of the victims, 14, was stabbed multiple times in the heart and lungs. Her condition is improving, although she remains in the hospital.
The teen woke up Tuesday, said Cheri Russum, a spokeswoman for Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. The girl is able to sit up and talk with her family and friends.
The first words the girl said after waking up were that she owed her friend her life, Russum said.
Her childhood friend, 15, tried to stop the knife attack. She was slashed in the arm and stabbed in the back.
The stabbing victim’s second sentence was to request her phone and iPod, Russum added.
Hospital staffers are overjoyed to see the girl recovering.
“They’re calling her the miracle child,” Russum said.
The girl’s family released a statement through Russum on Wednesday. They thanked the community for the thoughts and prayers.
Students at Snohomish High put pink ribbons on the doorknobs at the school. Someone painted the boulder on the north end of town pink. On Wednesday the makeshift billboard read, “Small town. Big Heart.”
There also were messages of love and support to the victims. “Stay strong girls,” read one.
Someone left flowers.
Across the river valley, hundreds of kids at Glacier Peak High School showed up for classes Wednesday in Panther colors. They were eager to show their support for the victims and the rest of the Snohomish High School’s students and staff.
“What was so amazing was to see so many dressed up,” Glacier Peak Principal Jim Dean said. “It feels a lot like being at Snohomish High School.”
Pictures of the students wearing Snohomish High colors quickly hit Facebook and were shared through text messages and email.
“This makes me so proud,” Snohomish Police Chief John Turner said.
His thoughts were echoed by the hundreds of people who went to the school district’s Facebook page Wednesday.
Glacier Peak students also filled a large banner with messages of support and love. They offered their prayers to the victims and their friends. They wrote messages of solidarity.
“There has been a great outpouring and the kids are doing what they can for their friends who are hurting,” Dean said.
Herald writer Rikki King contributed to this report.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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