Last Saturday night I was startled by a phone call from our Standards Coach, Suzanne Shall, telling me that an apartment inside our attendance area was engulfed in flames. I immediately turned to the news to see a blazing fire destroying the homes of what I was sure belonged to a number of our families. We began to immediately try to make contact with the 3 faculty members who also live in the same apartments. Thankfully no one was hurt but 19 families lost everything. Six of those families have students who are currently attending our school. First thing Sunday morning we began researching which families lived in Building 13 and starting trying to make contact with them to find out how we could help. Shortly after the emails started coming from my incredible faculty and staff with offers of help and support. By the end of the day they were mobilized into a coordinated relief organization with our front desk receptionist, Julie Middleton, at the helm. On Monday items started pouring into the school for the families and our parents began asking how the could help. We were contacted by our Business Partners, Chick-fil-A and Chets Creek Church and by weeks end thousands of items had been made available for the families so that they could begin to rebuild their homes. It was an incredible reminder, yet again, of how the efforts of a united group can benefit others in extraordinary ways. I have been awed and humbled by the generosity of not only our Chets Creek faculty and staff but of the community as a whole.
5 comments:
If FEMA worked with the same spirit as CCE, millions would benefit.
This is just another example of why a school with a huge sense of "family" is so vital in every aspect of what we do.
I also want to commend all of the teachers that took their students on a field trip through the office to get a feel for what "community" is really all about.
Peace,
T-Cubed
Another example of how we use our relationships to get results. Hats off to Julie, Nancy, Liz and Suzanne and the many others who spent hours helping the families. Amazing. -Karen Morris
This is such a great example of how Chets Creek is so much more than the scores on a state test. While all children in our care will take acaemic knowledge with them when they leave, equally important is the lessons that they take about "family" and about "community." How fortunate I feel to be in family with a heart as big as Chets Creek's.
I am amazed at the donations that people made! My student and her family are so grateful for everything that they received. Thanks to everyone for all of their hard work!
There is and always has been a "spirit of generosity" at Chets Creek. Maybe we should consider forming an organization called "Teachers Without Borders" and serving not only our learning community, but anyone who finds themselves in crisis.
What a great life lesson for our children!
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