School community reacts to fire

OCONTO FALLS - Church leaders and staff members of St. Anthony Parish School, along with students and their families gathered at the building on Wednesday morning, just several hours after a fire tore through the school portion.

Firefighters responded to the blaze on North Franklin St. around 7 p.m. Tuesday.

State fire officials have been called in to help investigate the cause.

"Well, I'm just devastated," said Cole Bertrand, a fifth grader at the school.  "I've been here for 6 years.  I don't know how this happened but I'm just devastated."

His friend, Dennis Kaczmarowski - also in fifth grade - was there to comfort him.

"We've had a lot of fun memories in this fun school and we're like family," said Kaczmarowski.

Serious damage was contained to the school portion of St. Anthony.  While the church portion remains mostly untouched, smoke still lingers in the air and the pews are covered in soot.

• Click here to see photos of the fire and its aftermath

Church leaders were forced to move the morning Ash Wednesday service to the nearby St. Patrick's Church in Stiles.

"The fire gives a new meaning to the term Ash Wednesday -- so it reflects the theme of Ash Wednesday-- 'Remember you are dust and to dust you will return,'" said Father Joel Sember of St. Anthony Parish.

"As we look at our church covered in dust, it's a poignant reminder that even on the things we depend on to be there for us, you can't always trust."

As emotional support for the students and staff pour in, financial support is as well.

School leaders say it all started with Paige Applebee, a seven-year-old second grader who was devastated to learn about the fire at her school.

Paige's father, Mike Applebee, told us what she did.

"She went into her room, got out her piggy bank and took all the cash out - $16 - and she put it in an envelope and said, 'For St. Anthony School to rebuild.'"

Soon after that announcement, school leaders learned that someone anonymously dropped off a $1,000 donation at the Applebee residence to join in on Paige's effort.

If you want to donate money to help the school, you can send it to the Associated Bank in Oconto Falls:

134 North Main St.
Oconto Falls, WI 54154
(920) 846-2831

If you are interested in donating teaching material or school supplies, email school principal Rosemary Marifke at mom1marifke@yahoo.com .

Marifke says Grace Lutheran Church in Oconto Falls is opening its doors to students and staff of St. Anthony so they can resume classes.  It's hoped classes will start at Grace Lutheran Church by Monday.  Oconto Falls Elementary School is donating some textbooks and other school materials for the St. Anthony students and staff to use.

On the left-hand side of your screen, you will notice several video links.  Click on them to watch all of the live reports that FOX 11's Angela Kelly did with students and staff of St. Anthony Parish School on Wednesday morning.