So often, we are in a position of watching news coverage from around the country and the world, where people are enduring devastating events and natural disasters, but this past week, it’s been Colorado on the receiving end.

The September 2013 Colorado rains are being called “historic,” “epic,” even “biblical,” with parts of 18 cities along the Front Range sustaining damage, a rising death toll, thousands evacuated, and countless numbers of people who have yet to be located or reached. Dozens of schools have been impacted – with schools in the hard-hit St. Vrain School District set to be closed for most of this week, and in Boulder, the University of Colorado says 25% of its buildings have sustained storm damage.

At Colorado Academy, while the school is intact, and classes have proceeded as normal, we do have families, faculty, and alumni that have been impacted by the storms – from being under evacuation orders to keeping vigil on rising water near their homes. Our thoughts and wishes are with them, as they will be when the waters recede, and Colorado residents will begin the real work of cleaning up debris, shoveling mud, repairing homes, and reopening schools and businesses.

This is a time for all of us to remember and to teach children that those in need are not always half way around the world or on far-away shores, but they are right here at home, and they will need our help.