This week I was planning to write about a number of charming/inspiring/smart comments that many of you have provided of late about recent CharterFolk content, but over the past couple of days devastating news has kept coming in about the tragic fires in Los Angeles. In addition to inflicting losses across untold thousand of Los Angelenos generally, the fires have had terrible impact on many, many CharterFolk.
Palisades Charter High School has been severely affected.
Media reports have referred to the school as “iconic,” given its history and given that it has provided the setting for many popular movies. Palisades is a school that has also been iconic for the charter school movement, having been approved all the way back in 1993.
It’s a school I know very well, have visited many times, and know kids and families being very well served there to this day. It’s just so heartbreaking to see the school community affected so.
But sadly, it is not the only charter school to have been severely damaged in the fires. And many CharterFolk have lost their homes. Some are people who have written here at CharterFolk. Others are people whose contributions we have profiled and celebrated. Out of respect for their privacies, I will refrain from mentioning any personal losses, and I will wait to hear confirmation about what schools have been damaged before reporting further. Unfortunately, the winds are intensifying as we go to press. So losses are likely to grow.
If there is any solace to take from the situation, it comes from seeing the spirit of togetherness that is so prevalent across all public schools – charter and non. We mourn the losses that any public school community has suffered. And it’s inspiring to see how EducationFolk of all types are ever-poised to help others when moments like this arise.
One of the reader comments I was planning to include in the other post came from Debbie Beyer from Literacy First Charter Schools in El Cajon. She was the first to respond to my recent all-call to readers to assist CharterFolk affected by the terrible storms in Western North Carolina.
Literally, within ten minutes of the post going out, this is what I heard back from Debbie.
Literacy First connected with FernLeaf Charter and partnered with them in fundraising. Our families donated directly to their link and sent gift cards. What an ordeal for them! I am hopeful that they will be able to open with a renewed sense of mission. LFCS has partnered with many charters in distress over the years in OKLA, Houston, northern CA and Maui. Thanks for shining a light. ~db
You are amazing! Thank you so much for your donation to our Evergreen Fund annual campaign. Because of your and other community members’ generosity, Evergreen will be able to continue providing essential services to our students and vital support to all members of the school community.
We look forward to sharing more details, over the months ahead, of the impact of your gift for our school community. But until then, we wanted to tell you how much your support means to us and our community.
With gratitude, Susan
CharterFolk will find its way to contribute to recovery efforts in Los Angeles when the time is right. For now, we just send out word to all who are being so tragically affected.
