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A
message from our superintendent
Friends,
Growing up on a dairy farm in the rural
Gordonville
area, and living most of my life here in Cape Girardeau, I’ve come
to love the land, the traditions and the people of this community.
Through the hard work and sacrifice of our forefathers, we are
blessed with a rich heritage, close bonds and a quality way of life.
When I became your superintendent of schools eight months ag o,
I took the helm of a system that includes ten campuses, 600
employees and nearly 4000 students. I certainly appreciate and pay
tribute to the administrators, school board members, teachers and
district patrons that came before me. It all started in 1867 in the
basement of the
Presbyterian Church,
and our first public school, Lorimier, was completed in 1872 at a
cost of $15,000. Those were the days!
I
share these facts with you to illustrate that there is much about
Cape Public Schools that you may not know. We have
presidential-award winning teachers in our district; we have one of
the highest percentage of highly qualified teachers in the state; we
have effective
outreach programs,
and students who are nationally recognized for
academic achievement.
So, with great pride, I introduce you to the first of many e-mail
newsletters, in which we hope to share the many stories of success
and achievement in
Cape Girardeau Public Schools.
Through the years our teachers and students have attained noble
accolades, and we hope to tell their stories here. The Cape
Girardeau community is caring and giving, and we will attempt to
share heartwarming stories that our patrons are often too humble or
gracious to talk about.
Please join me in the weeks and months ahead as we take a look at
the people that have made our community what it is today. Since
we’ve just experienced one of the hardest snow and ice storms in
memory, let’s kick off this first issue with a
heartwarming story
that occurred just before we recessed for the holidays.
With warmest regards, Dr. Jim Welker
Community helps Alma Schrader during family emergency
A heartwarming
Christmas story
That cold December Monday started like any other day at Alma
Schrader Elementary School. Three hundred kindergarteners, first,
second, third and fourth graders made their way to their classrooms
as thirty teachers
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prepared for another day of learning activities.
Principal Ruth Ann Orr seemed to be everywhere at once—
answering parents’ questions, receiving hugs from her
flock, directing her support staff, monitoring the
endless line of busses that circled past her tidy school
on Randol Street in Cape Girardeau. She’s been
perfecting her talents for the past 26 years in the Cape
School District. She had no way of knowing that morning
that in a few minutes she’d be fighting back tears and
summoning the courage to deal with an event that would
change many lives forever.
Orr was in her office checking attendance reports and
making phone calls to verify absent children when she
learned that one of her children had experienced a
seizure the day before. Medical tests had revealed that
the child could have a cyst on his brain. He and his
mother would be traveling to
Children’s Hospital
in
St. Louis
on Tuesday for further testing and possible surgery to
remove the cyst. Orr knew the child and his family
well. She also knew they were not prepared for the
financial jolt that was coming.
“This is a very conscientious family”, she said later.
“We wanted to help them any way we could… gas money to
St. Louis… meals or extras if it did turn out the child
needed surgery.” Orr had no idea what the response
would be when she e-mailed her plea for help. “We would
like to be able to give money to the mother tomorrow
afternoon prior to their trip. If you are willing to
help, please give your money to Stephanie Depro (the
school secretary)”, the message read.
The plea for help spread through the community at the
speed of light. In less than an hour Orr knew that the
spirit of Christmas was alive and well in Cape
Girardeau. “I appealed to the staff of this school and
the district administration as well as the parents on my
Emergency Contact list at Alma Schrader via e-mail.
Within 45 minutes, we had collected over $550”, she
said.
“I am reminded of the disciples being instructed to cast
out their nets in faith. First Missouri State Bank, our
business partner, arrived within minutes with a
donation. Evangelical United Church of Christ called
within 15 minutes to adopt the family to see to their
Christmas
needs. I feel so blessed to work with this staff and
these Alma Schrader parents. I am also humbled at their
generosity. It’s a good world to be in,” she said in an
e-mail later that morning.
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The next day, as the little family journeyed
to St. Louis and the unknown, the e-mail had
spread like a virus. “Parents began
dropping by throughout the day giving
whatever they could afford to give, Orr
recalled. “Black, White, Asian, Christian,
and Muslim-- everyone gave and gave
freely. Kids were bringing $1 and $2. Adults
were giving $20s, and $50s and $100s. No one
ever asked for a receipt, and most were very
insistent that their names not be mentioned,
as they preferred to make their donation
discretely”.
The outpouring of support would continue for
several days. Another email from the
principal appeared on computer screens: “Our
Adopt-A-School partner took up donations.
We work with caring, compassionate people
and have families who are there for us. It’s
a GOOD world today! Take time to step away
and be in awe of the caring that is within
our reach if we just ask for it.”
In a final e-mail Orr said, “It’s an honor
to work with all of you! From one e-mail,
word spread and in the span of less than 24
hours, we collected $2300 for a family in
need. This should certainly cover traveling
expenses as well as any lodging expenses the
family may occur. I am still staggered by
the amount! I am crying as I write this as
I am so in awe of the outpouring of love
from this community. Many of you gave not
knowing anything more about the family than
what was said in the e-mail. Most of you
will never, ever meet the child. No one gave
because it was a tax write-off. You just
gave because your hearts are good. Thank
you from  the
bottom of my heart.”
But that’s not the end of this Christmas
story. In an interview today, Orr said, “To
appreciate the magnitude of everyone's
giving, you have to think that most
people just took my word that there was a
family in need. Most people gave cash--
there were no
tax write offs.”
She went on to observe, “I think this
illustrates the fact that there is a
community of support out there. There are
relationships which have been built between
the school and community. Just think, with
just one appeal, we collected over $2800. I
had never seen anyone stagger in disbelief
until I gave the money to one of the child's
caregivers.”
Orr reported that the child is attending
classes again, but is restricted from
certain activities.
*Alma Schrader PTA |
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