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‘Use Any of the Books’: Florida Students at One School-Turned-Hurricane-Shelter Roll Out Welcome Mat for Evacuees

By Laura Fay

September 7, 2017

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Families fleeing South Florida in anticipation of Hurricane Irma can find shelter at many schools across northern and central Florida. One school near Tampa is extending a special welcome to evacuees.

At Sessums Elementary School in Riverview, students and teachers left supplies and notes with warm greetings. Sessums is part of Hillsborough County Public Schools, which are closed Thursday and Friday to serve as shelters. The school posted on Twitter that it will be a special-needs shelter.

Students signed a welcome message for evacuees of Hurricane Irma at Sessums Elementary. (Photo courtesy twitter.com/Sessumspride)

Teachers welcomed evacuees into their classrooms with supplies and notes. (Photo courtesy twitter.com/Sessumspride)

“We are so thankful you are all safe,” wrote Ms. Yates’s class to welcome those seeking shelter from Hurricane Irma. (Photo courtesy twitter.com/Sessumspride)

The cheery notes offset the eeriness of classrooms sitting empty in September, when they are normally filled with back-to-school buzz.

An empty classroom is ready for evacuees of Hurricane Irma. (Photo courtesy twitter.com/Sessumspride)

Sessums Elementary’s school office sits empty as Hurricane Irma approaches. (Photo courtesy twitter.com/Sessumspride)

In addition to art supplies and games, some classes left out supplies such as tissues and hand sanitizer.

Teachers and students left out craft supplies for evacuees. (Photo courtesy twitter.com/Sessumpride)

Teachers organized supplies for families fleeing Hurricane Irma. (Photo courtesy twitter.com/Sessumpride)

Assistant Principal Laura Edwards shared the photos to say she is proud of her teachers and students.

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Laura Fay is the engagement editor at The 74.

@lauraannfay laurafay@the74million.org

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                <h1>‘Use Any of the Books’: Florida Students at One School-Turned-Hurricane-Shelter Roll Out Welcome Mat for Evacuees</h1>

                <h2></h2>

                <p class="sans">By <a rel="author" href="https://www.the74million.org/contributor/laura-fay/">Laura Fay</a></p>

                <img src="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Craft-cupplies-feature.png">

                <p>This story first appeared at <a href="https://www.the74million.org">The 74</a>, a nonprofit news site covering education. <a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/newsletters/?utm_source=republish-button&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=republish">Sign up for free newsletters from The 74</a> to get more like this in your inbox.</p>
                <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Families fleeing South Florida in anticipation of Hurricane Irma can find shelter at many </span><a href="https://www.the74million.org/ahead-of-hurricane-irma-more-central-florida-schools-closing-to-serve-as-shelters-for-those-fleeing-coasts/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">schools</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> across northern and central Florida. One school near Tampa is extending a special welcome to evacuees. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Sessums Elementary School in Riverview, students and teachers left supplies and notes with warm greetings. Sessums is part of </span><a href="http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hillsborough</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> County Public Schools, which are closed Thursday and Friday to serve as shelters. The school posted on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/Sessumspride/status/905777007761477632"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that it will be a special-needs shelter.</span></p>
<hr />
<div class="social-container">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sessums is shelter ready!  Thanks for the prep time for work and our own families <a href="https://twitter.com/Jeff_Eakins">@Jeff_Eakins</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HCPSBoard">@HCPSBoard</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IrmaHurricane?src=hash">#IrmaHurricane</a> <a href="https://t.co/5dtdfhK53J">pic.twitter.com/5dtdfhK53J</a></p>
<p>— Sessums Stallions (@Sessumspride) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sessumspride/status/905534223695609862">September 6, 2017</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<hr />
<figure id="attachment_510756" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-510756" style="width: 583px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-510756 size-large" src="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Board-1-583x410.jpg" alt="" width="583" height="410" srcset="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Board-1-583x410.jpg 583w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Board-1-300x211.jpg 300w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Board-1-768x540.jpg 768w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Board-1.jpg 847w" sizes="(max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-510756" class="wp-caption-text">Students signed a welcome message for evacuees of Hurricane Irma at Sessums Elementary. (Photo courtesy <a href="https://twitter.com/Sessumspride">twitter.com/Sessumspride</a>)</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_510757" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-510757" style="width: 800px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-510757 size-large" src="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Board-2-800x375.png" alt="" width="800" height="375" srcset="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Board-2-800x375.png 800w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Board-2-300x141.png 300w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Board-2-768x360.png 768w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Board-2.png 1437w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-510757" class="wp-caption-text">Teachers welcomed evacuees into their classrooms with supplies and notes. (Photo courtesy <a href="https://twitter.com/Sessumspride">twitter.com/Sessumspride</a>)</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_510758" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-510758" style="width: 548px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-510758 size-full" src="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Board-3.png" alt="" width="548" height="674" srcset="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Board-3.png 548w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Board-3-244x300.png 244w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Board-3-333x410.png 333w" sizes="(max-width: 548px) 100vw, 548px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-510758" class="wp-caption-text">“We are so thankful you are all safe,” wrote Ms. Yates’s class to welcome those seeking shelter from Hurricane Irma. (Photo courtesy <a href="https://twitter.com/Sessumspride">twitter.com/Sessumspride</a>)</figcaption></figure>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The cheery notes offset the eeriness of classrooms sitting empty in September, when they are normally filled with back-to-school buzz. </span></p>
<figure id="attachment_510762" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-510762" style="width: 547px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-510762 size-large" src="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/empty-room-547x410.png" alt="" width="547" height="410" srcset="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/empty-room-547x410.png 547w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/empty-room-300x225.png 300w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/empty-room-768x576.png 768w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/empty-room.png 830w" sizes="(max-width: 547px) 100vw, 547px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-510762" class="wp-caption-text">An empty classroom is ready for evacuees of Hurricane Irma. (Photo courtesy <a href="https://twitter.com/Sessumspride">twitter.com/Sessumspride</a>)</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_510761" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-510761" style="width: 545px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-510761 size-large" src="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/empty-office-545x410.png" alt="" width="545" height="410" srcset="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/empty-office-545x410.png 545w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/empty-office-300x226.png 300w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/empty-office-768x578.png 768w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/empty-office.png 836w" sizes="(max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-510761" class="wp-caption-text">Sessums Elementary’s school office sits empty as Hurricane Irma approaches. (Photo courtesy <a href="https://twitter.com/Sessumspride">twitter.com/Sessumspride</a>)</figcaption></figure>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition to art supplies and games, some classes left out supplies such as tissues and hand sanitizer. </span></p>
<figure id="attachment_510760" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-510760" style="width: 586px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-510760 size-large" src="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Craft-supplies-586x410.png" alt="" width="586" height="410" srcset="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Craft-supplies-586x410.png 586w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Craft-supplies-300x210.png 300w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Craft-supplies-768x538.png 768w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Craft-supplies.png 827w" sizes="(max-width: 586px) 100vw, 586px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-510760" class="wp-caption-text">Teachers and students left out craft supplies for evacuees. (Photo courtesy <a href="https://twitter.com/Sessumspride">twitter.com/Sessumpride</a>)</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_510759" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-510759" style="width: 669px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-510759 size-large" src="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Clean-supplies-669x410.png" alt="" width="669" height="410" srcset="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Clean-supplies-669x410.png 669w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Clean-supplies-300x184.png 300w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Clean-supplies-768x471.png 768w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Clean-supplies.png 1119w" sizes="(max-width: 669px) 100vw, 669px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-510759" class="wp-caption-text">Teachers organized supplies for families fleeing Hurricane Irma. (Photo courtesy <a href="https://twitter.com/Sessumspride">twitter.com/Sessumpride</a>)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Assistant Principal Laura Edwards shared the photos to say she is proud of her teachers and students.</p>
<hr />
<div class="social-container">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">So proud of my school!  ? We're shelter ready!  <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sesumsproud?src=hash">#sesumsproud</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaineIrma?src=hash">#HurricaineIrma</a> <a href="https://t.co/lAqsn2zGIc">https://t.co/lAqsn2zGIc</a></p>
<p>— Laura Edwards (@lvedwards414) <a href="https://twitter.com/lvedwards414/status/905602425033297920">September 7, 2017</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<hr />
<p> </p>

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‘Use Any of the Books’: Florida Students at One School-Turned-Hurricane-Shelter Roll Out Welcome Mat for Evacuees

Sharpen Up!

Most Popular

Which School Districts Do the Best Job of Teaching Kids to Read?

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