Download the article: A Report from the Hill School
New Orleans, Louisiana
We had just begun our sixth year at the Hill School, with a thriving Kindergarten, a first grade, second grade, fourth/fifth grade and a seventh/eighth grade when Hurricane Katrina came. Most of our staff had just returned from summer training with new hopes and dreams for a fruitful year. The seeds had just been sown for the new school year at the Kindergarten parents' meeting which took place just two days before the storm. Unfortunately, our kindergarten, first, and second grade classrooms were severely flooded, having two to three feet of standing water. We will not be able to salvage our beautiful handmade puppets, dolls, toys, desks, etc. that made our Kindergarten such a magical place. Although our upper grade classrooms were on the second floor, we are concerned about the mold and mildew that has taken over many buildings in the city.
Where has Katrina left the Hill School? Many of our families, including teachers, have lost everything. We have been trying to reach all of our families to determine what their individual losses are and how we can reach out to them in their time of need. We as a community are spread across the United States, all the way from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Miami, Florida.
AWSNA (the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America) has opened an account to accept your kind donations that will make the difference as to whether we can continue our journey at the Hill School. Your donation will go directly to the purchasing of new desks, lesson books, supplies, handwork materials, gardening supplies, play equipment, and other school expenses. The current plan is to relocate the entire school to a newly renovated historic building for this remaining school year.
If you would like more information about the re-opening of the school or donating to the Hill School, please visit our web site at www.hillschoolwaldorf.org. We are a strong and beautiful group of families and look forward to being together in the near future. Hope is alive and well in New Orleans. Thank you so much for your generous gifts and support to our school and families at this difficult time.