Classes resume after Irma; Make-up days announced

Bryson Turner, Online Editor|September 18, 2017

Hurricane+Irma+toppled+three+trees+on+campus%2C+including+one+near+the+main+entrance+of+the+school.+The+fallen+trees+were+removed+before+classes+resumed.

photo by Gary Bungart

Hurricane Irma toppled three trees on campus, including one near the main entrance of the school. The fallen trees were removed before classes resumed.

Classes resumed Monday, Sept. 18, after Hurricane Irma caused six school days to be cancelled.

Only four of these cancelled days will be made up, as superintendent Dr. Walt Griffin exercised his ability to waive two of these make up days, all former teacher workdays. Pending approval from Gov. Rick Scott, the missing days will be made up on Oct. 16 and 17, Dec. 22 and March 16.

Continuing Irma Coverage
A flooded Pickett Downs street in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
Hurricane Irma timeline
Sophomore DJ McCunney cleans up fallen tree branches in Orange County Academy. Along with three other friends, McCunney decided to help out the community after seeing all the damage caused by Irma.
Irma's inconveniences
Junior Jack Chitty relaxes in the flood at his dads house caused by Hurricane Irma. The flooding did not reach the house or cause any damage.
Unshaken by the storm
Junior Brooke Boddiford donates water for the food pantry. The event was held in the front office, where food was organized for those affected.
Bringing relief

Despite the storm having passed, it toppled three trees in the courtyard, caused leakages in buildings and demolished fences around the baseball and softball fields, making the campus an unsuitable learning environment for another few days, not to mention that it was without power as well for a time.

“I don’t think students will feel any effects of Irma upon return,” assistant principal Christy Bryce said. “We seem to have gotten everything cleaned up as well as the [air conditioning] up and running again.

Irma also impacted the fall sports schedule. Notably, the Pink’d game against East Ridge has been moved up to Thursday Oct. 5, which means that the freshman and junior varsity home games against Seminole will now be played on Wednesday, Oct. 4, and the matchup with Lake Minneola, that was originally scheduled to take place at Lake Minneola on Sept. 15, will now be played at Sam Momary Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

The Girls volleyball match against St. Cloud will take place in the competition gym on Wednesday, Sept. 20. The Slow pitch softball home game against Seminole and Winter Springs, which was scheduled for Sept. 13, has been rescheduled for Sept. 25.

All other sporting events that were to take place during the storm will either not be made up or proceed as normal.

Update: On Tuesday, Sept. 19, Florida Department of Education Commissioner Pam Stewart announced that she will also waive two make up days. The Seminole County Public School Twitter account responded to this via a tweet stating that Oct. 16 and 17 will be the two required make up days.

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