Above: Rubber bracelets designed by the Green family were handed out at Trottier
One year ago tomorrow our community was shocked and heartbroken at the sudden passing of 7th grader Eric Green. Today students at Trottier took time to remember their classmate.
The day started at Trottier with words from Principal Keith Lavoie followed by a moment of silence. A grassroots effort by Eric’s friends encouraged students to wear green in his honor. Green rubber bracelets bearing Eric’s name flanked by hearts were created by the family and handed out recently to students and staff.
“Everyone has a heavy heart,” Lavoie said earlier this week, noting extra counselors would be at Trottier today for anyone who might need to talk.
The anniversary of Eric’s death brings back painful memories for the Trottier community, but Lavoie said the school was trying to keep their remembrances today “balanced.”
“We’re trying to keep it at an appropriate level,” Lavoie said. “We want to make sure we’re as flexible as possible wherever the kids and teachers are with this.”
Twelve-year-old Eric was an up-and-coming lacrosse player. He played the trumpet in Trottier’s elite Big Band. He had a passion for learning and academics. Those who knew him said above all Eric was kind and good.
To honor Eric, Lavoie said he would ask students to think about being kind. “Today should be a day when we treat everyone with kindness,” he said.
While today’s remembrances were more informal, a tree-planting ceremony in Eric’s honor is being planned for later this spring. Lavoie said the details are still being worked out, but a tree will be planted in Eric’s memory somewhere on the Trottier grounds on Saturday, June 8.
In addition, two pieces of music have been commissioned in Eric’s honor. One will be a piece for concert band that Lavoie said will be more solemn and reflective, while the other will be an upbeat jazz piece to reflect Eric’s love of life. Both pieces will be performed by Trottier students at the ceremony in June.
