There is nothing harder than loosing someone so young, the family is devastated and the child's friends have to learn to cope with the loss as well.

This past spring we one of our students was killed in a rodeo accident 2 weeks before he graduated from High School. Our small community was rocked-many of our tecahers in our K-6th grade school taught this boy and he came back every year to vounteer at our school. He was a good one!!

Not only did we make meals for a few weeks, as the family was just so devestated and found it hard to function- the PTO offered a $1000 scholarship in his Memory-the kids had to write an essay about our school, our community ect... just last week- 4 months after his death, teh committee came together to choose teh recipient. The boys Mom was part of the process and though it was os hard, it was healing as well. We intend to make this an annual scholarship in Stuart's honor- happy to share the format if you would like.

We lost someone to cancer this past year at our school. I a few parents to get together and we used flower shaped paper cutters (Creative Memories) and used tons of colorful scraps of paper. We then had the teachers do a classroom activity of "Why I love Mr. Powell" ( a writtn msg)We collected them attached them to Floral wire sticks (long green ones from walmart flower section) and put them in a giant flower pot poked into foam. (we used different lengths to make them all fit)
We gave this to Mr. Powell when he was weeks away from passing. I guess it was his favorite thing to look at bedside. There were over 400 messages from students and staff! Hope it helps!

Like so many, we too dealt with the loss of a young child from our school. I agree with all the above posts--the school started a memorial fund that anyone/everyone could contribute to and have additions made to the play ground as a celebration of the young boys life. It has been a great comfort to the family. My only caution is recognize (as callous as this may seem) that these things will happen and be prepared as a PTO to address each one equally, with equal compassion. You are in essence setting the standard for how your group with express it's sympathy to the families of these wonderful boys and girls who leave us too quickly. In that stead, we are putting in a small "quiet corner" with angels and seating in an outside area where all may take a moment's respite and pause to remember their loved one's life. We also brought dinners to the family home every night and after they told us we'd done enough, we collected and purchased local discount cards for restaurants when the family needed to just get out or when it was just too difficult to cook. I hope these ideas provide you with a sense of comfort. This is truly your school's loss--even those that do not readily know the family will grieve. Meeting it head on and being a community even in grief is important for your organization and a testimonial to your leadership of same. Best of luck...and may the coming days be peaceful.

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We had a family who lost the mother this past year (2 students in the school). We have a business near us that does dinners. You go in and do all the prep work to make the dinners (they have everything there and someone helping you thru the stations). All you have to do at home is freeze it, then take out and bake when the meals are needed.

The PTO paid for it and 2 people volunteered to make the dinners, then deliver them to the family so they had some hot, nutritous meals without having to worry about it.

Our school lost a teacher over the summer to breast cancer. Students may purchase books in her honor for the library. they will have a plate in them saying donated in honor of.... by so and so...with the date.

We are considering planting a tree in her honor with a bench under it. We haven't really started the planning yet, because it is all so fresh and we had to get it together for school to start. our thoughts are to dig the hole for the tree, and then any student that wants to put a handful of dirt down may do so. We are still tossing this around though.

God bless you and your schools.

Our elementary school lost a fourth grader girl in the end of May 06. It was absolutely heartbreaking. Our school community pulled together and did several things in remembrance of her. First the fourth graders had snack day on Thursday's through the month of May. All snacks were .25-.50 cents a piece. These proceeds along with the money raised by the Principal for allowing teachers to dress down on Friday's in jeans ($5/per teacher) went to a beautiful butterfly garden dedicated to the little girl and her family. The school administration, staff, plus the PTA sponsored an outdoor concert on the recess field, all tickets were $5. The monies raised from this went to the family to help with the hardship they incurred due to this horrible loss. Lastly, a person organized dinners to be sent to the family every night. Friends, neighbors, teachers, etc. signed up for a night and the meals were delivered to the family. This was a huge weight lifted off their shoulders. It's the mundane everyday tasks that were impossible for them. Most important, be sure to keep in touch with the family. It is the single "best" thing for them!!!!