New Hanover County Schools are just getting back to class, meanwhile the threat of Hurricane Michael has many feeling nervous.
Trask Middle School staff and their families gathered at Islands Fresh Mex Grill in Wilmington for an evening fundraiser this week. Proceeds from the burritos and taco salads sold will go to the school's Parent/Teachers’ Association.
The school’s staff are excited to be together and support the PTA -- which has been doling out Florence aid -- but they also have a new worry on their minds.
“Is Michael going to hit us? Have you heard anything? I mean, people are concerned,” said teacher Caroline Rudolph, looking down at new text messages on her phone.
“We're just getting back into a good groove again, you know, you've still got kids talking about it,” added her co-worker in the Special Education department, teacher Karen Gerkhardt. “One kid asked me today about [Hurricane] Michael, and I said, ‘I don't know who Michael is.’”
New Hanover County Schools canceled classes for Thursday "out of an abundance of caution with the approach of Hurricane Michael," according to an email the district sent to teachers and staff.
The school’s principal, Maggie Rollison, said that anxiety is spreading across the school.
“I know we had teachers anxious today about tarping their roofs. I know I tarped mine today. The debris that’s all sitting out in all of our yards -- that’s now projectiles,” Rollison said. “There’s a heightened anxiousness, for sure.”
Hurricane Michael is expected to hit North Carolina as a tropical storm Thursday. Normally, that wouldn't worry seasoned coastal residents much, but right now, they're vulnerable. Rollison's own roof is months away from being repaired.
“What we’ve heard are 50 mile per hour winds, and anywhere from 2 to 5 inches of rain, but I think everyone is a bit shell-shocked,” said Rollison.
One of the school’s guidance counselors, Elizabeth Scharf, said she’s been hearing from students who were displaced from their homes, who are worried about more damage.
“They've already been through this, and they're thinking, 'Great! Now our home is drying out and there's hope for us to potentially move back.’ And now those hopes may be dashed,” Scharf said.
Scharf has been doing a lot of grief counseling since students returned.
“It's not something that we can hide from them. They know, they're teenagers,” Scharf said. “But you just want to encourage them to do what they can within their power.”
Meanwhile, the school's staff are doing everything in their power to help. Rollison spent part of the school day shopping with PTA money. She bought milk and bread for a student's family who lost their cars and couldn’t get to a store and tarps for teachers who needed them at home, so they could focus on teaching.
Follow Liz Schlemmer on Twitter @LSchlemmerWUNC
