Campus Updates

Dear Andrean Family,
As recovery efforts continue following last week's tornado, we want to provide a brief update on the status of our campus and ongoing planning efforts.

Today, Andrean leadership met with representatives from Big Shoulders Fund, the Diocese of Gary, and Tonn and Blank Construction, LLC to discuss damage assessments, potential timelines, and next steps for our school community. These conversations are ongoing, and we will share additional information as plans continue to develop.

At this time, the Andrean campus remains closed. For the safety of our community and to allow recovery personnel to perform their work, please refrain from visiting campus until further notice. Thank you to Merrillville Police for their presence and for keeping an eye on Andrean’s campus. 

To help keep our community informed, we have launched a Campus Update webpage that will serve as the central source for the latest information, frequently asked questions, and future announcements. Please check this page regularly as new updates become available. We will still communicate updates through email to families first.
We anticipate providing additional updates later this week as more information becomes available.

Thank you for your continued patience, support, and prayers during this challenging time. Please continue to keep the Andrean and Merrillville communities in your prayers as we navigate the recovery process together.

See you at Victory Field! Go Niners!

Jaycob Knazur
Principal, Andrean High School

Today, Principal Jaycob Knazur led Bishop McClory, Josh Hale and Dan Kozlowski of Big Shoulders Fund, and Superintendent Dr. Colleen Brewer through the damage caused by Thursday night's tornado and discussed next steps as we work toward a plan for our students, families, faculty, and staff.
During the visit, Bishop McClory offered a blessing over the cross standing on campus and for the work that lies ahead. While many questions remain, we are grateful for the support, leadership, and partnership surrounding our Andrean community during this challenging time.
We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. 

Dear Andrean Family,
We want to begin by expressing our heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of support we have received since last night's tornado. The number of 59ers, neighbors, friends, alumni, and supporters from across our community and beyond who have reached out offering their time, talent, and treasure has been truly humbling and heartwarming. Thank you for your generosity, your encouragement, and your willingness to help. The time to act on that support will come soon.

For now, we ask that you continue to keep the Andrean Family and all those throughout the Merrillville community impacted by this storm in your prayers.

Andrean’s leadership team is present on campus and working closely and quickly with the Diocese, partners, and stakeholders. Our insurance representatives and contractors have been on campus assessing the damage and working to secure the property. While progress is being made, campus remains closed. We continue to ask that you refrain from visiting campus at this time for your own safety. There are still significant hazards present as crews work to evaluate damage, remove debris, and make the area safe.

Following the weekend, we will provide additional updates regarding the extent of the damage and how Andrean High School will navigate the weeks ahead. As we learn more, we will continue to keep our community informed. Please look for additional updates early next week.

Many have also asked how they can support Andrean during this time. Individuals who wish to make a donation may do so through our official website at www.andreanhs.org/support/donatenow.cfm. We ask that you please be cautious of any other donation links shared online. At this time, our website is the only online platform through which Andrean is accepting donations. We have also heard from many individuals eager to assist through volunteerism and service. We are deeply grateful for that generosity. As opportunities become available, we will share those details with our community.

Andrean has always been more than buildings and grounds. It is a community bound together by faith, tradition, and a shared commitment to one another. While the damage to our campus is significant, the strength of our Andrean Family is even greater.

Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and patience as we move forward together.

Magister Meus Christus.

As many of you know, Andrean withstood significant damage from this evening's storm. While we don't know the full-scale impact quite yet, we do know that the grounds are not suitable for visitors or concerned friends. There are active power lines, downed trees, broken glass, significant roof damage, etc that make it unsafe. While we assess the damage, mitigate safety risk, and determine next steps, we ask that you please stay away from campus until we provide an update. Campus is closed and all activities will be suspended and/or scheduled off-site pending next steps.

Andrean is a special and sacred place for so many of us. The damage incurred by this storm is devastating and hits us in a very personal way. But with that, we've always known that Andrean is about people, not infrastructure. Everyone is safe; there were no members of our family on campus at the time of the storm. We have had many friends reach out these fast few hours offering to help. There will certainly be time to act on that generosity of time, talent, and treasure in the coming days and weeks, but right now we ask that you simply remember our community in prayer. We will be in touch with a more thorough update as more information becomes available.