Lunenburg Nova Scotia - This weekend will be a time when the Class Afloat family comes together again.  Our staff, the professional sailors who acted with such courage under pressure, and the students, themselves heroes, are coming back to where the journey began in September. 

40 of the 48 students on board have confirmed they are joining us to complete the year at our Historic Lunenburg campus.  We are thankful for the continued trust of our parents.  Over the coming months, we will focus on the education of students in accepting and using this experience as a positive in their lives.  The Class of 2010 has measured themselves against the most trying of circumstances.  It is our hope that the work done over the coming months makes them even stronger. 

Class Afloat will be spending the weekend working intensively with our counseling team, parents, teachers and students.  It is likely to be an emotional time.  Our students and staff have been very much in the public eye over the past few weeks.  It is our hope that we will have the opportunity to come together as a community and process the emotions that are associated with recent experiences. As such, it is our sincere hope that the students and their families will be permitted the privacy they require to fully be able to benefit from our weekend event.  If they are under pressure to respond to outward questions or pressures, it will be difficult to feel safe enough to be able to manage some of the inward feelings they may be experiencing.  We hope that the Media will allow us the space and time to ensure the health of our students, their families, and our staff.   

Class Afloat looks forward to its return to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.  Our school at the Academy will be a vibrant part of the community and we look forward to spring together in Nova Scotia.  Lunenburg as a sailing community has stepped forward to help us in the journey to come.  It is wonderful for us that each of our children is safe and sound.  Now the warmth of the Lunenburg community will enfold our children, give them a chance to tell their story and to work forward to building a better future. 

A statement from Captain Curry will be released electronically to this distribution list in the coming days. 

Nigel McCarthy