On Thursday, September 26, Hurricane Helene passed through the Tampa Bay area and unfortunately caused many Academy families to witness damage, particularly from flooding. In extreme cases, Academy families have been displaced to temporary locations as they fix damage that has been done to their homes. Situations like these can be very stressful for students, especially as they begin attending school with potential damage to their homes and belongings. 

Academy faculty and staff are praying that faith helps the community grow closer and overcome their struggles. In an email discussing hurricane-related information, President Kevin Whitney said, “In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, we find ourselves called to come together as a community – bound by faith, strengthened by hope, and united in love. We are deeply grateful for the safety of so many and the resilience shown by our families.” Because Academy intends to help all students suffering from the aftermaths of hurricane Helene, the administration is willing to work with students who have damage impacting their abilities to easily attend school. In order to accomplish this, Academy has many resources to help families who are struggling to reshape their lives due to the storm. 

For students whose clothes have been damaged by flooding, the Mothers Association is selling gently used uniforms stored in the Jag Shop Clothes Closet. These uniforms will be delivered to students or available at the front desk. Anyone needing to collect uniforms should email the Mothers Association by Friday, October 4, 2024. The Jag shop will also be selling uniforms and taking uniform donations from 8:05-11:00 a.m. on Friday. 

Students with damaged iPads or Macbooks should inform the Help Desk they are in need of new electronics. The technology department is available to help solve any other related issues from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 2:45-4:00 p.m. If students need school lunch, their families should reach out to the principal of their grade, who will contact SAGE Dining services to provide that student free lunch. Students who are feeling stressed and anxious due to the impacts of the hurricane are encouraged to connect with Academy’s personal counselors who can provide encouragement and emotional support.

 Additionally, the Academy community has been directly involved in helping community members experiencing damage from the storm. Anyone interested in serving impacted community members should explore opportunities from the Mission & Ministry Team. Saturday, October 5, is the first date Academy will be volunteering around the Tampa Bay area. 

Anyone interested in donating is encouraged to place donations in the blue bins on the North Drive, or deliver their items to the Mission & Ministry office. These donations will help students and their families at St. John Vianney Catholic School, which has unfortunately suffered significant damage. 

As Academy moves forward together as a school community, it is important to lead with faith and rely on God. In order to offer families words of encouragement, Sister Lisa from Mission and Ministries said, “Faith in action as well as prayers we say and prayers we hold in our hearts for the people impacted can uplift the community as we ask God to give the families the grace they need to overcome hardship. Our compassion for others motivates us to put our love and service in action. In addition to our prayers, we have six houses in which elderly live who are unable to move their own furniture and belongings who need our help this weekend. We would appreciate it if the girls could take some time to volunteer.”