‘We are going to preserve Levi’s reminiscence alive’ | Brawner Elementary dedicates playground bench in honor of beloved scholar | Information

Ross then addressed Levi’s mom, Camie Rose Shaw, and brother, Cody, who’s a kindergartener at Brawner.

“Cody and Camie know that we’ll preserve Levi’s reminiscence alive right here at Brawner and you may depend on that,” Ross added.

As a manner of honoring Levi, a brand new “Buddy Bench” was put in on the playground. The bench options two silhouettes of youngsters enjoying and is painted in inexperienced, which was Levi’s favourite shade. The plaque on the bench reads “In Loving Reminiscence of Levi Shaw, Ceaselessly in Our Hearts.”

Based on pollyproducts.com, Buddy Benches had been invented to fight loneliness and bullying in faculties. Typically referred to as a ‘friendship bench,’ these benches are offered on college playgrounds as a manner for college students to sign to others that they’re feeling lonely, remoted, and wish a buddy to play with or somebody to speak to. The bench permits different youngsters on the playground to obviously see when one other child wants assist or a buddy, and so they can be part of them on the bench for a chat or invite them to play.

The thought for the “Buddy Bench” got here from two of Levi’s closest mates.

“They mentioned, ‘We actually need one thing on the playground for Levi as a result of that was his favourite factor — he liked the playground, and he liked to play,’” mentioned Sandy Ruiz, assistant principal at Brawner. “I allow them to pick all the pieces. We noticed it on-line, and naturally, it appeared wonderful, however when it got here in, we had been like, ‘Oh my gosh, it appears to be like so a lot better,’ as a result of when you take a look at one of many little boys, it appears to be like identical to Levi.”

Throughout the memorial, Levi’s former lecturers spoke about his kindness and his love for video video games and doughnuts.

“I at all times bear in mind his type coronary heart and wanting to assist and be a buddy to everybody,” mentioned Lesha Coker, Levi’s kindergarten trainer. “Levi at all times got here to highschool with a smile and a ‘good morning Mrs. Coker.’ He liked to be my helper, even when it was simply taking one thing to the trainer subsequent door. Levi will proceed to stay in our hearts. We liked him, and he liked us. I’ll by no means be capable of put on inexperienced once more and never consider candy Levi.”

Coker then recited a poem taken from a gravestone in Eire.

“Dying leaves a heartache that nobody can heal, love leaves a reminiscence that nobody can steal,” she recited.

“Might the recollections of candy Levi proceed to place a smile on our coronary heart. To the household: we love Levi. To his classmates: he liked you. Thanks for the recollections and sharing him with us.”

Melissa Smith had Levi in her class for 2 years. She mentioned whereas he was in her class, he confirmed her and his classmates “what happiness was and what kindness was as a result of he was a buddy to everyone.”

She additionally recited a quote from Winnie the Pooh: “How fortunate I’m to have one thing that makes saying goodbye so exhausting.”

“Regardless that we’re unhappy, and we miss our buddy,” Smith continued, “we’ve to contemplate ourselves fortunate to have identified him, to have identified his smile, and to have identified his chortle and his friendship. Levi, above anything, was type. I am honored to have had Levi in my life, and I am proud that his legacy of kindness will proceed with our new ‘Buddy Bench.’”

Kendall Wilson was Levi’s third grade trainer final yr. She started by saying that Levi was “the kind of scholar that the second you met him, you simply knew that you’d bear in mind him ceaselessly.”

“Levi was type, humorous, and very loving,” Wilson continued. “I like that we’ve a bench dedication to honor Levi’s reminiscence as a result of it jogs my memory of the numerous instances that he and I shared a bench collectively throughout chilly recesses attempting to get heat. We shared particular moments chatting about life and his favourite factor: video video games. My favourite recollections of Levi are the random moments all through the day when he would come and provides me a hug out of the blue or take a look at me and say ‘Miss Wilson, I like you.’ I’ll always remember the sound of his voice or Levi strolling by way of my door every morning with a sleepy smile and doughnuts in his hand. Although he is probably not right here with us bodily, we’re so fortunate that his legacy lives on in our reminiscence. We’re so fortunate to now have a inexperienced ‘Buddy Bench’ for different college students to talk and revel in life, identical to he and I did so many various instances final yr.”

A number of of Levi’s mates additionally spoke through the memorial, saying “He at all times knew how you can brighten my day,” “I liked his humorous jokes,” “You’ll at all times be in my coronary heart,” “I miss you,” “I hope you’ve gotten all of the doughnuts the place you are at,” and “You had been at all times so type.”

College students then sang “The Gummy Bear Track,” and every grabbed a inexperienced balloon. They shouted the Brawner motto, adopted by a refrain of “We love you, Levi!” earlier than releasing the balloons to the sky.

The memorial was adopted by a reception that served chocolate doughnuts with sprinkles and chocolate milk — Levi’s favorites.

Via the numerous tears, hugs, and unhappiness emanating from the Brawner Elementary Faculty playground Friday afternoon, one emotion continued to face out above all the remainder — love.

Levi Shaw touched the hearts of many, and the “Buddy Bench” will ceaselessly be a tribute to him and his love for others.