How I Know

In late August 2005, normal life in the city of New Orleans, and in the school where I was teaching fifth grade, came to an abrupt halt. Hurricane Katrina forced evacuation, resulting in remote learning and work if you were lucky, and a fight for survival if you were among the thousands who weren’t. 

It became common in the days following the tragedy to question whether the city would, or should, come back. 

Those who doubted the city’s resilience and renewal didn’t know many New Orleanians. 

Soul is waterproof. 

This was, and is, the statement on the front of my favorite t-shirt. It summed up the dogged hope and belief that fueled the rebuilding. The city has soul, and no storm could wash that away. 

It is also how I know our Country Day community will come out on the other side of this.

Our school has soul. 

Our soul is made up of the stuff that weathers the storm. We are a place where character, kindness, curiosity, and joy fuel a desire to chew on problems and the resilience to chew as long as it takes. 

We are fortunate to have resources and access that allow for learning to continue despite our distance, but the magic is the people, the relationships, and the culture that binds us. 

The strength of our connections is more important now than ever. The time given throughout the year to knowing each other well allows the virtual connections we make today to be powerful. We have learned the twists and turns of the people around us, through discussion, play, good questions, and some sweat. We will find a way to keep them strong. 

It will be different. It may be different for a long time. But, it will be ok. Some of it may be great. Some not so much. But, it will be ok. 

We have soul.