{"id":5090,"date":"2018-05-06T05:26:32","date_gmt":"2018-05-06T05:26:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/classicaldifference.com\/?p=5090"},"modified":"2022-01-22T04:43:22","modified_gmt":"2022-01-22T04:43:22","slug":"harvey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/classicaldifference.com\/harvey\/","title":{"rendered":"A Classical School Responds to Hurricane Harvey"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Summer 2018<\/pre>\n
<\/p>\n
Featured drawing: Madison Gohlke, Annapolis Christian Academy, Corpus Christi, TX<\/pre>\n
\n
The first indication of trouble was the burglar alarm. Earlier, Leslie Collins, Head of School at Covenant Academy, had received a text indicating a power surge.<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
D<\/span>uring a hurricane the magnitude of Harvey, this is to be expected. A burglar alarm is not. The texts kept coming, indicating movement in room after room. That\u2019s when she knew, \u201cHarvey had crept into our classrooms and was destroying our building inch by inch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\"\"<\/a>As soon as the unprecedented rain pouring over Houston slowed, a board member picked Collins up in his truck to assess the damage. The school\u2019s courtyard, usually filled with green grass and joyful students, was filled with water to the edge of the concrete. They sloshed through each room in shock and arrived at the front hall to find that several families had already come to check on their beloved school. \u201cWhat should we do now?\u201d they asked.<\/p>\n
In any Christian community, our response to tragedy\u2014death, loss, damage, or fear\u2014is as a people set apart. In that moment, Collins was reminded that in Christ we are victors. \u201cThe whole city was in crisis. I was cognizant of the fact that we were going to get through this together and it was going to be different. God\u2019s providence gave us this circumstance. We would live IN this moment, not hurry up and get over it. We were going to lean into it, not away from it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Harvey entered as a burglar and left us with a stronger and better community.
\n\u2014LESLIE COLLINS
\nHead of School, Covenant Academy, Houston, TX<\/div>\n
Demolition<\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/a>Up to this point, Covenant had been in session for two days, Thursday and Friday, with Friday hosting House inductions. What would they do come Monday? They would learn something new\u2014building demolition.<\/p>\n
Several weeks prior, Leslie had completed Incident Command System training through FEMA, and had required similar training of all faculty. The training outlined expectations for how to respond to possible school disasters. The moment the first group came together immediately following the hurricane, a chalkboard was cleared and became command central. Objectives written. Teams created. Duties assigned. Collins used almost everything she had learned. They got to work.<\/p>\n
They worked 9 am\u20137 pm every day for five days to clear the building. Hundreds of people came to help from all over the state and country, many of them unknown. \u201cI don\u2019t even know how people knew about us. God would lead them to our website, or they would hear through connections. People came to be the hands and feet of Jesus. They were assigned teams immediately and given clear objectives. We were even able to send some people off campus to help our families whose homes had been damaged.\u201d<\/p>\n
\"\"<\/a>The kids were active participants in the demo. According to Collins, \u201cThe only reason we got it demoed in five days is because kids were involved. They were tearing up, organizing trash piles, sweating, dripping, exhausted. Many of these kids understood for the first time in their lives what it was to have this type of hardship and move on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once everything was demolished, the drying began. It was a logistical feat to position fans, hook them up, check circulation, \u201cfocus on the beams,\u201d and sanitize everything. Processes were developed for an additional new skill set no one ever wanted\u2014flood mitigation.<\/p>\n
Continuing Education<\/h3>\n
Their school building had weeks of drying and refinishing ahead. While others halted classes, Covenant continued learning.<\/p>\n
Through family connections they found a temporary home at, appropriately, the Alamo. This reproduction was located a close one mile north of the school building, and became the backdrop for their theme of \u201cleaning in.\u201d Leslie shared her initial vision with her students.<\/p>\n
“<\/span>When people say, \u201cRemember the Alamo\u201d they mean, \u201cDon\u2019t let that happen again.\u201d We need a different mindset\u2014lean in and move on. God\u2019s providence has given us this circumstance. We will live IN this moment, not hurry up and get over it. We will relish the opportunity we have to build community. This won\u2019t define us. We are victors, not victims. We need to be intentional about this.<\/p>\n
A Good Story<\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/a>CCE believes deeply that literature makes us more human. Collins wanted to provide stories the kids could use to bring healing and perspective to their situation. \u201cThe process of experiencing literature together can offer great wisdom and help. We can connect with people who lived in the past and whose lives were often more difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n
The House system made this time much easier. Each House was subdivided into upper and grammar school age groups, as they read books that reflected a response to a struggle. Booker T. Washington\u2019s Up from Slavery was read by the upper school. They selected this book because he refused to be a victim as he worked to rebuild the south.<\/p>\n
In the grammar school, they read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe because of the themes of loss and courage, displacement and rebuilding. Although the wartime aspect of these stories is not what most people remember, the Covenant students related to these ideas.<\/p>\n
According to Collins, the literature was not only helpful at the time, but provided a way back to these issues throughout the year. When they returned to campus, \u201crhetoric students would refer to Booker T. Washington and doing hard things in their chapel talks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Art instruction was focused on providing opportunities for students to process what they saw and illustrate the Scripture that was sung, read, and recited. Students told their Harvey story and reflected on God\u2019s faithfulness in the storm.<\/p>\n
Liturgy<\/h3>\n
Liturgy and chants are both aspects of CCE that became even more important in the midst of uncertainty. Collins distinctly remembers thinking about the importance of ordering their days. \u201cOur liturgy was full-orbed. We incorporated all the senses in bringing about restoration. In fact, I would say the only sense we did not incorporate was smell.\u201d<\/p>\n
Covenant\u2019s music director selected \u201cHow Firm a Foundation\u201d to be the \u201cHymn of the Month\u201d and they sang all verses together at the beginning of each day. This was followed by a short, theme-based talk.<\/p>\n
Next came the \u201cCharacter Call-out\u201d written by Collins for their unique situation. Their theme\u2014lean into hard things\u2014became the backdrop to every discussion that would follow as part of literature or history during the remainder of the day. Socratic discussions\u2014another foundational component of CCEbecame more meaningful.<\/p>\n
Various Scriptures were read daily, always beginning with Isaiah 43:2\u201dWhen you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.\u201d (ESV) This was both spoken and sung together.<\/p>\n
Community<\/h3>\n
Within houses and small groups, they did team-building games intended for both community building and fun, as many of these kids were dealing with trauma, fear, and loss outside the classroom.<\/p>\n
Dancing was brought into the curriculum. Collins believes that, done the right way, \u201cdancing is an important aspect of community. It intensifies relationships, and brings joy.\u201d Their Hymn of the Month allowed them to \u201cget a little blue-grassy\u201d and turned out to be perfect for learning the Virginia Reel.<\/p>\n
Discipleship<\/h3>\n
Classical educators realize they are primarily discipling souls. This becomes more difficult when dealing with situations beyond their own experience.<\/p>\n
Calling on a respected Christian counselor, Keith McCurdy, Collins helped her faculty process the situation so they could disciple their students. \u201cHe was essential to helping teachers to be instruments of healing. In every interaction with the kids, it helps if teachers are unified in approach. The teacher has to know the truth in order for the students to be taught.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Collins, \u201cEvery Christian was deeply encouraged by the evident work of the Holy Spirit in the midst of tragedy.\u201d At times it felt like a \u201cwell-orchestrated three-ring circus. Every day we\u2019d finish the day and say, \u2018OK, we\u2019re going to make this change and do this and that.\u2019 And then I would email teachers. We rolled with it. It was an incredible feat of administration on behalf of all our staff.\u201d The students are doing well. They still get a little nervous when it rains.<\/p>\n
Rebuilding<\/h3>\n
While students attended school at the Alamo, donations of money and time continued to pour in.<\/p>\n
Over $10,000 was raised on Covenant\u2019s website donation page alone. Schools, individuals, and organizations sent checks during the next several months totaling over $200,000. An anonymous donor connected with nearby Grapevine Christian School gave another $100,000, saying, \u201cBecause we know what it\u2019s like to survive a flood. We know what you need and you need money right now. We want to leverage our gift by asking the school to match it.\u201d They raised an additional large sum from the Grapevine Christian School community in just one day.<\/p>\n
Another nearby school, Brazos Christian, brought a van full of people and was a significant labor force. Covenant Christian School in Indianapolis sent a group of 11th grade girls who \u201cworked their fingers to the bones\u201d putting Covenant\u2019s library back in order. North Cobb Christian School sent a team to encourage our teachers with hand-written cards for each and every faculty and staff member. Their student council donated $1,000 to our student council with the provision that the money would be spent only on something fun. Donations of furniture, supplies, books, and even kitchen equipment came from individuals, churches, and schools. Churches supplied food and shelter not only for locals but also for those who came to help. Many sister CCE schools helped as well. They were overwhelmed by the kindness of others and inspired by their example.<\/p>\n
In five weeks, they were back at their school. Covenant believes that, if anyone kept track of God! He gives us the these sorts of things, this would be a record. victory through our The Covenant community returned with<\/p>\n
a new-found love for walls, floors, and bathLord Jesus Christ. rooms. But, that\u2019s all they had. They learned<\/p>\n
\u20141 CORINTHIANS 15:57 a different way of continuing to lean in. The refinishing was not complete until their first open house in late October. It was a tough deadline, but as Collins said, \u201cWe were determined to at least look civilized. We were not going to be the school that looks like it\u2019s not going to make it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Collins appreciates the city\u2019s mantra,\u201cHouston Strong.\u201d She recalls, \u201cIn other tragedies like this, I\u2019ve seen people respond as victims. People need to not be victims. Houston refuses to do that, and it makes me proud to be from Houston.\u201d<\/p>\n
And she believes more firmly today in her mission.<\/p>\n
“<\/span>The essence of classical Christian education is that we are not defined by what happens but by how we respond, and we want to learn to respond in all situations with truth, goodness, and beauty. Our identity in Christ allows us to be more than someone who endures; we are more than conquerors. CCE is about understanding who you are in Christ. \"ACCS_graphic_sm1\"<\/p>\n
While at their temporary location, art projects were designed to help students process the devastation they saw in their city and school.\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> Summer 2018 Featured drawing: Madison Gohlke, Annapolis Christian Academy, Corpus Christi, TX The first indication of trouble was the burglar alarm. Earlier, Leslie Collins, Head of School at Covenant Academy, had received a text indicating a power surge. During a hurricane the magnitude of Harvey, this is to be expected. A burglar alarm is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5280,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[81,103,70,6],"tags":[319],"yoast_head":"\nA Classical School Responds to Hurricane Harvey - The Classical Difference<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/classicaldifference.com\/harvey\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Classical School Responds to Hurricane Harvey - The Classical Difference\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Summer 2018 Featured drawing: Madison Gohlke, Annapolis Christian Academy, Corpus Christi, TX The first indication of trouble was the burglar alarm. 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