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August 16th, 2011
06:25 PM ET
Back to School in Joplin, Missouri
It's unlike any other year for the students of Joplin High School. A massive tornado devastated their town in May, and while some students will be attending class in a shopping mall and others at a middle school, they'll all be facing unique challenges - and carrying unique courage.
What would you ask the students of Joplin, as they begin a new academic year? What would you want to know about their back-to-school experience?
Carl Azuz, Anchor
i remeber hearing about that tornado in may I would have to ask them if theywould have any kinds charitys they should do to help their town. it would warm my heart
Hello, I'm a student in Korea. We're having summer vacation still. I really wonder you about the experience in the shopping mall. Please explain me the episode in the shopping mall, and what are you expecting for the restored school? Do you know what's going on there? I hope you go back to school as quickly as you can. Please be always happy~^^
How did going back to school today change your life?
How difficult was it to prepare for school this year since students lost so many personal items in the tornado?
I'd want to know about how do you spend your days?
So is it really cool to go to school in an one time mall? Do you have food court?
Do you like your new school better?
I would ask them how they are able to concentrate in school knowing that they no longer have a home. I would want to know how I may help them during this time of challenge.
I would like to know where you slept when you lost your house to the tornado?
How is it the kids could with stand such a tramatic expereience. God Bless You. Go Canada.
Since the school is in a mall, is the cafeteria just the foodcourt?
How is the new school?
I would like to ask if the studentshave any financial aid since alot of the kids have lost everything
Do you prefer your old school or do you like it better, attending school at the mall?
I would ask them what type of things would they do to help them move on from this terrible disaster.
Will you guys be willing to learn in a different environment instead of the one theat you are used to?
I would ask them how it is going back to school after having everything destroyed? Was it hard for them to get back in the routine knowing that everything was destroyed.
Are many of your friends back, or did they move to a different school?
How do they concentrate knowing that a devastating tornado completely wipped out the school? Does it feel different going to school at a mall or a middle school? Do you still follow the same rules and regulations?
I bet the lunchs will be a whole lot better now that theycan eat a the food court.
How difficult is it for students to change from a high school, to a mall as a school? Does this major transition in schools affect how they will learn?
How did it feel to go back to school inside of a mall?
'Losing everything' seems often used in these situations, but how have local and national charities assist the students in supplies for this, or was the school provided with the materials to issue to the students?
how are you all doing in your new location? How have you all taken this disaster as a good oppurtunity?
Is it hard to concentrate in a mall, with everyone beingloud?
Are there many distractions by going to highschool in a mall as opposed to a classroom?
If i were to meet one of the students, i would probably ask if any of them where injured and if they were ok. But another question would be if they were in the mall how would that affect the school breaks they have. i think it would be pretty cool if they could brouse around the mall before returning to class.
Hey, How have you all been living your every day lives after the torrnado?
Does it still feel the same even though you are at a mall????????
Is it emotional for you to know that your school is gone? Or are you thinking "it's just another school, same stuff"
Do you like having all the tech. at your school?
I don't know what I would ask. Perhaps how's life? It would be kinda awkward bringing it up in the first place, wouldn't it?
Is it fun going to school in a mall?
Is the city of Joplin building a new high school?
Is it easier or harder to learn in your new learning environment?
How is it going to school inside the mall?
I would ask them how did the tornado change your life and are you more cautious about thing now.
Would you have helped build the school?
Do you think the new school environment will effect your learning?
How do you go through something like this and do you have to act like a grown-up for your brothers and sisters?
How has your life changed since the tornado hit?
What is it like to go to school without a home, and do you think it will affect your school grades?
If you could take something back that was lost in the storm, what would it be?
Before the tornado, did you ever wish the school would go away so that you had no school for awhile? Now that the tornado has really hit, have you changed your mind?
I would want to know how they are able to focus in school when they may have lost their home or loved ones? I would know how I may be able to help them through their crises.
how scary was it to see your school destoryed?
I heard about the tornado and it sounded horrible!! I heard about the school and thought OH NOO! Hopefully they can rebuild the school fast. Although it kinda sounds cool to have school in a mall!
I'm a student in Alabama and I would have to ask you is how scared was everyone when the tornado hit.
Will all of you get use to you're new school.
What aspects of life have changed in school or at home?
once in your life you thought that you will go to the school in a mall?
I would like to know what aspects of friendship have changed in school?
Ever in your life you thought that you would go to a school in a mall?
what do the class rooms look like in the mall?
i am a student from texas and i would like to ask how does it feel being at a school that is actually a mall, it must be a weird expireince.And i was also wondering do you guys get to shop at the mall during school? that would be cool.
Do you want to go to school after facing this much disaster?
How hard was it to adapt to these changes?
The tornado devastate the school, just a building, but their hearts are being re forced with blessings and motives to keep studying and learning to became stars. All those students are examples of life.
Hello. How hard it has been these last few months coping with all the destruction? What has kept you going? When you go to the school @ the mall. do they let you go shopping for breaks? How's school life in the mall?
This might have to be a rough year for them but my question is are they going to be able to adapt to the fact of studing at the mall? holding the temptation of buying things or walking around the mall? i am curious to know if thier way of leanring is going to be harder for them or easier for them? I will keep them in my prayers.
How is going to school in a mall? Do you like it better or worse than a classroom?
Oh, tornado, i'm so sorry...
i think studying in the other place such as shopping mall can be irritating, but on the bright side, you will study not in the classroom for a change! Don't be so discouraged, for someone who might think it's world-class disaster that your school is gone. I told you, studying in the other place can be fine than tou think...
I would like to ask the students of Joplin if they are excited for school to start back up due to all the devestation around them. Another question of mine is do they think its wierd to have thier school inside a mall.
On their first day of school I would like to know how the coffee shop and workout area all panned out into their schuedules.
Thanks, Marisa!
Today we had K-pals (which is like buddies) I was paired up with a kindergartner.Her name was Riley and she lived in Joplin before the tornado hit her house she said. I don't think i wouldn't like to ask her about it tho. But my question would be. Is it hard to learn without thinking about it.
I was wondering what its like to have a school in the mall ? Is it hard to focus when lots off people are walking around? Also is there a way we can help you guys?
I would ask them if they ever considered changing to another school district or some other school that wasn't that destroyed.
what did you feel during the tornado?
Since the tornado completely destroyed your school is prom still on for the seniors and juniors? If so, where will it take place? Will it be at the mall or will you share it with another high school? How does that make you seniors fill knowing that your last yr as a high school student wont be where you basically grew up in?
I can't imagine going to school in a mall.
Do they close down the mall during your school hours, or does it remain open? Is it harder to concentrate there?
Don't forget what's in back of our dollar bills!
"In God We trust"
Do you guys have a place to practice for sports or have sports been removed? If so, how does that make you guys feel? Do you think its fair; a punishment?
I have quite a few questions I would like answered-
1. Comparing the new school to the old school, which school is your favorite?
2. Do you think learning at your new school will be more difficult or less?
3. Are there going to be new teachers, or will the old ones remain?
4. What are some pros, what are some cons?
5. Are you excited to go back to learning, or depressed?
6. Does the new school have more extra activities? Rocketry, Theatre, etc?
7. Is there anything that would help you adapt to your new school?
8. Is the new school affecting you at home quite a bit?
the government is ok if the city reconstruct the other school ?
The first day at the mall was definitely an experience I'll always remember. Getting used to driving to the mall everyday to learn instead of shop will probably always seem weird to me and my classmates but everyone has such a great attitude–and you have to! Being bitter about something you have no control of can consume you. You have to wake up knowing its going to be better than the day before. Sure, I miss my old school. I miss having real concrete walls instead of the paper-thin, you-can-hear-the-class-nextdoor walls we have now. I'll miss being able to be a real highschool with 4 grades instead of 2. I'll miss being able to have pep rallies in the gym and walking through the rose garden to class... But at the end of the day you have to be happy that there is even a Joplin High School. And I know I'm very grateful that I can start my senior year in a school built by people that put education and the students at Joplin High School first, always.
Is there a separate section in the mall for your school so you won't have any trouble to get in class, or you have all the stores open next to you?
Did you bought something in the mall?
I am a mom who have two children in south Korea. My children are having a summer vacation untill the end of this month. I am very sorry about your situation. But the class are in the mall. I think that my second son likes it. I hope that you are to be a normal as quickly as you can.
how it feels taking your classes in the mall? do you have the same opportunities and the same desire to continue studying , after the tornado?
Hope you have fun going to school in the mall, graduate high school, go to college and have a good life.
Does it distract you when you are surrounded by stores?
Hope that you have fun going to school in the mall, graduate high school, go on to college and have a good life.
I'm from S.Korea, and I wonder if it is quite comfortable to study in the mall when the old school was destroyed by a tornado.
Do you guys know if your high school is going to be re-built in the future, or are y'all going to stay in the mall.
I would want to ask them how it felt to go through such a hard situation? I would want ask them if it was difficult to go to class knowing that you can go shopping in the mall instead???
I would want to ask them what sort of living arrangements they had if their house was destroyed in the tornado? How are you learning in school differently now that you may not have the school resources you had before? What's it like going to school at a mall? I would also want to know how you know get to school? How are the classes divided inside a department store?
I would want to ask the students if they have much less school supplies because of the tornado? Where were you when the tornado hit, and were you scared? What's it like going to school in a mall? How were you able to avoid getting hurt or killed?
Where were you when the tornado hit? Did any of your family or friends get injured?
Write back! Thanks!
Delaney
I live close to Joplin, and when I heard about the situation, I didn't know what to do. All I can do is pray for all the people there, and wish them good luck. God Bless you all!
Was it hard for you and your fellow high school studens to go back to school??
Is it hard for you to get to class to class? I know it can be hard to find a room in a big mall.
Its really sad what happened to you I hope you can get better from the destruction.
Do you guys miss you old school are all your friends at your new school are there new students at your scholl
I would want to ask them how they could still study, and still going through a hard situation. Without thinking about what had happen to there homes.
How do you feel about your new school?
Is it fun studing in the mall?
How did you feel when they told you, that you were going to the mall for school?
Hello i would want to ask what is happening to the students there in Joplin High School. I also, want to know how many people have survived. :O)
Hi, I'm Zenaido I wonder when joplin high school went to the mall where are there classes and where do they meet? Also do they go shopping for recess?
Do you like to study in the mall like youre school ?Am realy sorry that you have lost youre school.
Are you guys going to stay in the mall forever or are you guys going to build another high school?
hi I am a student in from colorado. I heard that joplin high school got detrod by a tornado. I am very very very sorry that happend. I got a question will you every go back to the high school if it gets build again. Well i hope you get to go back to joplin high school good luck.
When do you think there going to build a new high school?
IT is very cool that your school is in the mall.I hope they put a new high school for you guys.I cant believe you guys lost all of your guys supplies.I wish a tornado never hit you guys.
How do you feel about your school being in the mall?
Is it tight being in the mall?
Do you enjoy school at the mall just like you enjoyed going to your other school or are they equal?
How does it feel to go to school at the mall
How does it fell to be in a mall and get computers on the first day of school. Do you like it therethis is for all the students would you ever go shoping after school:)
IT is sad that you guys got hit by a tornado. I hope you guys get in a high school for you guys can be in a school like us . Well i hope you guy get better
How does it feel to go to school at the mall awsome or boring.
How does it feel to go to school in a mall.
What was it like to go back to school this week? Are you still thinking about the tornado?
How many students had to relocate to new housing?
Do you get to shop at the mall during school?
How many of you had to get new cars?
Did any students die in the tornado?
What kind of things did you loose in the tornado that you really miss?
What was your personal experience like while in the middle of the tornado? How are you able to cope when you may have lost loved ones or your home? Are you able to learn while going to school in a mall? How long do you think it will take for you to recover from the tragedy?
Where were you and your family when the tornado hit?
Did you get to grab your valubles?
did anyone get hurt ?
t
Hey people good luck with your new school at the mall . i got a question where do you sleep if everything was destroy in joplin.
If the upper class men and the under class men are separated, then how do you rehearse for marching band or color guard? It seems like it would be nearly impossible to have a marching band when you're split up like that. I seriously want to know, marching band/color guard is my favorite thing about marching band and I have so many memories from it and I know that there are students there who feel the same.
I used to live there and it had really good schools there. I think that it would be cool to have a school in a mall but isn't it awkward? it's weird thinking about how it would be in that situation.
Is going to school in a mall like going to any regular school?
~Kat
i would like to ask
what is like to go to school in a mall do you go shopping after school
and do you eat lunch in the food court or somewhere else?????
i hope your all doing well :]
love you all
What is your experience after the tornado occurred? Did your house get torn down? How was your family and home after the tornado, like did it get demolished in the e5 tornado? Do you have gym in the mall or do you do work all day?
how was going to school in a mall different than a regural school?
hey does it still feel the same even tho you guys are in a mall studying.Do you guys think that this school year you guy are going to learn the same or maybe harder to foces in school... hope you guys are okay and have a great school year...
is it going to be hard for you guys to get you to studying in a mall... hope all the students have a wonderful school year...
Is it crowded in the mall?
It's too bad to experience this horrible event, but cheer up!! And I think it is the time that you must go school and learn many thing and apply to your attacked society. You'll be a great villager who helps your village!
I was in joplin about a week ago and my troop was part of the joplin middle school clean up, I do think that its great that the high schoolers found a suitadle and a big enough place for them to learn while their school is being rebuilt. But it still must hurt to have everything so fammiliar to you to be torn apart. We remember you joplin!
Sincerely
Parker
When the tornado hit, Did anyone you knew got hurt? How difficult was it for preparing for school this year? Do you like this school better?
i would like to say: i am very sorry for any losses. how different is life now?
I'm a Junior at Joplin High School. 2 days before the tornado hit I was complaining about having to make up snow day and now i don't I wish i got to make up those snow days. That same day i was a early morning seminary at my church across the street from the high school and seminary had ended and we had about 45 min. before school started so we normally played basketball before we went and that day me and a couple other kids did not fell like playing basketball but all the guys were telling us that it would the last time that we could play it even though we had a week left to. My church was hit by the tornado and now I'm glade that i decided to play basketball.
Going to school at the mall is different first i want to say is that it is just store in the mall once you are inside you don't realize that you are at a mall. It has affected me a lot now we all have laptops that were donated to the school so we don't use text book anymore. There are some distracts like we have skype on the laptops so we skype each other some time instead of listing to the teacher. We do not get to go shopping while we are at school or go to the lunch at the food court. Overall going to school at the is fun and different at the same time but it is a great experience for me and my fellow students.
I am living in Japan, and as you know, Japan was hit by a massive earthquake and following tsunami. Most students in devastated areas lost their textbooks and things like that. I guess you may be in the same situation. How are you going to make up for it?
I would find it hard to be learning in a different environment, especially in a shopping mall. How is it learning with mainly computers? I find that working on a computer tends to be easier than actual school. When the tornado hit what were the first thought than ran into your mind? I am in an area that can have tornados but I have never personally witnessed one. Is there anything that you lost that was something that can never be replaced? Were any students in the school when it hit, and did anyone get hurt that was in the school?
How does it feel to go to school in a shoping mall, and how does it feel for you seniors not to graduate in your High school this year?
First off, I's like to ask them if they would prefer to be in an actual school or if they enjoy beinig part of the mall? Do they have lunch cooked for them or do they get to eat in the foodcourt in the mall? I think that getting to experience school this way would be pretty cool, but I'm sure that for many of these people it is terrying. Especially knowing that you have nothing to go home to. Do you get some kind of financial aid to help you pay for the things you need? Did surrounding areas donate or create fundraisers to help you guys get school supplies?
What is it like going to school in a shopping mall? How do the kids in Joplin arrive at to school? Do you guys walk or take a bus. How bad is the damage at the school? When are they going to rebuild the school and how long will it take to build it? What do you think this year school year is going to be different than any other school year in the past? How did all the supplies get to the shopping mall? How many people are in the shopping mall and are you all crowed in the shopping mall in Joplin.
what is it like going to school in a shopping mall? And have they rebuilt any of Joplin yet? And how do they transport you students to and from school or do you drive? How does it feel for you seniors who wont get to graduate in your own school that u went to for a number of years? Does your school have to be totally rebulit or are they rebuilding what they can of the school? How are the students enjoying the new computers and donated school supplies? Does insurance pay for any of your damages or are people on there own to pay for repairs and damages?
well i wonder how is it to have school in a mall and is being at schoolgetting the hurricane off your mind and does it help.
I do go to Joplin schools and when you drive by the old Walmart that was leveled it is darker than dark
I would ask them what the hardest part about losing their school was? How much harder it made life for them? I would also ask what they are doing to not think about it at this time. And if it effected their at home lives, with their families and friends. I wonder if area schools are trying to help them out and if so what they are doing to help them. How is it going to school in a shopping mall? is it weird fun or distracting? How hard is it to be seperated from classmates?
how is it in the mall
How Does It Feel's To Go Shopping After School?
What kind of things did you loose in the tornado? !
What is like going to school in a shopping mall?How does it feel for you seniors to not graduate in the school you went to for a lot of years.