MEYERLAND, Texas – The Shlenker School in Meyerland got a special visit from the Harlem Globetrotters after welcoming approximately 300 students from three different schools after Hurricane Harvey.
The Shlenker School and Congregation Beth Israel opened their doors to more than 180 Beth Yeshurun Day School students, 70 Bertha Alyce Early Childhood Education School, 60 Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston students.
Moose Weekes, a forward with the Harlem Globetrotters, and Flip White, a guard, visited 300 students from all schools at Shlenker.
"The parents are usually the ones that bear most of the burden, but the kids don't know what's going on. Some can't even go back to their schools which is why we're here," said Weekes. "We really want to help these kids know you're doing a great job just being a kid."
The dynamic duo spun basketballs and called on volunteers, even teachers, to teach them about the Globetrotters’ “C.H.E.E.R. for Character” program for nearly the entire school.
C.H.E.E.R. is an acronym that stands for Cooperation, Healthy mind and body, Effort, Enthusiasm, and Responsibility. The Globetrotters talked to the students about how so many people in the Houston area demonstrated those character traits in a time of need – especially the teachers, staff, and students at The Shlenker School.
For Beth Yeshurun students, it meant that they had a place to learn.
"We lost supplies. We lost furniture. We lost a lot of memories that we had there," said Assistant Head of School Cindy Kirsch.
The school saw more than 8 inches of water in some areas. All the floors need to be redone and the materials were ruined.
180 students share a large space in the Congregation room where dividers separate 12 classrooms. There is a room for the youngest 15-month-olds and another space for the kindergarten classrooms.
"This used to be their computer lab, so they kind of hauled it all out for us," said BYDS Kindergarten teacher, Samantha Lubel.
"Our 1st – 5th Grade is being generously accommodated on The Emery/Weiner School’s campus. We have combined our classrooms and have the teachers co-teaching to the large classes averaging 24 kids each, compared to our usual 12 students per class. Our CDO (15 months) through Kindergarten grades have been moved over to the Congregation Beth Israel and The Shlenker School campus. 2’s through PK are partitioned in one large room in the synagogue side of campus, with our CDO program in the synagogue youth lounge. The Shlenker School also offered their technology lab for our combined kindergarten classes," said Erica Goldberg with BYDS.
"The teachers are just rocking right along," said Kirsch.
Several of the students were nervous with Monday's heavy rain.
"Some of our kids homes did flood, so when we first got here it was important that we spoke about what happened," said Lubel. "These children are so resilient."
For many people, the Globetrotters were a breath of fresh air.
"Seeing the destruction around us and seeing all the people being sad...I loved being with my friends," said Carly Katz, Shlenker, a fifth-grader.
"Seeing their smiles and their happiness--that's going to be everything to me," said Flip White.
BYSD said they are looking for all kinds of donations. To donate go to http://www.byds.org or call Guido Setton, director of development or Erica Goldberg, director of marketing and communications at 713-666-1884.
The Bertha Alyce school said it is also looking for donations. To donate go to the school's wishlist on Amazon, send an email to fcasell@erjcchouston.org or send a donation to 5601 S. Braeswood, Houston, Texas, 77096 to the attention of Bertha Alyce School F. Cassell.
