Photo by Joselyn King First grader Novah Mounts shows excitement as she arrives for the first day of classes at Middle Creek Elementary School on Wednesday.

TRIADELPHIA — It was back to school Wednesday for students in Ohio County Schools, and maybe a return to “normalcy” for some Middle Creek Elementary School who saw flooding, devastation and chaos in their communities this summer.

Students jumped quickly off the buses at Middle Creek, the school attended by most children living in Triadelphia and Valley Grove – areas most affected by the flooding disaster on June 14.

“I’m so ready for a good school year. We need it,” Principal Katrina Lewis said. “Our kids need it. They deserve it. They’ve been through a lot.”

She noted many of the students have gone through a lot of change this summer, but they have also received a lot of support from their community and beyond.

“We have had a lot of donations,” Lewis said. “All of preschool through fifth grade school supplies have been donated to us. Everything on every list was provided to us. Nobody had to purchase school supplies this year. They were all delivered to the schools.”

Eyes Wide Open International fulfilled all the items on the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten lists.St. Luke’s Episcopal Church took on the first and second grade list, while Newbridge Church bought supplies for grades 3-5, Lewis reported.

The Valley Grove Fire Department also donated items such as bleach, wipes and tissues to the school.

Lewis said she did a call out to inform families that school supplies requests had already been fulfilled. Backpacks were also donated to students when they picked up their supplies on open house night, she continued.

“The goal now is let’s get back to our routine,” Lewis said. “Let’s get back to what we do best – and that is loving our kids, growing, learning and trying to make things as normal as we can make it.”

She and the school’s guidance counselors and teachers have been reaching out to families affected by flooding this summer.

“We’re in constant contact, and we will remain in constant contact,” Lewis continued. “I’m sure their needs may change as the year moves, and we will maintain those connections.”

The school will have extra mental health counseling available throughout the school year.

“All of those things are there, and we will be trying to keep them in the forefront while trying to meet the needs of each individual child’s needs and their families’ needs,” she said.

Despite many families losing their homes in the flooding, Lewis expected most students to return to the school for this term.

The federal McKinney-Vento Act mandates that homeless and displaced students have equal access to a free, appropriate public education, including immediate enrollment and transportation to their school of origin.

Lewis noted only a couple of families have indicated they will be needing transportation for their child while living outside the school’s jurisdiction.

“For the most part, everybody is making their way back and that is wonderful,” she said.

Getting back to normal following a natural disaster in a community is important, according to Lewis.

“The kids are excited, and they need that routine,” she explained. “That’s what we’re here for – while also looking for ways to meet their individual needs. Keeping those traditional routines going is especially important for kids.”

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