sk
09-11-2004, 12:23 PM
Lyn Major called, spoke to Carl (I was teaching that night). They're OK (Lyn, Truman, and their two boys live next to the lighthouse on Elbow Cay). In spite of being under Frances 30 hours, things were rough but not distressful. Lots of broken limbs, sand damage, and the like. Some beach front houses took a hit.
ECC apparently is fine -- go figure. After Floyd and during the renovations, shutters were a given and apparently they worked even though ECC is on one of the highest ridges in Marsh Harbor (takes highest winds) and relatively unprotected now that trees and other protective vegetation has been removed to make way for playgrounds, etc. ECC staff cleaned any debris that would pose danger to the children this week and plans to open for "business as usual" this coming Monday.
Though there was not much known about the rest of the schools, she did say there was damage to some, especially St. Francis. Actually, I rather expected that b/c the pine trees that toppled on the roof and the fragile triangle ends of the roof on the primary wing didn't appear to be reinforced when they were repaired. I expect that's where I'll hear the damage was. The rest of the buildings were concrete and probably came through fine. She had heard there was damage at other schools but knew little at that time.
I cannot imagine how Sandy Point fared. The Weather Channel reports we heard from Ft. Lauderdale had it hardest hit, in greatest winds, closes to the eye, and with 20-40 storm surge. Those who have visited Sandy Point know how low lying it is. The last Community Clinic we had there took us over half-roads b/c of the washout and their library is still not replaced....this was fairly recent. Little resource is available for repairs and replacements in this settlement. I have not heard from Reverend Wells (our ECC clinician there) or any of the community members. Pray that they weathered that storm and are at least safe. I would imagine quite a bit of repair and replacement will need to be done/provided. Lyn did say it is impossible to get there by car, it is presently accessible only by boat.
I will post more as it comes. Ironically, once again, I was slated to be there during this exact time period for training and we slated a Community Clinic as a part of our collaboration with Abaco Rotary. I had an emergency that precluded my coming on that date and THEN, well you know the rest of that story. Just like Floyd. I think future dates will always not be planned late Aug/early Sept ... perhaps I'm the jinx. =)
On a better note: just as after Floyd ECC will push on. During Floyd, the school's opening gave both kids and parents relief. The parents could do what they had to do in terms of repair and restocking knowing the kids were safe and tended. And the kids had a dry, clean place to be with learning to distract them from the stunning realities at home. The trainings, then, allowed teachers to be in a clean, dry, orderly place together with mutually caring people, presented with materials and information that distracted them from the realities of home, too.
These next few years are a passing-the-baton period as I move into retirement. To secure the FIU connection, I have approached some of my colleagues to involve them so university support will continue. I have chosen two faculty, especially, who work in the area of some of our greatest need: early childhood/reading and mathematics.
Dr. Cengiz Alacaci, a young and brilliant mathematician from Turkey, will begin working with the program in November. His specialty is hands-on instruction, using mathematics manipulatives.
Dr. Angela Salmon, a young (new mother) and highly regarded young woman specializes in early reading/writing so will bring us a host of information and strategy in early childhood. She is from Ecuador.
We will continue our connection with teachers, brining in Mrs. Betty Tunks, who has been a shadow angel all along, sending over hurricane supplies after Floyd, providing many, many school materials, especially the scope and sequence of skills we currently use across the school. Betty's skills are "way out there" (meaning, I learn from her!). She will bring ideas for early childhood, especially screening and strategies, and technology (now that we will have internet access and can make greater use of Mike Swank's projector!). Another first grade teacher who just graduated from our reading cadre in Broward has also asked to participate, so we need to talk to see what she can bring over.
So, we begin another year. On tottering feet, we begin this next leg of our journey. So much is falling into place. I watch with wonder to see -- what next? With your permission, I share those tentative steps and rough, MARVELOUS journey....those marvelous miracles in action.
More as it develops.
ECC apparently is fine -- go figure. After Floyd and during the renovations, shutters were a given and apparently they worked even though ECC is on one of the highest ridges in Marsh Harbor (takes highest winds) and relatively unprotected now that trees and other protective vegetation has been removed to make way for playgrounds, etc. ECC staff cleaned any debris that would pose danger to the children this week and plans to open for "business as usual" this coming Monday.
Though there was not much known about the rest of the schools, she did say there was damage to some, especially St. Francis. Actually, I rather expected that b/c the pine trees that toppled on the roof and the fragile triangle ends of the roof on the primary wing didn't appear to be reinforced when they were repaired. I expect that's where I'll hear the damage was. The rest of the buildings were concrete and probably came through fine. She had heard there was damage at other schools but knew little at that time.
I cannot imagine how Sandy Point fared. The Weather Channel reports we heard from Ft. Lauderdale had it hardest hit, in greatest winds, closes to the eye, and with 20-40 storm surge. Those who have visited Sandy Point know how low lying it is. The last Community Clinic we had there took us over half-roads b/c of the washout and their library is still not replaced....this was fairly recent. Little resource is available for repairs and replacements in this settlement. I have not heard from Reverend Wells (our ECC clinician there) or any of the community members. Pray that they weathered that storm and are at least safe. I would imagine quite a bit of repair and replacement will need to be done/provided. Lyn did say it is impossible to get there by car, it is presently accessible only by boat.
I will post more as it comes. Ironically, once again, I was slated to be there during this exact time period for training and we slated a Community Clinic as a part of our collaboration with Abaco Rotary. I had an emergency that precluded my coming on that date and THEN, well you know the rest of that story. Just like Floyd. I think future dates will always not be planned late Aug/early Sept ... perhaps I'm the jinx. =)
On a better note: just as after Floyd ECC will push on. During Floyd, the school's opening gave both kids and parents relief. The parents could do what they had to do in terms of repair and restocking knowing the kids were safe and tended. And the kids had a dry, clean place to be with learning to distract them from the stunning realities at home. The trainings, then, allowed teachers to be in a clean, dry, orderly place together with mutually caring people, presented with materials and information that distracted them from the realities of home, too.
These next few years are a passing-the-baton period as I move into retirement. To secure the FIU connection, I have approached some of my colleagues to involve them so university support will continue. I have chosen two faculty, especially, who work in the area of some of our greatest need: early childhood/reading and mathematics.
Dr. Cengiz Alacaci, a young and brilliant mathematician from Turkey, will begin working with the program in November. His specialty is hands-on instruction, using mathematics manipulatives.
Dr. Angela Salmon, a young (new mother) and highly regarded young woman specializes in early reading/writing so will bring us a host of information and strategy in early childhood. She is from Ecuador.
We will continue our connection with teachers, brining in Mrs. Betty Tunks, who has been a shadow angel all along, sending over hurricane supplies after Floyd, providing many, many school materials, especially the scope and sequence of skills we currently use across the school. Betty's skills are "way out there" (meaning, I learn from her!). She will bring ideas for early childhood, especially screening and strategies, and technology (now that we will have internet access and can make greater use of Mike Swank's projector!). Another first grade teacher who just graduated from our reading cadre in Broward has also asked to participate, so we need to talk to see what she can bring over.
So, we begin another year. On tottering feet, we begin this next leg of our journey. So much is falling into place. I watch with wonder to see -- what next? With your permission, I share those tentative steps and rough, MARVELOUS journey....those marvelous miracles in action.
More as it develops.