While most Lasallian schools, communities and offices in New York and New Jersey were not badly impacted by superstorm Sandy, some Lasallian families have lost everything. To help cover educational costs for those families and relieve some stress as they work to recover, the District of Eastern North America (DENA) has established the Lasallian Solidarity Fund for Educational Support. The DENA leadership team is working with local heads of ministries to determine the level of need and number of families impacted by the storm. Click here to learn more and donate.
While many schools, communities and offices are getting back to normal schedules, Martin De Porres High School in Rockaway Park is not reopening at this time because of damage. Power is not restored, but cleanup is underway. Sand and two feet of water covered the entire first floor of the more than 30,000 square foot building. High school classes will resume Wednesday, November 7 temporarily at the old high school building in Rosedale until the building in Rockaway Park is ready. The elementary and junior high school in Elmont, NY, resumed classes Monday, November 5.
Power is now restored to the District of Eastern North America offices and the provincialate community in Eatontown, NJ. Power remains out at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, NJ, and the school is closed at least through Wednesday, November 7. De La Salle Hall in Lincroft is operating on backup generator power.
The following schools were closed for a week after the storm and reopened Monday, November 5: Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY; St. Raymond’s High School for Boys, Bronx, NY, St. Peter’s Boys High School, Staten Island, NY; Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, Brooklyn, NY; and The De La Salle School, Freeport, NY. Many of these closures were not due to damage, yet because of transportation or power issues or in accordance with their related diocesan schools. Christian Brothers Investment Services in New York City was also closed for a week and reopened November 5. In Pennsylvania, La Salle University in Philadelphia and La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor opened a few days after the storm. Power was out at Christian Brothers Center in Narragansett, RI, for several days before being restored.
Please keep all of those impacted by the storm in your prayers. We will provide more updates as information becomes available.