During my previous years as an administrator, spent in California, we always knew how to prepare for earthquakes. We drilled regularly and had action plans that would kick in if a quake occurred.
But I never thought about what to do if one of your school buildings gets struck by lightning.
Until yesterday, that is.
During a torrential downpour on day two of the school year, a flash of lightning struck the roof of our middle school building, setting the frame a' smolderin' as only 1.21 gigawatts can do and prompting an evacuation of the 7th and 8th graders to the high school campus. Everyone was unharmed, and within about 45 minutes, the fire department declared that it was safe for us to re-enter the building and hold classes there today.
You could say, we started our year with a bang . . . literally.
I'm happy that our middle school principal and faculty acted quickly and decisively in this event. I'm happy that we were able to get the students out of the building in less than two minutes. And I'm happy that no people or property were hurt.
But there were far bigger bangs to start the year for our students and their families.
On the first full day of high school classes, freshmen were greeted by encouraging post-it notes on their lockers, placed there by caring seniors . . . for no other reason than because they wanted welcome and encourage them. BANG!
One of our Kindergarten teachers declared powerfully on parent night, "There will be no surprises for you at conferences this year. I care about your child too much not be in regular communication with you." BANG!
Minutes after the lightning strike, we had unprompted phone calls from school-supporting roofing and construction companies wanting to know if we needed anything or if they should send people over. BANG!
Teachers assigned playground partners for new kids, so that no one would be left out during recess. As a result, one new student ran into her parents' arms after school and proclaimed, "I had the best day! I want to go to this school forever!" BANG!
None of those items will make the local news tonight or be talked about on the radio tomorrow morning. But they are exactly the kinds of experiences that define Holland Christian Schools. It's a true privilege to work with people who care so deeply about our children, and I have no doubt that the year ahead holds many more explosions of joy for our community.
. . . But, please, no more lightning.
