Part of a school experience is repetition. The predictability of returning to the same places, on the same schedule, with the same faces, is part of what makes a school year so much a part of our lives. At Oneida, we have 103 years our school experience, and many of those school years have been much like those that came before and those that came afterward.
It is rare for a school year to be without a flood of some kind. Because Oneida is at the convergence of three creeks, we live in a flood plain. Several times a year, the creeks will rise, and our students and staff will respond to the threat of a flood.
Vehicles in the bus compound will be moved. Shops on the lower field level must be cleared and secured. Most of these floods are a few inches of water on the field, rarely making it into the shops or anywhere near our bridge. The inconvenience is minor.
But nature lives by repetition as well, and every few years the floods are more than a few inches of water. In March of 2003, the waters of Goose Creek put more than 8 feet of water on the field, covering our athletic fields, destroying fences and taking over classrooms. For the first time in many years, the flood rendered it impossible for our staff to cross the creek to the bridge, so we cancelled a day of school. This was only the third time in the history of the school we cancelled school due to weather.
The flood lasted 4 days, but cleanup took much longer. Suspended boys and regular work crews spent many hours getting our ball fields ready for use again. Today, it's hard to see evidence of the flood, but we haven't forgotten it.
As much trouble as a flood is, it is part of life at OBI. It is also a demonstration that we live day to day by the mercy of God. We are grateful for his watchcare and protection over our campus. As each year goes by, we are more aware that God is our strength and shield against the floods that are sure to come.