The Ministry of Schooling, Expertise, Youth and Data has assigned grief counsellors to the Might Day Excessive Faculty in Manchester to supply assist to college students and workers, following the tragic demise of 14-year-old pupil, Lakeea Thompson.
The grade-eight pupil died on Friday (February 6) after being struck by a reversing bus on the Might Day principal street.
State Minister, Hon. Rhoda Moy Crawford, who visited the establishment on Monday (February 9) to supply condolences and assist to college students, workers and fogeys, appealed for motorists to look out for kids traversing the roadways.
“I wish to use this chance to enchantment to our transport operators to have higher care of responsibility once we use our roads. Now we have to be extra vigilant and simply to remind the scholars of Might Day Excessive Faculty to be conscious of the security protocols which might be in place for their very own security,” she mentioned.
Miss Crawford, who can also be Member of Parliament for Central Manchester, mentioned she intends to have discussions with the Nationwide Works Company (NWA) about putting in sidewalks alongside the DeCarteret hall as a security measure.
“I must communicate to the NWA to see the chances however, within the meantime, we wish to encourage college students to desist from making the stroll there,” she mentioned.
“There are areas that we count on the scholars to face and look ahead to transportation. This can be a possibility to advocate for an extra bus for Might Day Excessive Faculty, as a result of the principal would have indicated to us that the dad and mom have been taking on the usage of the varsity bus system,” she famous.
Talking with Lakeea’s eighth-grade classmates, Miss Crawford urged them to take the time to grieve and to additionally cherish the reminiscences of their pal.
“Don’t be too exhausting on your self, particularly in case you had been very near her. It’s going to be very pure and regular so that you can be very offended. We don’t know why it occurred; we simply realize it’s unlucky that it occurred, and it’ll take a while for issues to get again to regular for a few of you,” she famous.
“I might encourage you to cherish the reminiscences. Maintain them near your coronary heart. Don’t be afraid to speak to your academics, your family and friends members about how you’re feeling,” she inspired.
Miss Crawford additionally expressed honest condolences to the household of four-year-old Saniyah O’Brien, who was killed on Sunday (February 8) when the automobile by which she was travelling together with her father was attacked by gunmen in Land Settlement in Williamsfield.
Principal of Might Day Excessive Faculty, Stanford Davis, mentioned the varsity group is shaken by the premature lack of Lakeea.
“We’re mourning the lack of our pupil, Lakeea Thompson, however on the identical time, we’re going to make use of it as a method of making certain that we work along with our Ministry… our college board [and our community] to make sure that we put issues in place and get the cooperation of everybody,” he mentioned.
“We have to get again to the scenario the place the village raises our youngsters, and supply the love, care and assist,” Mr. Davis mentioned, thanking the Ministry, the police and others who’ve reached out to the varsity.
