HOLLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Cooperation * Respect * Responsibility * Sportsmanship
Helping schools and students in Joplin, Missouri devastated by the tornadoes of May 22, 2011
Contact: Mr. Andrew J. Sanko, Principal
Last spring, the community of Joplin, Missouri was devastated by a powerful and unexpected tornado, a storm being described as one of the strongest ever recorded. Many schools in the Joplin area were affected by the tornado, and at least two elementary schools were destroyed completely.
Holland Elementary has offered a helping hand to the students and schools in Joplin so that they can begin to rebuild. Our effort is in its early stages, but your support is always welcome.
UPDATE: NOVEMBER 2011
The following email, and photos, were sent by Mrs. Lori Musser (in the sunglasses, below), principal of Columbia Elementary School in Joplin, MO:
"Hi all - just checkin in! Hope you all are doing well. I have attached pics from Extreme Home Makeover. There is one of me and my secretary (I am the one in the sunglasses). There is also a picture of Ty and there is one of Paulie signing my hard hat. The others are pics of the house that we helped with. We had fun and the houses were really cool. The episode is supposed to air sometme in January. It is an exciting time in Joplin. Every day there are businesses reopening and people moving back into new homes. Take care and stay well!"
UPDATE: OCTOBER 2011
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Holland Elementary holds a Zumbathon®
to raise funds for Irving Elementary
On Saturday, October 1, Holland Elementary teacher Beth Pacitti led a two-hour Zumba party to help raise funds for Irving Elementary! The event netted over $300, and got almost 40 women up and dancing! Thanks, Mrs. Pacitti, for organizing a succesful event, and to those whose donations will go to help "re-build hope" in Joplin schools! Look for another Zumba event in Spring 2012!
UPDATE: AUGUST 30, 2011
Join us in a Zumbathon fundraiser to aid Irving Elementary! Holland Elementary will host a Zumba-thon, a 2-hour Latin-inspired workout, led by Council Rock Zumba-certified teachers! Suggested donation is $10 for those that preregister, and $15 at the door. You must be 18 or older to participate, and the first 100 to preregister recieve a tee shirt! For more information, including a registration form and contact information, check out the Holland Elementary website
UPDATE: JUNE 8, 2011
Wow! Over $250 dollars raised on CrAzY HaT day!! Special thanks to the 6th grade students for donating their extra field-trip funds; to many HES families who donated more than $1 to Crazy Hat day; and for our special students that organized a car wash to raise money for Irving Elementary! Way to go, Holland Hawks!
UPDATE: JUNE 6, 2011
CRAZY HAT DAY: Wednesday, June 8
On June 8, students will be offered the chance to wear a crazy hat to school for a $1.00 donation! All proceeds benefit the Joplin schools!
Also, Dr. Debbie Fort, of Irving Elemtary School in Joplin, sent the following message to Mr. Sanko last week, in response to our recent donation:
"Words cannot express how grateful I am to you and your wonderful community for adopting us. We lost everything materially, but all of our
students and staff are safe and that's what matters."
The Joplin School District is also creating an Adopt-A-Classroom program. From the Joplin Schools website, the Adopt-A-Classroom program will help Joplin Schools get ready for the school year, which starts in early August. If you would like to participate in the program, or have an idea of how to help, please contact Kim Vann at kvann@joplin.k12.mo.us, or go to the website http://www.joplinschools.org.
UPDATE: JUNE 2, 2011
A staff dress-down day netted $240, which was donated this week to help with the recovery underway in Joplin.
Also, on Wednesday, June 8, Holland Elementary will kick off its "Joining With Joplin" support effort with a Crazy Hat Day. Students and staff will donate $1.00 for the honor of wearing a crazy hat to show their commitment to the students of Irving Elementary School in Joplin, MO.
UPDATE: MAY 31, 2011
Mr. Sanko has been in touch with Mrs. Lori Musser, principal of Columbia Elementary school in Joplin. Mrs. Musser is our main contact at this time, and while her school's building was spared, many of her students and their families were not. Below is part of an email received from Mrs. Musser over the weekend:
"Thank you so much for the gift card. It came in the mail today and I will be giving it to Deb - I know that it will really help with getting summer school started...We worked all day today at my parents' house. It was so amazing. A group of about ten men and boys came walking up with chain saws and just started cutting up the debris and hauling to the curb. We didn't even ask, they just showed up. When they were done with us they went to the next house. It made a very overwhelming task suddenly very easy. There were tons of volunteers here today. People just driving up and down the streets offering sandwiches, burgers, drinks, etc. This country is a wonderful place. The President is coming tomorrow and will be 1/2 mile from my house...Here in Joplin, we feel the loving arms of this whole country wrapped around us and we appreciate it so much."
What have we done?
This week, principal Andy Sanko spoke directly with Mrs. Lori Musser, the principal of Columbia Elementary school in Joplin. Mrs. Musser provided the name of Dr. Deborah Fort, principal of Irving Elementary, one of the Joplin schools that has been destroyed. Mrs. Musser described school buildings that were completely destroyed or damaged, and countless children whose lives have been disrupted. As of this date, the total extent of the damage has yet to be determined, but Holland staff has already dedicated a dress-down day to the cause.
What are we hoping to do?
Holland Elementary is organizing its resources and waiting to hear from the Joplin school principals as to their most pressing needs. Our hope is to partner with the Joplin schools over the course of the 2011-12 school year and focus our resources on aid. As always, and in concert with our guiding principles, we want to keep children first - including those outside of our community.
Some ideas in the planning stage includes dress-down days, lemonade stands, and collections of school supplies.
What can you do to help?
As the needs evolve, Holland Elementary hopes to support the Joplin schools through the recovery process. If you would like to make a donation, or have an idea on how Holland can help Joplin, please let us know. For additional information, please contact Mr. Sanko at 215-944-1500, or email asanko@crsd.org.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
