RBE adopts Texas school still reeling from hurricane
By:
Jill Meier, Journal Editor
Staff and students and Robert Bennis Elementary are helping to outfit kids displaced by Hurricane Harvey at Travis Elementary School in Port Arthur, Texas. The kindness project was inspired by the RBE fourth-grade social studies classes. Pictured are fourth-graders (seated, from left) Landon Skyberg, Kellen Hurd, Ella Vogel, Gracie Salter, Valerie Adigbolo, Jayaunna Stroh and Levi Veskman; (standing) RBE teacher Andrea Pudwill, Will Peterson, Dylan Bailey and Brody Warn, RBE Principal Kristin Hofkamp, RBE teacher Cody Linnweber and Peyton Sanders. Jill Meier/BV Journal
Jill Meyer
Journal editor
Families, students and staff at Robert Bennis Elementary are helping to outfit kids in Texas with school supplies following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey.
Principal Kristin Hofkamp said RBE “adopted” Travis Elementary School in Port Arthur, Texas, a PreK through fifth grade school of about 600 students, after learning of their recovery needs through social media.
“RBE reached out through a document on social media where schools could adopt another school in need of support after Hurricane Harvey,” Hofkamp explained. “Even though this seems big, it’s just a small part that will hopefully help them.”
Spearheaded by RBE’s fourth grade, the kindness project ties in with The Lynx Way, a character trait program initiated districtwide this year. Kindness is also the focus this month at RBE.
Fourth grade teacher Cody Linneweber was confident that RBE students and staff would respond to the call to help.
“I knew it was going to work because we have really good kids, parents and staff,” he said. “I knew it would be successful.”
Hofkamp also had few reservations.
“We have kind kids in Brandon,” she added.
Students at Travis Elementary begin their school year today (Sept. 20), according to Dimi Crowell, assistant principal. She counts the boxes of supplies coming from RBE - and others – as “blessings.”
“We just found out about RBE today, what a blessing,” she said. “School people are the best to know exactly what we need. There have been so many people and schools that have contacted me that I can’t keep up.”
Crowell said that while the school sustained minimal water damage, the majority of their students’ homes didn’t fare as well.
“Most homes were completely devastated and our students’ belongings, including their brand-new supplies set aside for the first day of school, were ruined in the flood,” she said of the low-income district. “These donations are so meaningful … and when we’re back on our feet, we’re going to help others, too.”
Although flooding was expected, Crowell said the historical hurricane dumped as much rain as the area receives in a year, in two days.
“Hurricanes we’re used to them,” she said, “but we weren’t expecting this.”
Once needs are met at Travis Elementary, Crowell said donations will be shared with other neighboring schools in the district.
Over the last two weeks, RBE staff and students collectively donated 320 folders, 365 notebooks, 24 reams of paper, 372 bottles of glue, 78 scissors, 110 erasers, 159 boxes of crayons, 19 backpacks and various other classroom items, toiletries and clothing. The multiple boxes were shipped earlier this week, and Hofkamp said RBE parents donated money to help defray shipping costs.
“Please tell RBE we are so grateful for everything,” Crowell said.
