Students pull together to honor late teacher

I was just a kid when Johnny Milkie got sick. He had been on a ski trip with his family and contracted meningitis. The whole town was talking about how sick he was, and my friends and I prayed hard that he would make it.

When my mom told me he had died, she had tears in her eyes. I couldn't cry. I knew he was just gone and that I would see him again, probably at school.

It's hard to lose a friend or a loved one at any age, but for kids it is really difficult. I realized that when I talked with four members of the Hoover Wood Student Council about their former teacher, Mrs. Walters.

Laura Walters was the young Spanish teacher who died unexpectedly the day before classes began last fall.

Her love of children and her love of teaching Spanish made her a teacher who was loved by students and staff alike. She bubbled with enthusiasm and wore a smile that brightened the day of everyone.

"She always smiled," said Ali Grimm, student council president. "Whenever you saw her she was smiling."

"She smiled a lot, especially when she talked about traveling in Spain or about her son, Casey," added Sarah Irvine.

Walters left behind a young son. Many of the students were familiar with him because Walters often brought him to school events.

"He's one of the reasons why we're having this Cinco de Mayo celebration," said Ali. "We want to show him how much we cared about his mom."

The students acknowledged the beginning of school was difficult. Even these fifth-graders realized the importance of the school notifying the parents about Walters passing before the first day began.

"Everyone was sad the first day," but most had learned about it from their parents and that made it easier, said Matt Musielak.

"At first, I didn't believe it when my parents told me," said Sarah. "It was just so hard to imagine school without her."

Student Gunnar Malm helped younger kids deal with it and asked some friends to help. "There were some kids who seemed to be handling it better than others and they were able to help too," he said.

Many of the student council members made a memorial an issue during the elections.

"During the speeches, many said that they supported a celebration to honor Mrs. Walters," said Ali. "That was the one thing we really wanted to accomplish."

The student council decided to focus on Cinco de Mayo, the holiday Walters organized with other teachers, at the end of the year.

"She worked with art, music and P.E. to create a big celebration," Matt said.

The Student Council, along with the Hoover Wood PTO and the Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence, have worked together to create a week long festival that will honor the beloved teacher and her special holiday.

On Monday, May 5, there will be the fifth annual Cinco de Mayo 5k run for students and families alike.

On Tuesday, food service Sodexho is supporting the event by making tacos for lunch so the kids can have a special "Taco Tuesday."

On Wednesday one of Walter's favorite authors, Antonio Sacre will be coming to give a presentation at Batavia High School.

"Mrs. Walters would often play tapes of his," said Matt. "We really hope that everyone will come to hear him."

Sacre is an award winning author, storyteller and entertainer who delights audiences with his entertaining style using both English and Spanish.

The Wednesday evening performance takes place at the Batavia High School cafeteria and is free.

On Thursday, students will have the opportunity to wear a hat in school for Hats On Sombrero Day. The money raised from the event will be split between the Fund For Children with Cancer and Caey Walter's trust fund.

And throughout the week the students will be finishing a memorial scrapbook with letters from all of the students and a special A to Z book for Casey.

There will also be special music and piñatas that kids made in art class.

During the year the student council organized many fundraising events to support this celebration.

"Many of our members gave up lunch and recess to stay in and work on a project," said Ali. "It's been a lot of work but it also has been a lot of fun.

"It's not just student council," said Gunnar. "A friend of mine came in before school to make a banner and others have helped as well."

The whole school has pulled together to put on this celebration.

"It will be a great week and it was totally worth the work," said Ali.

Sometimes we don't get the opportunity to tell someone how much we love them. The Hoover Wood family is doing just that with their Cinco de Mayo. Will there be tears? Maybe. Will there be smiles? Oh, yes. Will the family of Laura Walters know that she was loved? Most definitely."

"It makes me feel good to know that she would have enjoyed this celebration," said Ali. "Somehow, I know she's smiling down on us."