Miss-Delectable
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The Tribune
CENTRE for the Deaf students and teachers held a day of mourning yesterday for the popular and caring student crushed to death in a traffic accident on Friday.
Charlise Bain, 15, was killed when the bus taking her and seven other students home from school collided with a white 1995 Dodge van in Spruce Street, Nassau Village at around 1.30pm.
Seven students escaped the crash with minor cuts and bruises and were treated and discharged from hospital on Friday night.
School principal Tessa Nottage remained with the students and their families at the hospital and has been in daily contact with Charlise's family.
She has known Charlise since she was a toddler and described Charlise as warm, caring, loving, compassionate, and extremely popular among the 35 pupils at the specialist school in Gregory Street, Oakes Field.
Charlise had been outgoing and vocal when she joined the school at age three and developed her potential after receiving a cochlear implant at a Florida hospital soon after.
The bright and friendly child remained in Florida with her family for 10 years before returning to Nassau and the Centre for the Deaf in 2006.
Mrs Nottage said: "When she returned from Florida her speech was excellent. She could have been in a regular class, but because our school is so small her mother wanted to keep her here. And she was very popular. She would always give you a word of encouragement if you were down, she was very cheerful and positive.
"She loved home economics, and she really enjoyed pastry making - she could easily have been a pastry chef."
Several students were informed of her death for the first time yesterday in two assembles attended by local pastors, police officers, and officials from the ministries of Social Services, Health and Education.
Ministry of Education counsellors have already started to work with those traumatised by the tragedy and held a group therapy session for the crash survivors.
Children who have suffered from nightmares since Friday's crash and Charlise's family have also been visited by counsellors at home.
Mrs Nottage said the first day back at school yesterday was difficult for everyone.
She said: "Some students heard about it for the first time so they were crying and we were holding them and making sure they were all right.
"We are doing our best to be strong for the children.
"It was very traumatic and it will take a while for the couselling to go on, but we are trying our best to give them the counselling they need.
"This is a small family in this school, so we have to bear each other's burden."
Chief Superintendent Hulan Hanna said police have not yet concluded their investigations, but witness interviews are progressing and he is optimistic inquiries will soon be brought to a close.
CENTRE for the Deaf students and teachers held a day of mourning yesterday for the popular and caring student crushed to death in a traffic accident on Friday.
Charlise Bain, 15, was killed when the bus taking her and seven other students home from school collided with a white 1995 Dodge van in Spruce Street, Nassau Village at around 1.30pm.
Seven students escaped the crash with minor cuts and bruises and were treated and discharged from hospital on Friday night.
School principal Tessa Nottage remained with the students and their families at the hospital and has been in daily contact with Charlise's family.
She has known Charlise since she was a toddler and described Charlise as warm, caring, loving, compassionate, and extremely popular among the 35 pupils at the specialist school in Gregory Street, Oakes Field.
Charlise had been outgoing and vocal when she joined the school at age three and developed her potential after receiving a cochlear implant at a Florida hospital soon after.
The bright and friendly child remained in Florida with her family for 10 years before returning to Nassau and the Centre for the Deaf in 2006.
Mrs Nottage said: "When she returned from Florida her speech was excellent. She could have been in a regular class, but because our school is so small her mother wanted to keep her here. And she was very popular. She would always give you a word of encouragement if you were down, she was very cheerful and positive.
"She loved home economics, and she really enjoyed pastry making - she could easily have been a pastry chef."
Several students were informed of her death for the first time yesterday in two assembles attended by local pastors, police officers, and officials from the ministries of Social Services, Health and Education.
Ministry of Education counsellors have already started to work with those traumatised by the tragedy and held a group therapy session for the crash survivors.
Children who have suffered from nightmares since Friday's crash and Charlise's family have also been visited by counsellors at home.
Mrs Nottage said the first day back at school yesterday was difficult for everyone.
She said: "Some students heard about it for the first time so they were crying and we were holding them and making sure they were all right.
"We are doing our best to be strong for the children.
"It was very traumatic and it will take a while for the couselling to go on, but we are trying our best to give them the counselling they need.
"This is a small family in this school, so we have to bear each other's burden."
Chief Superintendent Hulan Hanna said police have not yet concluded their investigations, but witness interviews are progressing and he is optimistic inquiries will soon be brought to a close.