A letter from the Principal

St. Thomas the Apostle Elementary School

Long Beach, Mississippi

Friday, September 23, 2005

Thomas Paine said some 200 years ago “these are the times that try men’s souls”. I think he could have been speaking about now. The radio has referred to our situation in terms of “the new normal”. Whatever we call it Hurricane Katrina has changed the landscape of our lives forever. We are now the painters of that new landscape. We can decide how it will be painted.

I have always been very proud of St. Thomas School and Church. We laugh together. Cry together. And now we will build together. We lost our church building. But we have not lost our church. We have lost our school building. But we have not lost our school. St. Thomas is more than brick and mortar. St. Thomas is heart and soul and faith. And we will continue to be St. Thomas wherever we are--- as long as we are together.

I know many of you had to leave because of the destruction left by Katrina and have been unable to see the amazing formation of our new church and school. Through the generosity of the Knights of Columbus, the leadership of Father Louis, and a tremendous response from our parents our church and school have found a new home until we can rebuild again. A simple metal building has become a sanctuary large enough to seat approximately 350 to 400 worshippers, twelve large classrooms (larger than the rooms in the old school), and offices. We have a generous playground and playground equipment is being donated. Our library and computer lab will be housed in a mobile unit that we have been assured is coming to us soon. Our cafeteria services will continue to come from Gulfport School System even though we will not have a regular lunch room. After Care will begin the first day of school with no changes in hours and there will also be before school care.

Many of our teachers, like many of you, lost everything or received major damage. But all are returning to our school. The teachers have attempted to contact as many families as possible. From those who were contacted we estimate that approximately three-fourths of the students will be returning. Most of those who could not return have been forced to leave the area due to circumstances related to the storm. With the calls, we received an estimate of attendance, now we need a more accurate account of those returning and we need new contact information. Therefore, it is necessary for parents to fill out new registration forms. You may come by the new school/church site at 5557 Daugherty Road in Long Beach or you may send confirmation of your student’s returning to St. Thomas along with contact information by e-mail to eboomer@SaintThomasSchool.org or efortenberry@biloxidiocese.org. We are aware that some students will be returning after school resumes on October 3, however, we will need your confirmation information by October 1 in order to save your student’s space.

Numerous schools in the area have been destroyed and are unable to reopen at this time. We feel compelled to reach out to students from these schools. Approximately 50 St. Paul students will share our facilities until their school can be rebuilt. First Baptist in Long Beach Pre-school was destroyed. Some of these students will enter our school. Just as other schools have reached out to our students until we could find a new school site, we will share ours with these students until their schools can be rebuilt.

Textbooks, school supplies, library books, desk, and many other items have been donated in an enormous outpouring of support for our school. People from all over the country--New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Florida, Wisconsin, California are just some of the areas that have contacted us and asked to help our community. Some have sent items we needed. Some have come down to physically help with the building. Others have opened lemonade stands and held bake sales. Young and old alike have shared in our re-building. God has truly blessed us with the love and concern expressed by so many people of so many faiths.

I don’t know if I could ever express how grateful I am to the Seabee’s for the many hours they have spent helping to make St. Thomas School’s reopening a reality. Without their assistance we would never be able to make our October 3 reopening date. But baring any unforeseen problems we will be open on October 3!

We will begin our school day on October 3 at 7:50 with Prayer and Pledge in front of the school where the Navy Seabee’s will lead us in a flag ceremony. At 8:30 the Bishop, Father Louis, Father Jim, and Father Dennis will celebrate Mass with us and bless our new church and school. Please join us for Mass. A regular school day will continue after Mass ending at 3:00 with afternoon pickup.

It will be wonderful to see our school family together again. I look forward to beginning to put our lives back together, to begin the healing, to paint the new landscape that Katrina began. I am sure that together we can bring the Spirit of St. Thomas to our new building. I look forward to seeing all of you October 3.

God bless,

Murph Fortenberry