Thursday, March 12, 2009

Last week could be called a septimana horribila for Excelsior after a tumultuous seven day period of horror, sadness and gloom with the back to back deaths of two students from the school.

First, Anieka Hayden was cut down by a stray bullet while at home in her own bed on Saturday February 28. The already turbulent week then took another turn with the news of the death of seventh-grader Davian Clarke, who succumbed to the ravages of leukemia on Thursday, March 5.

As shocking as was Anieka’s death,  the death of 12 year old Davian  was no less jarring because,  although it was known that he was gravely ill,  few suspected the end was so near.  Plans were in place for him to travel to the United States on Sunday March 9.

Davian had been set to continue treatment for his illness at the National Institute of Health in Maryland and overtures had been made to the New York-based Excelsior Alumni Association, as well as to other alumni in the Diaspora, for help.

Meanwhile, the PTA has chipped in with J$50,000.oo while the Adopt-a-Block Committee had pledged J$20, 000.00, each, to help with Davian’s care as well as for that of another student, Nycoy Byrd, grade 7-10,who had also been afflicted with the same disease. The money earmarked to assist Davian will now be donated to help underwrite his funeral expenses.

“It is indeed a moment of grief but we are all taking solace in the faith we have as together we build on the great traditions of Excelsior and continue to strive for excellence” offered Ms. Lilieth Deacon, Chairman of the school’s Board Of Management, in tribute to the two students when AgeNotes sought a reaction from her.

“This is what we must do in tribute to these two Excelsorians and the countless others who have gone on before them” she emphasized.

Although the deaths occurred in contrasting circumstances, the grief is no less palpable and it will be hard to salve the wounds of despair among the students. However, the administration and grief counselors have been working overtime to try to comfort the student population, and the school is already making strides in helping the students come to terms with their grief

“We have placed poster sized photos around the school so the children are able to write their thoughts as this acts as a kind of catharsis” Acting Principal Mrs. Allison Peart explained.

Anieka’s death was particularly painful as she had been a ward of the state and had experienced much discord and displacement in her brief life. Excelsior had given her a new lease on life by presenting her with a second chance in a more structured environment.

“The positive thing is that she found love at XLCR among her peers and the administration. It was really a pleasure to be part of an institution that made her last days so full of love” Mrs. Peart continued. 

If the school has experienced a more trying week, maybe the details have been blurred by the passage of time but few can recall as devastating a period as that which occurred between Saturday  February 28 and Thursday March 5.

The Excelsior Alumni Association has conveyed its condolences to the school and the families of the deceased, while words of comfort and offers of help have been coming in from past students, both at home and abroad.

A Memorial Service will be scheduled for Aneika in the school’s auditorium while the funeral will be held at a later date, pending an autopsy. Meanwhile, funeral rites for Davian will be conducted on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 2pm at the Olivet Gospel Hall, 34 Oakland Crescent, Kingston 11.