Thanks so much for the update Steve. Well...everything you wrote about is so overwhelming. I found the comment interesting you made about the Bush/Favre visit. I wondered if that were true while watching the news reports, if they were indeed visiting the hardest hit areas. I figured they really weren't. So sad... God bless you and please keep us informed!

From reading your story, I can tell you must work in the Hancock district. I would agree with your sentiments about everything. I hope that this will get some attention out there so conditions can be fixed for these kids. As far as buses go, this isn't an end all fix, but how about a shared schedule amongst all of the teachers, so that no one individual is driving five days. You in fact could do one or two days it sounds.

Thanks for saying it like it is.

Thank you for your update on our children. Your comments bring so much truth to the ongoing concerns that plague everyone in the areas ravaged by Katrina. My observations over the holidays of my own nieces and nephews of Waveland filed me with concern. Some of the comments included " i like soccer, but we don't do that anymore...because there was a hurricane" and "mama, will we ever have a house again?" and "you know, hurricanes just keep on going..." as though it were still happening. But on the bright side, the 4 year old was tearing around the backyard slab on his 'green machine" and the 6 year old played dress up with her new 'wardrobe trunk'. Kids are resilient and can find joy in life one way or another! In fact. they are over-joyed by the fact that they are now sleeping in real beds in their very own rooms. Who cares if there'e no other furniture in the house!

Steve, i know of the school delima...my father is a retired bus driver, teacher, coach and county superentendent of education...and my mother is a retired typing teacher...so i grew up hearing all school tragidies{and the parodox is my mom taught typing}....LOL!!!....she should have taught spelling

face it people..bush doesnt like t0 see b.s.l an waveland..its a reminder of what went wrong..iv been back to my home town in january..so sad..i cried an was depressed for days..im in washington state now cause i lost everything..i also had to leave some of my grown children an grand kids..who had nothing either.we as grown ups are harder to heal than children..but the little ones suffer to..6 months.. im still not healed or better. lets invite bush an laura to come spend a week in b.s.l an waveland..in a trailer..instead of plane or limo..

Thank you Steve, for telling everyone how it really is, honestly and without whining. My children attend your school, but I teach in Bay-Waveland. Our 4th and 5th graders are holding recess and P.E. on packed dirt edged by turned-up debris. Our coach has received about four different promises to sod or surface the area, each to no avail. The children play happily, as children do anywhere. They need to run and play a little at school because there might not be any space to play at their trailers. We would like to make our "trailer-school" as physically child-safe and friendly as possible because our replacement building could be two years down the road! Thanks for commenting on a subject dear to my heart. (By the way - we in "The Bay" sat in our trailer classrooms on the day that the President visited an invitation-only audience in the intact gym of a PRIVATE school. Oh well.)

Thanks for this "priceless" update, Steve. You are uniquely qualified to provide this insight into how the kids are doing - as well as providing them with some TLC and shotgun psyche assistance. God bless you (and Heather) in your dedication and work with kids!

Just curious, do you have playground toys such as balls and jump ropes? I spent 10 years doing playground supervision and am full of ideas to help! Work across the street by the airport. Please email me back and I'll see what we can do to help! God Bless our Teachers and Children!!

As for Brett's visit, it was to give a play ground to his school, which is also my school and many friends school. Just because it is north of you doesn't mean it is less important or less deserving. Many of those students parents work in the Bay/Waveland area and have now lost their jobs. And houses were distroyed in the area thanks to tornados spawned by the storm. Again just because it is north of you doesn't mean it is less deserving. Thank you Brett for giving back and not forgetting your roots.

Steve, Please write me. We have two preschool classes here who would like to be linked up with two classes of preschoolers or kindergarteners at your school in Waveland for a little project. Nothing big, but just something to maybe brighten the kids days a little. So sorry to here about the bus situation. I can just see those little ones waiting and waiting. It's too long a day for them. Thanks for hanging in there with the kids and for letting us know how things are.

It is good to hear the children are doing well, and bouncing back. I am sure that when they are adults there will be lots of Katrina stories to tell their children. I used to live in the Bay, and am from the area. But 3 years ago I moved to australia to be with my husband. My children and the rest of my family are still in the Bay, they are strong as all the people there are. I went camping the other week in the mountains, and it did occur to me that even roughing it in a tent was of my own choisce, that I was so fortunate, and that all of these children had no choice in what happened to them, and Thank God they can bounce back. And I do have granchildren that go to school in Hancock County, and I am so thankful to all the good people still there helping to insure they get their education, and a roof over their heads, Thank you all so much.

Those are my kids I left. I know exactly which Heather you are talking about too. Hold your kids tight and gvie them all a big hug. You never know when they won't be there for you to hug.

I have three children still at home, two that are grown. I send up prayers for everyone on the Gulf Coast, not just certain cities, every night. I especially grieve for the children either separated from parents by that storm or orphaned.
I just wanted you and all affected that when you feel all alone and insignificant, remember the story of the foot prints in the sand, not only is God carrying you we feel for you also.
Always remembering you in our prayer time.

CHildren DO need to play. They LEARN while they play. They learn to respect themselves and others, to give and take, and to just get along with others. All learning is not "booklearning." The children can wait until next school year for a real playground if there's no way to get one any sooner. I know you hate to see them have to play in such a place as you described, but YOU and the OTHER TEACHERS are there and are willing to go the extra mile for the children. You deserve any pay raises you have ever received. And bus drivers? They deserve medals. The way I see it, if anyone doesn't like the public schools, they can send their children to private schools. And since private schools have recess, too, maybe parents who don't like children ever playing at school, could just homeschool them.

Steve: For your children, biological and otherwise:

To Katrina’s Children:

You have already endured a lifetime’s worth of heartache, fear, and loss. While no one would wish this on a child for any reason, the fact remains that it has happened and this is what you are because of it:

You are future husbands and wives who understand completely just what the “worse” can be in “for better or worse”. You will be resourceful, practical, and more importantly, brave. Without doubt, you will be worth your weight in gold to anyone who is fortunate enough to marry you.

You are future mothers and fathers who will never forget the kindnesses and the unflinching love and generosity from others during this time and will teach your children by your story and by example that it is truly more blessed to give than receive.

You have become an important chapter in the History of the United States of America, and your children and their children will read about you for generations to come.

You are our future leaders and you have an intimate understanding of what your constituents really need and when and how they need it. You will bring to our government truth and compassion – two elements that are sorely missing in these days.

You are the future architects of our cities, and will conceive and deliver the new technologies that will save our coastal homes and lives, and yet preserve our particular brand of southern charm and flavor.

You will, no doubt, bore your grandchildren when you tell the tale of Katrina for the gazillionth time at holidays, but they will not forget and will tell their grandchildren in their days.

You have made new friends from all over this great country. Do not lose touch or contact as these friendships should grow and strengthen. This country and all of its peoples and their hardships will be blessed for the friendships forged in these days.

You have shown this country’s youth how to ask and accept help with grace and dignity, and have been bright and shining examples of strength and faith.

You stand on the edge of a new time, a new era for the coastal towns and cities of all the Gulf Coast. Remember everything, all of it has value even if you don’t see it today.

To those of you not quite old enough to understand that your life will never be what it was before, please believe that in many ways it will be better, even if it doesn’t feel that way today. When you see empty lots and piles of debris and you can’t remember what used to be there, don’t worry. There are photos and memories to spare of your neighborhood before this awful storm and nothing will be forgotten even if you have. To you little ones who are scared to be alone or to go to sleep, sssshhhh, you’re safe, now, and your world will right itself soon enough, different and missing some of the things you loved, but bringing new things – wonderful things - and new friends that you will cherish all your life. So, hush…hush li’l babee, don’ choo cry…

God bless you, southern child, for you are His.

Steve,

I am from Bay St. Louis and was child after Hurricane Camille. My family lost everything in that storm and it took years, no decades, to recover. I remember vividly the sadness of being a child after such a storm, as well as the stress and the joylessness for the impacted families. I contacted KaBOOM! after Katrina because I knew that those of us who had endured the heartache of a great storm were obligated to return to ease, if we could, the agony for the children of the storm, lest their lives merely become grist for the slowly grinding rebuilding wheel. I worked with KaBOOM! to bring the playground to North Hancock Elementary because this school had absorbed a large number of kids from the county as well as Louisiana, and did not have a playspace to accomodate such a large number of children. I have visited your school as well as the damaged Pearlington and the Gulfview Schools and my heart aches for you, the amazing faculty and the children. KaBOOM's idea is that every child should have a safe, beautiful place to play and they are working feverishly to raise the funds to get your kids, all kids, a fabulous new playspace. KaBOOM! has been generous in all the ways it possible to be generous and they are completely committed. I look forward to meeting you at the Build Day.

Sincerely,
Virginia Vegas Reynolds

Steve, if you instill your sensability and your humor in those children....all the world ...will be a better place!

Thank you, Carol, for your beautiful words. I'm printing your comment to share with my students.

Carol:

WOW! What a wonderful inspiring comment. It's this kind of positive attitude and love that is needed.

Jane, seems we see eye to eye...all children NEED to play...it teaches sometimes more than a classroom can....but homeschool..........ahhh ........i work with the public see everything...children at home {isolated}...don't seem very happy....I don't think that is any child's wish...don't worry ...be ..happy!...sometimes parents can be the cruelst of all

I thank you for this story. It sure does help with my decision to come back home to BSL. My children one in the 1st grade and one about to enter kindergarten next year talk about going home all the time. I do want to go home to BSL and return to my life. I know that is not possible and I try to explain to my children that home is just not like it use to be. Please keep us posted and keep your spirits up.

Carol,

Your post made me cry. How true, how true. Even though the children of the Gulf Coast have been devasted by all of this, they will now have learned some very valuable life lessons that most adults never learn in an entire lifetime. God bless each and every one of them.

Steve, I hear your pain. After Hurricane Katrina, I organized Operation Colonial Friends in our school district in Williamsburg Virginia to raise money to help the children so deeply affected by this storm. Our students collected over $9,400 in change so that they could reach out and help. In January I traveled to Waveland Elementary and built a brand new top of the line playground for them. It was heartbreaking to see all the devastation and heartwarming to see the undying spirit of the teachers who were so touched that children so far away had reached out to "their babies". I continue to raise money to pay for the equipment (trust me, it ain't cheap!) but it is an ongoing struggle. I have set aside a successful consulting practice to make this happen and would do it again in a heartbeat to see the smiles from the kids that day. I wish I could repeat my efforts a dozen times over but unfortunately, I am just one person and I can tell you that this it is pretty tough work trying to get people to give money to a cause. Especially when everyone thinks they gave money to the big name charities and that satisfies their good deed for this disaster. Unlike the big name charities, I have paid every penny of overhead out of my own pocket (again, it ain't cheap!) I am glad that I had the ability and skills to be able to make a difference even in a small way. It's too bad that all the needs cannot be fulfilled by such efforts and that your students have to wait so long for any level of normalcy. I can understand what KaBoom is up against though. A handful of Mississippi businessmen were very supportive of Operation Colonial Friends and I got a grant from the playground company Gametime where I purchased the playground, but I have found incredible resistance otherwise. 80% of the cash donations I have received have been from children, not businesses, not any of the local millionaires, not churches, not civic organizations but just kids who emptied out their piggy banks. Our other local high school will be hosting another change drive for us next month and hopefully it will finish off what is owed, roughly $2,400. You can read about my efforts at www.colonialfriends.blogspot.com.
I have to say that it is a tough lump to read about your frustration and sense of anger that children are still having to endure less than stellar conditions when I spend every single day trying to raise money to help and it is not nearly enough. I don't hear from the students at Waveland Elementary or from the teachers and that is a bit disappointing. But on the other end of things, those children (nearly all of whom lost their homes, as I'm sure you know) get to experience a little bit of innocence at least a few times a week and I keep a picture of them playing on that new playground where I can see it every day.
Keep your chin up and thanks for letting us peek in on your lives down south.

Andy, I agree with you on homeschooling. I had just read a previous posting from a person who did not want Steve letting HER children play at all. I guess they dropped her post. THANK GOODNESS. She thought the hurricane was a wonderful opportunity for HER to teach her children about REALITY. As if they didn't see REALITY every day and live with it every day. She had nothing nice to say about the public school teachers and thought that they did not deserve any of the "big" raises they had received. She even bad-mouthed bus drivers.
I just didn't think a PARENT like that should be in the public schools.

So many positive comments ....this is Great...hope ya all have a wonderful day!....oh Rhonda don't just "peek"...come on down and stay awhile..you'll be welcomed

I'm touched by so many of your comments and your words of support. I am grateful, too for your comments reminding me that other areas and schools were affected by this storm. Some times it's hard to comprehend the enormity of this situation, and the number of people hurt by it, both on the Coast, and across the whole nation. It's difficult not to let your concern for those kids you are directly responsible for color your picture of the whole situation. Sometimes this sounds like whining. I say, God Bless "Kaboom!", Spam, Pringles, and the Red Cross, (and so many other companies donating relief supplies, funds, and products) and the countless volunteers and kind hearts throughout the world for everything they are doing to help, regardless of who actually gets the help. Thank you all so much.

Steve,
It has taken me this long to respond to your most eloquent story. I've forwarded your stories to anyone who will read them. I was one of those who cooked the hamburgers. We would all like to thank you..you all were so very gracious! It was such a moving, exhilarating and rewarding experience for our small group. I'm still experiencing the adrenalin rush, even after 4 weeks and regret that we're here and not there!

I saw someone else write a similar invitation from Asheville--you are invited to Hillsborough, NC,too! You and your wife may want to get away from it all, for a time of rest and recovery. I'm also offering to trade house for Fema trailer once our school vacations begin in June, if you'd like!

I'm hoping that you'll accept this offer, or at least respond by email. We'd like to offer our support in some way that would make sense to you, your parish and to your students.

Please take a look around your schools, ask questions and then let me know how my elem. school can be of some benefit. One third grade has offered to collect paperback books to send down and have asked how else could they be helpful.