JACKSON — Grief counselors visited the first-grade classrooms at Riverside Elementary the Monday after Zariah Chanel Scott, 6, died of injuries sustained in a fatal collision that had already claimed the lives of her mother, Mariah Nelson, and her 1-year-old brother, Symere.
Zariah loved singing, dancing and painting, according to her obituary, and her favorite color was purple.
She always looked out for her brother and her sisters, Serenidee Schoenecker and Armani Scott, who was also injured in the Nov. 13 collision.
“We just want to make sure the family knows we support them in every way that we can,” said Dr. Kimberly Meyer, Riverside’s principal.
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Grief counselors were also available to talk with the students individually during the day, keeping things age-appropriate for the young people, and the school sent a letter to parents of first-graders so they knew what was going on, Meyer said. A school counselor and school psychologist are available at Riverside as well.
Many students made cards for Zariah’s family.
“With this age group of students, it’s really hard to know how they process things,” Meyer said. “It’s been a hard hit on the whole community, and Riverside — and the students and teachers, and everyone.”
Riverside students gathered outside Tuesday to remember their classmate with a balloon release, and Zariah’s funeral was on Wednesday.
“Zariah will always be remembered for her love of life, laugh, and her beautiful smile that would light up any room she walked in,” her obituary states.
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