Easing Disaster'S Burdens
Mary Rivard’s 4th-grade class at the Gaylord A. Nelson Education
Center in Clear Lake proudly displays a poster of thanks sent to them
by Alexandria, Louisiana, teacher Katie Potier-Croal and her students
and colleagues. The class also shows off some of the items they have
collected to be sent to Louisiana. In addition to Rivard (seated), teachers
Marsha Scheuermann (left) and Chris Feneis (right) have been working
on the project.
By Bill Hurley
When Clear Lake teacher Mary Rivard teamed up with Louisiana teacher
Katie Potier-Croal at the NEA Convention last summer, it was the beginning
of a professional, educational and humanitarian relationship that neither
could have imagined.
Thanks – or no thanks – to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane
Rita.
Clear Lake efforts
brought tears of joy  Alexandria,
Louisiana, teacher Katie Potier-Croal says the hurricane relief
efforts of Mary Rivard and her 3rd-grade class in Clear Lake,
Wisconsin, have made a big difference in the lives of many evacuees.
“Mary and her students have brought tears of joy to many
eyes, as well as amazement,” she said in an e-mail correspondence
with OnWEAC In Print. Potier-Croal said Hurricane Rita closed schools for a week, and
evacuees from many areas hit even harder flooded into shelters
and to relatives’ homes in the area. “Our school collected clothing and school supplies to distribute
to the children that came to our school,” she said. We have
serviced more than 100 children. Unfortunately, they have to move
from shelter to shelter. Some of them even fall asleep during
class because it is sometimes loud in the shelters.” A high school coach had more than 40 relatives in his home, Potier-Croal
said. “They were always running out of food. I took him
shopping and bought food and cleaning supplies to help him.” Whenever she shares money or goods with evacuees, she tells them
about the Clear Lake students. “I have been teaching for
32 years, and this experience made my heart warm because of the
efforts of Mary’s children and all the children that are
helping,” she said. |
Soon after Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast and thrust Louisiana into
chaos, Rivard and her students shifted into high gear.
Building off the connection the two teachers had made as designated
state contacts at the Convention in Los Angeles, Rivard contacted Potier-Croal
and got a firsthand account of how the hurricane disrupted the lives
of students, teachers and education support professionals at Reed Avenue
Elementary School in Alexandria, Louisiana. Although Alexandria is in
the central part of the state and was spared the worst of Katrina’s
wrath, it is along an evacuation route and became the home of many needy
evacuees. When Hurricane Rita hit, more evacuees flocked to town, creating
enormous needs in the schools.
"We continued to communicate often, and her stories of evacuees,
especially children, in her area were the impetus for our Coins for
Katrina program,” Rivard said.
As of mid-October, the school had collected more than $1,000 through
student contributions of coins in a prominently displayed collection
jar. At the end of every week, all the money in the jar is converted
to dollars and sent to Potier-Croal, who uses it to purchase items for
needy evacuees. In some cases, Potier-Croal has taken families shopping
for necessities, Rivard said.
The teachers, support staff, students and parents also have contributed
dozens of items for evacuees, from books and other school supplies to
clothing and stuffed animals.
In her spare time, Rivard has been making one quilt a week and shipping
it to Potier-Croal to give to anyone who needs it. “She told me
she gave one to a little kindergarten boy who just wrapped right up
in it,” Rivard said.
Potier-Croal checks in with Rivard once a week to let her know how
the donations are being used.
“She tells me all these stories – it tears you apart –
and they are so appreciative,” Rivard said.
In one recent note, Potier-Croal wrote: “I think that you are
the greatest kids in the United States besides my own. I am so proud
to tell the people who benefit from your unselfish act about you. Your
parents should be proud of you as well.
“I wish that you could be there when I give something to people
and tell them about you,” she wrote. “Many have tears in
their eyes because they know that you care.”
Not only are students learning to help people in need, they are learning
more about hurricanes, geography, diversity and more.
“I feel bad for them because they lost all their houses and things,”
said 3rd-grader Dylan Kurtz.
Helping them “makes me feel happy,” added classmate Jillisa
Solberg.
“I don’t care if I get a prize or a party or anything,
I just want to help people in the hurricane and help them feed their
children,” said Kacie Shehane.
“The bottom line is it’s kids to kids,” Rivard said.
“Every dollar – to the penny – is going to aid.”
Barron students send aid to Kiln, Mississippi
Students, teachers, education support professionals, parents and
citizens from Barron (Northwest United Educators) filled a semi-truck
with school supplies and other materials in September to help residents
of hurricane-devastated Kiln, Mississippi, home of Green Bay Packer
quarterback Brett Favre.
Several teachers and students followed the truck to Kiln and helped
distribute materials. In a written account of their trip, they said
the damage was overwhelming: schools were flooded; 30% to 40% of teachers
were left homeless; most homes were left unlivable by a combination
of water and wind damage. Most schools in Kiln did not open for classes
until mid-October.
Barron High School guidance counselor Rod Wiemeri, Barron High School
math teacher Brenda Haag, Riverview Middle School language arts teacher
Kathy Waldvogel, high school students Jenny Myers and Nate Kringle,
and middle school student Maggie Mickelson wrote an account of their
trip to Kiln.
They said they adopted Kiln and Hancock County schools because the
area is similar in size to Barron and they wanted to work with the Brett
Favre Fourward Foundation, which has helped students in both states.
They said Faith Assembly of God Church received their donations and
recruited volunteers to help unload and distribute materials.
One woman – now homeless and jobless – “was so choked
up with emotion she could hardly talk but she thanked us for the food
and other items we brought,” they wrote. “She was amazed
that a community in northern Wisconsin would care enough to bring items
all the way to Mississippi.”
They said they collected contact information and will organize more
shipments of supplies to Kiln.
Other districts helping too
Clear Lake’s and Barron's efforts are just two examples of what
teachers, education support professionals, students and parents in school
districts throughout the state are doing to help hurricane victims.
Another example comes from Appleton schools, which coordinated with
the NEA to adopt a school district taking in evacuees, raised money
and sent a truckload of supplies.
Student WEA raises $400
Student WEA members – college students studying to be teachers
– raised $400 for the NEA Hurricane Relief Fund at their Fall
Professional Development Seminar.
Posted October 21, 2005