St. Mary’s school in Ellis reopens after storm damage repaired

St. Mary’s Catholic School students on their first day of classes in their newly renovated classroom.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

ELLIS — St. Mary’s Catholic School in Ellis opened for classes earlier than expected Thursday after a July 25 storm ripped off a portion of the roof, damaging the gym and many of the school’s classrooms.

In mid-August, volunteers were still scraping damaged floors and painting walls.

“Without their help, we would not be open today, so we are very grateful” Peggy Seibel, fourth-grade and head teacher, said of the many volunteers who helped with the repairs.

A portion of the school’s gym collapsed during the storm. That has been repaired, but work still needs to be finished before the gym can reopen to students. School officials now anticipate work on the gym should be done by Nov. 1.

The permanent roof still needs to put on and other projects are still in the works. Repairs also are still ongoing at the rectory next door.

However, Father Dana Clark said he has been amazed at the progress.

“I have been really impressed how many people volunteered and got done in six weeks what some people thought would take three months to complete,” he said. “It’s been amazing to get the work done that needed to get done.”

Students were set to return to classes on Monday, but repairs were completed ahead of schedule. Students started school with new flooring, new coats of paint on most of the walls and new school materials, as many items in the classrooms received water damage when the high winds damaged the roof in July.

“It’s great,” Seibel said of the school’s new look. “The kids are excited to be back. The little extended holiday was not actually as appealing as they thought it might be. They were happy to get back to see their friends. They are really liking the new look in the classrooms and happy to be here.”

A portion of the school’s roof rests beside St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis on July 25.

School hours have been changed to make up for the late start. Students will begin classes at 7:55 a.m. Students will also be attending on days that had been designated as in-service and snow days.

Monetary donations can still be made to the school through Equity Bank, Attn: St. Mary’s, PO Box 255, Ellis, KS 67637.