Weekly Message and Flooding Updates

1/24/2020

Dear Ocean Shore Families,

My weekly message to you on Fridays has taken on a new meaning today! In light of such an eventful week, I find this time to reflect and update you particularly meaningful! Please read carefully for my reflections from the week and very important updates regarding our return to campus on Monday! I also hope you are able to enjoy your weekend, and hopefully attend the Jazz Fest on Saturday! See details below!

With Gratitude: I just cannot say this enough… thank you, Ocean Shore. My pride to be part of this community- has provided such comfort, hope, and peace of mind. The entire Pacifica community has “circled the wagons” around Ocean Shore in our time of need. The care and concern that has been extended leaves me speechless. Our Ocean Shore family and the greater Pacifica community is a very special place. This week demonstrates this on many levels! As you often hear with disasters, in light of such tough circumstances, the outpouring of kindness is such a demonstration of humanity has kept us all going!

Reflections: Each day has been a gift to witness memorable moments. I can’t wait to share them with you!

Kids Showed So Much Joy! The smiles and high-fives all week from our kids was so inspiring! It made me smile to see how much they enjoyed riding the shuttle bus or school bus (this was a huge highlight of the week!)
Acts of Kindness: Our kids wrote the sweetest thank you cards to the IBL staff and the crew at Ocean Shore students. The IBL staff felt the love and appreciation! See pictures of a few below!
Food and Goodies from our PTO: What a lovely gesture to have snacks and lunch provided for both the OSS and IBL staff for the days we were here from our generous PTO! Hard-working teachers were so grateful to have some food after long days. This means so much to us! See the pictures of the food below!
Kids Helping Kids: Watching the students help one another over the last few days.
Staff Putting in Long Hours: Support staff and teachers have been putting in long hours on the weekend and during the day to prepare for the days ahead. The work ethic and commitment to our kids from this team is inspiring!
Classroom pets: While we have been away, our Restoration Crew has been tending to the fish and turtles in the classroom with daily feeding routines!
Kindergarteners Saying Thank You! While on their walking field trip to the Post Office, the kids walked near the school where they noticed the crew working at Ocean Shore. They shouted out their cheers and thank you to the crew working to clean up our school!
IBL Community Welcoming Us: Our neighbors have been so helpful to accommodate us with offering classrooms, supplies, food, and navigating our buses. We are so grateful!
District Staff Support: We have felt the presence and support of so much guidance and assistance from our school district. Everyday, we have been supported from our Superintendent and other district administrators and staff who have helped us manage logistics, care for students, attendance, and maintenance needs.
Viva Italiano Donated Crayons! Our local friends (after ordering pizza) shared a large box of crayons with our schools upon learning what happened at the school!
Many Schools Share Books and Games! Across the districts, other teachers have been lending us supplies, games, and outdoor play equipment to help!

MEMORABLE QUOTES:

“Principal Julie! This is where I have t-ball practice!” (Upon seeing the IBL field at recess)
(Staff member to a child) “Your mom is here to pick you up today - you won’t need to go to TTT” (In response) “Oh no! I really want to ride on the bus!”
(Quote from an 8th grader at the Tech Museum today): “I am not gonna lie. This place is cool!”
(From the IBL Principal!) “A 7th grade class stopped teaching for a few minutes to watch the 1st graders walk by the classroom because the 7th graders begged to watch the cute kids walk by!”
(From a teacher to myself) “Well - at least YOUR water did not break after the flood!”

These moments are just the tip of the iceberg. Share your stories of benevolence with me! It is inspiring to share!

Updates:

We Return to OSS on Monday 1/27 for our normal schedule! We are very excited to return home Monday with our students! Though the classrooms and hallways will still have work to be done, the building will be clean, safe and ready for students to return. Many classroom materials will still be stored and our teachers have made arrangements for modified lessons given limited supplies.

What is happening inside the building? What will it look like? While we have been away this week, a large team of specialists from Belfor Property Restoration has been working to get our school operational for students. A team of 55 crewmembers have been working daily from 8 am to 8 pm! The efficiency of this team has been mighty impressive! Classroom items have been cataloged and carefully stored in one of the large 30 pods outside of campus.

Inside, many of the walls and cabinetry are being reconstructed due to the water damage. Items inside cabinets have been stored while they rebuild. Carpets been replaced and new area rugs will be coming to replace the older ones damaged with water.

Many people have asked which classrooms were impacted. While some sustained more damage than others, almost all of the rooms required some level of repair. We were thankful that the MPR and kitchen sustained limited damage! This is wonderful because our gorgeous wood floor in the MPR was mostly preserved and part of the original building. Classrooms have been prioritized with need and use in the order of which the repairs will be completed.

Belfor Property Restoration has an amazing team of project managers, property specialists and trades specialist. When we return on Monday, the school will still not be completely ready. Classrooms will be functional with desks, flooring (including new carpet) and some materials. At the end of the school day, staff will be asked to leave when the students leave so that construction can resume in the afternoon and evening. The cabinets will need to be installed. It may take several weeks to have the school resume to the previous state.

How Can I Help Prepare My Child for Returning to Campus: I have included pictures below for you to see the progress and encourage you to share with your family. Talking to your child about the progress and that some parts of their classroom will look different may help them prepare when they return. It is important to talk to your child, and let us know how we can best support them emotionally. On Monday morning, I will explain how our school is being restored, and teachers will guide them through a restorative circle as s class to start the day.

Here are a few resources you may find useful:

https://wvde.state.wv.us/healthyschools/documents/QuickBriefonRecoveryAfteraFloodforTeachersandParents.pdf

https://weather.com/news/weather/video/talking-to-your-kids-about-flooding

Drop Off for Monday: Where Should My Child Go In the Morning on Monday 1/27? PLEASE HAVE STUDENTS STRAIGHT TO THE MPR! Parents - please help us by dropping your student. Please limit parent access into the MPR, which is very small to only students. It is more difficult for the restoration team with extra people on campus. Students will report directly to the MPR upon arriving to campus - just as we would for a rainy day. Students should not play on the playground until later in the day when we have more staff. Please help us limit the foot traffic in the school during this restoration time!

Pick Up for Monday: Our pick up times and schedule will continue as usual! Plan to pick up your child outside of campus where you normally would meet them. Regular day schedule will apply!

Will Lunch Be Available at OSS? YES! We will have full access to our cafeteria and MPR for eating. Your child may order a lunch as usual or bring their lunch.

What about After School Activities? CAMPUS WILL CLOSE AT 3 pm! Immediately following the last student being sent home, all staff will be leaving the campus so that the construction can continue on campus. The earlier we are off the premises, the quicker the team can get to work to finish the reconstruction efforts! Therefore, ALL AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES will be postponed or cancelled until March. Updates will be sent should this change or if activities will be held offsite.

What About After School Enrichment Programs (ASEP)?  Due to the flood, the start date for ASEP is delayed. Registration will be announced once a start date is determined. You can still access the site to view classes, but registration will not be possible until a start date is determined. Thank you for your patience.

How do I get in touch with the office or school over the weekend? We expect our office to be operational on Monday with phone and Internet service. You may contact Ocean Shore School on the phone or emailing your teacher. Please note - staff have been asked to remain off campus for the weekend while the crew continues to work.

Backpack Retrieval or Instruments? Our restoration crew will be working on Monday and Tuesday to retrieve these items and dispose of food/liquid left behind. We hope to have these returned as soon as possible with your child or available for families to pick up.

Student Medications: All student medications have been transported back to Ocean Shore (we have had them stored at IBL while we were on site). Please let us know if your child requires new medications.

THANK YOU! I will send updates as they become available! Please do not hesitate to contact me or our staff with any questions! Your understanding and support has been greatly appreciated!

Kindly,
Julie Carrillo
Principal, Ocean Shore School