Jennifer Radcliffe has an excellent story detailing how local schools are helping meet the needs of refugee children:
Louisiana residents who escaped Hurricane Katrina said they’re thankful schools are welcoming the children.
“While they’re learning, it’s kind of keeping their mind off the tragedy,” said Kathleen Sutton, who enrolled her son Matthew, 11, in Galena Park’s Cobb Sixth Grade Campus. “Being around other children will give him some kind of happiness.”
The Houston Independent School District enrolled 166 evacuee students Wednesday. Katy enrolled nearly 300 students this week. The Fort Bend school district admitted 54 students, and the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District had 16. Figures for other area districts weren’t yet available.
The numbers are expected to jump significantly next week, as families get established in Houston and after the Labor Day holiday Monday.
“We’ve had 200 calls on our hot line just this morning,” HISD spokeswoman Adriana Villarreal said.
Will Rogers Elementary School enrolled 10 children Thursday, and Principal Ron Dominy said he has space for dozens more.
[snip]
Families quietly sorted through racks of khaki and navy pants and shirts. Basic school supplies, such as pencils and notebook paper, were also provided.
“You’re a godsend,” Danny Dinh, 21, told a volunteer.
Dinh picked up clothes for his 9-year-old sister, who started school in Alief on Thursday.
Their mother is still driving to Houston, and their father hasn’t been heard from since Monday, when he was repairing the roof of his east New Orleans home.
Here is HISD’s “How to Help” webpage.
