March 2021
By Carlos Rivas, Staff Reporter
From February 15 to February 23, Winter Storm Uri brought unbearably cold temperatures and freezing precipitation to Texas, closing many schools, including KAC, and canceling virtual and in-person classes due to the bad weather. More than four million households in Texas lost electricity and similar numbers ran out of water. This chaos caused students and teachers to miss eight school days. While the building was closed, the KAC community remained intact, as the school tried to help families in need with check-ins to determine if families needed any food or water.
KAC was first forced to close its building on Friday, February 12, when an initial ice storm made roads unsafe for driving. That day, classes were held virtually. Then, on Sunday, the dangerous weather intensified. A snowstorm caused the electricity to cut out all over Texas, making even virtual learning impossible. The snowstorm affected all elements of KAC: students, teachers, and staff. Students missed eight days of learning. Teachers and staff were unable to work. It might not seem like a lot but in 8 school days we can be learning a lot, unfortunately some lessons had to be rescheduled or canceled.
As the storm approached Texas, people went to grocery stores and bought all types of food that they could find. In many cases, people took more than they needed which left many families without food. Many people were stuck at home without electricity, water and unfortunately food. KAC tried to help by reaching out to families and asking them if there was anything they needed such as water, food or any necessities. Benjamin Breault, who teaches AP Government and Economics at KAC, gathered food for families in need during the snowstorm and its aftermath. On February 24, he posted a note for students in Google Classroom that read, “Well that escalated quickly. Please text me if your family is short of food or water.”
Two days later, he posted another comment with links to get free food. “Check it out,” he wrote, “free food available today.” Minutes later he posted “Guys, I’m going to continue working on getting food available for families who need it.”
While Breault stood out for his individual effort, KAC as a whole tried to help members of its community in need. After most homes in Texas had had their electricity restored, but while many still lacked water, teachers and staff spent Tuesday and Wednesday, February 23 and 24, calling and texting students and families for wellness checks. By reaching out to ask if they were okay or needed anything, KAC showed that it cares about its students and families.
The Cardinal Post 