• Daniel Pratt Elementary School - 420 Harvest Loop
• Prattville Christian Academy - 322 Old Farm Lane
• The Turtle Shell - 160 W. Main Street

Prattville, AL 2008

February 18, 2008 will be forever sketched in the history of Prattville when an EF-3 tornado ripped through our city.  The photo above shows a glimpse of the damage to our community, but also shows the miraculous sight of the relatively undamaged Daniel Pratt Elementary School in the background.

Schools in our area played a vital role in the recovery of our community when teachers & administrators embraced students who had been affected by the damage.  Educators and volunteers unified to make sure that our children felt safe and secure while at school.

The rampage of 2011 tornadoes has touched the hearts of all Alabamians.  Particularly, those who have suffered from this traumatic act of nature in the past have a heartfelt need to help.  We know from experience that parents will have an overwhelming list of things to do as they rebuild their lives.

Families For Him and Prattville Christian Academy have partnered together to create the  “Pack A Backpack” campaign.  “Pack A Backpack” is an initiative to provide school supplies to children who have been affected by the recent tornadoes.  It is our desire to glorify the Lord by caring for His children.

“If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”  Matthew 10:42

Two weeks after the tornado, Hackleburg students from grades K-12 returned for their first day of school at two local churches. The Hackleburg First Baptist is being used for K-8 and Hackleburg United Methodist Church for the high school students.
 There are approximately 240 students in the Hackleburg Elementary School. The Pack A Backpack program is striving to give every child a backpack filled with new school supplies so that the community can focus on rebuilding homes, schools and businesses.

Supply list for Kindergarten through 3rd grade

Pencil box plastic

Crayons 8 for Kindergarten 24 for 1st through 3rd

Pencils

Markers

Pink erasers

Pencil sharpeners hand held

Scissors small

Glue bottles

Glue stick

Plastic folders (red, yellow, blue) Folders with 3 holes and pockets

1 1/2 inch binders

Construction paper

Ruler

Wide rule notebook paper

Wide ruled spiral notebooks

Composition notebooks

Copy paper

MarkersCopy paper

Colored pencils

Pencils

Pink eraser

Pencil sharpeners hand held

Pencil box plastic

Zipper pencil pouch for binder

Scissors Glue bottles

Glue stick

Plastic folders (red, yellow, blue) Folders with 3 holes and pockets

Construction paper

1 1/2 inch binders

Ruler

Wide rule notebook paper

Wide ruled spiral notebooks

Calculator basic

Composition notebooks

Folders with 3 holes and pockets

Protractors

Jacob Take the Wheel

By  Jackie J. Copper

A few years ago Carrie Underwood had a hit with the song “Jesus Take the Wheel.” The lyrics concerned people who were at a crossroads in their lives and just felt out of control. They surrendered to a higher power and found a sense of peace.

Recently I heard a story that I call “Jacob Take the Wheel” and it too describes the power of God in our lives. The cast of characters in this event are a nine year old boy named Jacob and his mother named Anna. One day they were driving down Interstate 75 in the family truck from Macon to Perry. Jacob was in the front seat since they were in a truck and he was safely seat belted into the cab. His mother was driving and all seemed fine.

Out of the blue his mother had a seizure. Her body went rigid with her hands on the wheel and her foot on the gas pedal. She was completely out of it, something Jacob realized right away. He grabbed the wheel with his left hand and with his right hand picked up his mother’s cell phone.

He punched in “911” and when he got an answer he began to tell them what was happening. The operator tried to get a fix on where Jacob was so she asked him if he could see any mile markers. He told her what he saw. He also said he saw a highway patrolman on the side of the road and the operator told him to blow the horn, which he did. Either the highway patrolman was busy or didn’t take this as a sound of distress.

Now remember the whole time this is going on he has the cell phone in one hand and is steering with the other. His mother is unresponsive to his calls for her to wake up so he is virtually alone in the cab of this truck.  Alone, but not really alone.

Jacob steered the truck for fifteen miles down the interstate. He stayed on the phone with the 911 operator and did everything she suggested. After fifteen miles his mother stirred, woke up and stopped the truck. She had no recollection of anything that had gone on. She didn’t know that Jacob had taken the wheel until she was told.

Later people asked Jacob how he had known what to do in steering the truck. His answer was he steered it just like he did his go cart. He didn’t think he had done anything all that special. Jacob took the wheel and he did what he had to do. He was a hero in everyone’s mind as well he should have been.

In this case Anna did not scream out for Jacob to take the wheel. She wasn’t even aware when he did. But God knew and He was in that truck with Jacob as they sped down Interstate 75.

Maybe somehow Carrie Underwood will read this story, and maybe she will write a song about this heroic nine year old boy. I doubt she would title it “Jacob Take the Wheel” since that phrase has already been used. Still whatever she calls it, it will have to be a song that celebrates the glory of a son’s love for his mother and his desire to keep the truck heading in the right direction until she came back to him.

Jackie K Copper is an author, columnist and book and movie critic in central Georgia.  He writes for The Huffington Post.  www.jackiekcopper.com

Jacob is the son of my first cousin, Annalee.  The Lord is so good to protect His children.  Our family is  thankful that this situation did not end in tragedy.  Jacob was awarded the Georgia Young Heroes Award by the Governor of Georgia.  The following link shows the news coverage for this award:   http://budurl.com/jf46

“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.”  Proverbs 22:6.  This verse is a reminder of the commission the Lord gives parents to train children.  As a mother of four children, three of whom are boys, I have found etiquette to be a challenging component of the parenting process.  My wonderful young men are often not interested in “table manners”.  This verse encourages  me because it highlights the result of consistent teaching… “when he is old he will not turn from it”.  Hopefully, by the time my children enter the dating years, my efforts will produce fruit.

Recently, I incorporated a lesson in table etiquette into a reading lesson for my second graders.  I utilized a simple place setting and demonstrated the proper way to set a table.  It was interesting to see the diversity within my class.  Several students were very familiar with the process and commented that setting the table was a part of their household responsibility.  Others were familiar with the process, but did not know how to set the table themselves.  Interestingly, I had a few students who had never eaten dinner in their home with the table set in preparation for the meal.

In the age of quick meals and busy family schedules, I am the first one to admit that etiquette often goes by the wayside.  In our family, it would be very challenging to have china and fine linens at every meal.  Etiquette has to change with the times.  Even if you are serving your favorite take-out meal, take the time to add a little pizzazz to the evening.  The principles of etiquette can easily be taught with festive dinnerware and acrylic glasses at the dinner table or as an outdoor dining experience.  The simplicity of a set table also sends a message to your family members that they are valued and indicates that you are preparing to listen to their news during the meal.  Family fellowship over the dinner table is one part of my heritage that I cherish.  It is my desire that my children will look back over their childhood with fond memories of our family dinners.

Etiquette may be a part of your child’s career in the future.  Take the time to train in the formative years so that you will not put a “stumbling block” in the future.

            Years ago, I read the story Caleb’s Colt and I found it to be a wonderful Easter story.  As an elementary teacher, I read a number of children’s books.  I always remembered the title, but I couldn’t remember the author.  Several years ago, I took the time to research the title and discovered that one of my favorite Christian authors wrote the book….Jill Briscoe!  I then discovered that the book was no longer in print.  My sweet sister went to great lengths to get a copy of this book for my birthday. 

            Caleb’s Colt is a heartwarming adventure of hope and change.  Children’s literature is the perfect venue to make the powerful, life-changing story of Jesus come alive for your children.  Jill Briscoe summarizes this book…“Caleb struggles to tame his hard-headed donkey.  But when Christ borrows the animal for His triumphant entry, amazing things begin to happen – to the colt as well as Caleb!”

            Copies of this amazing book (Did I mention that the illustrations are stunning?) can be purchased on Amazon and Ebay.  Happy Easter!