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Not much was left when the tornado struck Ardmore Adventist Academy Feb. 10 –– except for the sound of bells.
Thanks to a fortunate spin by the roof of the main building as 170 mph winds roared through the area, the school’s set of handbells made it through just fine.
“It’s so awesome for God to save them,” school principal Stephen Dennis said Friday.
The tornado took the roof off of the school and damaged most of the building. The handbells were kept in a spare room.
“It was the only one intact,” Dennis said.
Also, the roof shielded the bells from the elements.
“The roof started down and stopped (over the bells),” Dennis said.
“There was about three feet (of space) between the roof and the tables,” student Tianna Shockey said.
The handbells are used during the music class for fifth through eighth grade students.
“I’m glad they are OK because I like playing the bells,” said student Caleb Phillips.
Students worried their instruments were in the same condition as the school building.
“When I heard about the tornado, it was one of the first things I thought of — Oh no, the bells, we left them out,” Shockey said.
The bells are normally left out on the tables from day to day for convenience, which is where they were found after the storm.
Handbells need to be on a table with padding, and students have to wear gloves whenever they touch the bells.
To get the bells out of the building, the emergency team handed the bells through the window.
“I looked in the window. It was pretty cool,” Shockey said.
The school’s handbell set has three octaves, which would cost more than $8,000 to replace.
There is still plenty of work to do before the bells can be played again.
“We have to clean them and set them up and get music rewritten,” Shockey said.
The school has resumed classes at the Ardmore Seventh-day Adventist Church and will be setting up the bells there.
“The kids are really excited to begin practicing,” Dennis said.
Shockey’s older siblings also played the handbells when they were in school and she has played them since first grade.
“I want to get back to playing. I really enjoy it,” Shockey said.
The students tried cleaning the bells Thursday, but did not get far.
“It’s really hard to do because we can’t touch them and our gloves are in storage,” Brianna Bernt said.
Not much was left when the tornado struck Ardmore Adventist Academy Feb. 10 –– except for the sound of bells.
Thanks to a fortunate spin by the roof of the main building as 170 mph winds roared through the area, the school’s set of handbells made it through just fine.
“It’s so awesome for God to save them,” school principal Stephen Dennis said Friday.
The tornado took the roof off of the school and damaged most of the building. The handbells were kept in a spare room.
“It was the only one intact,” Dennis said.
Also, the roof shielded the bells from the elements.
“The roof started down and stopped (over the bells),” Dennis said.
“There was about three feet (of space) between the roof and the tables,” student Tianna Shockey said.
The handbells are used during the music class for fifth through eighth grade students.
“I’m glad they are OK because I like playing the bells,” said student Caleb Phillips.
Students worried their instruments were in the same condition as the school building.
“When I heard about the tornado, it was one of the first things I thought of — Oh no, the bells, we left them out,” Shockey said.
The bells are normally left out on the tables from day to day for convenience, which is where they were found after the storm.
Handbells need to be on a table with padding, and students have to wear gloves whenever they touch the bells.
To get the bells out of the building, the emergency team handed the bells through the window.
“I looked in the window. It was pretty cool,” Shockey said.
The school’s handbell set has three octaves, which would cost more than $8,000 to replace.
There is still plenty of work to do before the bells can be played again.
“We have to clean them and set them up and get music rewritten,” Shockey said.
The school has resumed classes at the Ardmore Seventh-day Adventist Church and will be setting up the bells there.
“The kids are really excited to begin practicing,” Dennis said.
Shockey’s older siblings also played the handbells when they were in school and she has played them since first grade.
“I want to get back to playing. I really enjoy it,” Shockey said.
The students tried cleaning the bells Thursday, but did not get far.
“It’s really hard to do because we can’t touch them and our gloves are in storage,” Brianna Bernt said.
The handbell choir performs for church and school programs. Upcoming performances include going to Tulsa on March 1 and during the weekly church service on April 4.
The group is also making plans to play in the Christmas parade.
“We’re looking forward to being in the parade. We’re going to probably decorate a flat bed and play as we go,” Dennis said.
Dennis has also been contemplating adding to the bells.
“I would like to add a lower octave so we have and octave and a half below middle-C,” Dennis said.
However, right now the school is just happy that the bells they have made it through the storm.
“It was a miracle from God,” Shockey said.
Jennifer Lindsey, 221-6526
jennifer.lindsey@ardmoreite.com
