With Safety of Families in Japan Confirmed, Keio Academy Looks to Help

Friday morning was a trying time for students and faculty at the Keio Academy, as news spread of a powerful earthquake and devastating tsunami that hit Japan during the early morning hours local time.

Throughout most of the day students and faculty made efforts to reach friends and family in Japan. But with phone lines destroyed in some areas of the country, the task wasn't an easy one.

"In the morning it was a very emotional time," said Rieko Ivy, the school's public relations director. Many of the Keio Academy's approximately 350 students have family in Japan.

By Friday afternoon the school was able to confirm that all family members of staff and students were safe, although some had to be evacuated from their homes.

Since then the attention of the student body has immediately focused on ways to help, Ivy said. The student government has already drafted a proposal to raise funds to be sent to those in need. The school has also received calls from the local community looking for ways to help.

Keio is currently streamlining plans to help and hopes to have something in place by the end of the week, Ivy said. The student government hopes to offer help to those not as fortunate back in Japan.

"We have to find out what we can do now," said Ivy.

Located in Purchase, the Keio Academy was founded as an independent school in 1990 and is associated with Japan's Keio Academy. Many students at the school have either parents who moved to the United States from Japan or are transfer students from the country.

The Keio Academy offers classes to students in grades nine through 12.

Japanese students at SUNY Purchase and Manhattanville College have also been able to confirm the safety of their loved ones, according to school officials.

There are 12 students at SUNY Purchase from Japan, but none of their families were in the affected area. The school is however offering counselling to those on campus in need. Manhattanville college has four enrolled students from Japan and has also been able to confirm the safety of their families.