Like so many across the country and throughout Tennessee, students and teachers from Jefferson Middle School were saddened by the recent fires that burned through Gatlinburg, destroying a number of buildings and homes. JMS has had a ski and snowboard club for over 20 years, taking after school trips to Ober Gatlinburg on Wednesday afternoons in the winter. To show their support for the area and those that are working to rebuild, the students wore “Smokies Strong” t-shirts on a recent trip up to Ober Gatlinburg. The shirts were a gift from an anonymous donor who provided the club with 50 shirts. Allison Myers, a 7th grader said “when our club showed up in our “Smokies Strong” shirts on our first trip of the season it had an impact on the workers up there, and I’m just really glad the club could play even a small part in helping lift their spirits.” Proceeds from the sale of the shirts are being distributed to the Red Cross, the Dollywood Foundation, and Friends of the Smokies.
The club was also able to present Pete Jucker, the Director of Instruction at Ober Gatlinburg with a, “Heal and Rebuild at the Heart of the Fire” flag that was signed by the students. Pete and his wife, Joy who lost their home and possessions in the fire, designed the flags. The “Heal and Rebuild” flags were distributed to property owners and placed on home sites that are being rebuilt. The flag flies as a symbol of hope. “I pray for the families who lost their homes or even a loved one, but I urge them to have courage in this time of rebuilding,” added Christopher Thornburgh, an 8th grader in the club.
The JMS Ski & Snowboard Club wants to express their thanks and appreciation to those that have supported the Gatlinburg rebuilding process. They also wanted to let Pete and other staff at Ober Gatlinburg that experienced loss from the fires know that the students and staff at JMS were continuing to think about them. Nick Dallas, an 8th grader and veteran of the club offered that “in my years at Jefferson I have really enjoyed the ski and snowboard club and I especially appreciate everything that Mr. Jucker and the rest of the staff at Ober have done to help us become better skiers and snowboarders.” The school continues to stand with them- “Smokies Strong”.
