The Wylie Independent School District (WISD) in Collin County has confirmed that two of its students were among the eight fatalities in Saturday’s mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets. 

The public school district said on its Twitter account it’s requesting that students and staff wear yellow in memory of siblings Daniela and Sofia Mendoza on Wednesday.

“Please keep these girls, their family, friends and Cox Elementary faculty, staff, students and others impacted by this tragic loss in your thoughts and prayers,” the district tweeted.

CBS News reported WISD verified that the sisters were among those shot to death by a 33-year-old gunman, who also died in the incident. 

Per CBS News, Daniela was a fourth-grader, while Sofia was two years behind her at Cox. 

The girls were at the mall with their mother, who's purportedly at the hospital in critical condition.

Daniela and Sofia, who grew up in nearby Sachse, were remembered for their love of cheerleading as they were enrolled at Wylie Elite Allstar Cheerleading and Tumbling. 

Their deaths hit the gym “in a personal way,” CBS News reported citing a Facebook post. 

“[They] not only took classes at Wylie Elite, but are nieces to one of our team families,” Wylie Elite wrote. “Our hearts are broken for these families.”

Cox principal Krista Wilson called the sisters “rays of sunshine” while WISD Superintendent Dr. David Vinson lamented how he “simply can’t understand” the tragedy, Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) ABC affiliate WFAA reported. 

“The only thing that’s going to heal this is time as far as us being a little bit away from it because right now it just hurts,” Vinson said in the report. 

At least two Metroplex school districts – Allen and Plano – have offered counseling services to students and staff who may be struggling with the shooting.

Citing the Mass Shooter Tracker website, CBS News reported that Allen registered as the 242nd mass shooting in the U.S.