As the flood waters from Hurricane Sandy receeded, Catholic school communities across the Diocese of Trenton were among those coming to grips with a devastation reaching well beyond damage to physical structures and property.
JoAnn Tier, diocesan superintendent of schools, indicated that both St. Rose Elementary and High School, Belmar, and St. Denis School, Manasquan, suffered considerable damage to their physical plants.
St. Rose Elementary School lost its roof, which has since been replaced, and the high school was under five feet of water. Sister of St. Joseph Kathleen Nace contracted with Broadco Property Restoration, a company which worked in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, to pump the water from the school. A drying process, including anti-microbial treatment, is underway. Among the school’s losses are computers, copy machines, files and office materials. The school is planning to reopen Nov. 12, said Tier, which offers “a ray of hope,” stressing that “the efforts and deliberate focus of key individuals and the entire school communities provide an opportunity for some normalcy.”
St. Denis School, Manasquan, was damaged by two feet of water on the first floor, said Tier. The kindergarten and PreK, as well as the cafeteria and office were impacted, damaging computers, iPads, and wiring.
Beyond the impact to school facilities, stressed Tier, the hurricane has been devastating to families. The superintendent shared the thoughts of Sister of St. Joseph Jeannette Dailey, principal in All Saints Regional Catholic School, Manahawkin, who reported that, in addition to families, a significant number of teachers lost their homes, or had homes compromised by the storm. Six teachers live on Long Beach Island, two on Beach Haven West and one on Mystic Island. There is a need, said Tier, for rental property or temporary housing for both teachers and families.
In the Bayshore area, Mother Teresa Regional principal, Melissa Whelan Wisk, shared with Tier that the devastation in Union Beach, Keyport and Keansburg displaced families, sending them to shelters or out of the area to family and friends; businesses and homes were lost or compromised. Faced with the “phenomenal amount of pain” within the community, Tier explained, “Melissa is being proactive and has helped to establish a donation center in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Highlands, where donations of food, personal and cleaning products, and supplies such as batteries and flashlights are being gathered.
Faculty in St. Mary Elementary and Mater Dei Prep, both in New Monmouth, will gather the Friday before school opens for a Mass and meeting to begin post-Sandy renewal and re-opening procedures. On the first day of school, comfort stations staffed by guidance counselors will be opened in both schools to help the community heal and renew.
St. Mary principal, Charles Kroekel, shared his pride in his community with Tier, saying, “A true testament to the success of our teachings has been evidenced in our students who, during this crisis, continue to fan out through Monmouth County offering a helping hand as volunteers.”
Other needs across the board, said Tier, include uniforms for children, translators for the Hispanic communities where there are often language barriers, and counseling for children and families.
In that regard, explained Tier, high schools will be providing counselors to their school communities as needed. Elementary schools will reach out to neighboring high schools to utilize their guidance counselors as available. Schools would welcome additional support as may be available from Catholic Charities, local districts or other organizations.
In addition, a variety of resources providing guidance on how to talk with students about natural disasters and traumatic experiences, as well as specific prayers and tips for families returning home after a disaster, has been provided to school principals by Cynthia Casciola-Kitts, diocesan director of elementary schools.
Presently, in Monmouth County, all schools are closed. All Ocean County schools are also closed except for All Saints Regional and St. Aloysius, Jackson. In Burlington and Mercer Counties, where some schools had lost power, all schools are now back in session. All closed schools are currently planning to re-open on Nov. 12.
County wide, while some schools are open and others are still closed, all schools are approaching their schedules on a day-to-day basis, with the primary consideration being the safety of children, taking into consideration such things as road conditions, the availability of buses and working traffic lights.
In reviewing the events of the past week and the efforts of school communities to return to normal, Tier declared, “I am so impressed by the outreach, and the leadership of principals, administrative staff and teachers in pulling together.” It is a testimony to “the human spirit,” said Tier, “with people looking out for each other. Their expressions of kindness know no bounds.”
“How we should live as Catholics is exemplified here,” stressed Tier, who pointed out that All Saints Regional re-opened with Mass, and Monsignor Donovan High School and St. Joseph Elementary School, both in Toms River, are planning to meet together in the gym for Mass on their first day back to thank God for the many blessings and to ask God for continued blessings.
Since all of this started with landfall of Hurricane Sandy on Oct. 29, said Tier, there has been no wringing of hands. “All I have seen is hope, and the belief that we can do this, we are going to make this happen.”
As a point of confirmation, Tier shared that members of the student council in All Saints Regional School, in an area badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy, will be creating a video reflecting on the global and societal impacts of Hurricane Sandy, as well as a prayer service for healing and God’s blessings. In addition, student council members will plant bulbs on the school property as a symbol of hope so those returning in the spring to their homes in the ravaged area will see signs of new life. Daffodils and tulips blooming will serve to remind those suffering great loss that there is renewal, encouraging them to move forward with hope.