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Publication Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2005 Students from New Orleans find safe haven at Menlo School
Students from New Orleans find safe haven at Menlo School
(September 28, 2005) By Marjorie Mader
Almanac Staff Writer
Justin Royal and sisters Devon and Elise Filo say they feel very fortunate to find themselves at Menlo School after fleeing New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina, traveling to Houston, and then on to a safer haven on the Peninsula.
"People are really friendly and help you get through some very hard times," says Justin, a junior from the public West Jefferson High School in New Orleans.
Before starting school at Menlo, he had the opportunity to "shadow" (get shown around by) a Menlo student, Justin Wickett, whoís on the football team. Now, Justin Royal has joined the team as a cornerback. The teachers, he says, are "very helpful in school and even after football practice."
Justin and his mother are now living in Menlo Park with his sister. He and members of his extended family drove to Houston, stayed in one of the last hotel rooms available and then split, going off in different directions.
íVery friendlyí
"Everyone has been very friendly," says Elise Filo, a seventh-grader. "Students come up and say, ëIf you need help, just ask me, no problem.í"
Elise, her sister Devon and their parents left New Orleans August 27 as quickly as they could before the hurricane hit. Their mother, Linda Filo, earlier had packed a box of their valuable documents in case of an evacuation.
Devon and Elise took their violins. Their dad, Jim Filo, a photographer, packed up his equipment and grabbed the laptops before the family drove to Houston to stay with relatives.
"We were all aware that we were living in a bowl," says Linda Filo of New Orleans. "We were responsible enough to get out and err on the side of caution. Basically, you canít live in our city now even though a few houses in the garden area and historic French Quarter survived."
"Itís kinda weird," says Elise. "I was planning to go to a movie that day with a friend. I donít know when I will see her again."
For the two sisters, the big change is going to a coed school instead of Ursuline Academy in New Orleans, the oldest private girlsí school in the United States, which now is underwater.
All three of the students seem to be adjusting well to a new school.
"They jumped right into their new school and their new life in California," says Dectora Jeffers, director of admissions for the Upper School.
Devon says she is pleased that orchestra is a class at Menlo instead of an extracurricular activity. She thinks the artificial turf on the Menlo quad is funny. ìWe have regular grass at our school because it rains so much," she says.
Elise, a dancer, was disappointed that she wouldn¼t be able to dance as Clara in the New Orleans production of "The Nutcracker." She decided to audition with the Academy of American Ballet in Redwood City for a part in the "Nutcracker." To her surprise and delight, she will dance as Clara in holiday performances at the Fox Theater in Redwood City.
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