Eustace Keeping in touch with Central School class
Published on December 8th, 2004
STOEHAM, MA - They've spent hours attempting to keep in touch, creating get-well cards, regularly sending letters, and for a few, visiting on occasion.
To show how much they care, they've forged pillow cases complete with imprints of class photos and decorated posters with their handprints to hang upon the empty walls of his room.
And while all those acts sustained the social bonds that had been formed since the start of the school year, it was modern day technology that closed the physical distance between five-year-old David Eustace and his Kindergarten classmates at the Central School.
One of three Stonehamites still hospitalized from injuries sustained during last October's Central School tragedy, Eustace spent ten-minutes together with his classmates last Friday communicating through an audio/video connection between his hospital room and classroom.
"[Stoneham School System Media Technology Director Bob Hogan] brought in a laptop computer and plugged it into our system which was in turn connected to David," said Central School Kindergarten Teacher Linda Peterson. "The actual connection lasted for about 5 to 10 minutes. We were hoping it would be longer, but we're going to get a schedule of available times and do it again on an ongoing basis."
According to both Peterson and Assistant Superintendent Joseph Casey, the online encounter between the classmates was a great opportunity to maintain the social bonds between the students, and to continue the healing process for those directly impacted by the Central School accident.
"It think it was great for them. Some of the students hadn't had the opportunity to visit or maybe felt awkward seeing him in the hospital. So I think it broke the ice for many students who might have felt uncomfortable," said Peterson.
"I think it was also great for David. He recognized each child and called them by name. So it was great that he was able to maintain that link after being out of school since October," the teacher added.
Excited by the possibilities of the technology, Hogan - who worked closely with several Stonehamites employed by MassGeneral and Apple computers to make the virtual encounter happen - remarked that it was the best use of modern computers he's seen during his 20-years in the school system.
"It's just very exciting and the possibilities are endless," Hogan said excitedly. "This is the best use of technology I've seen since I've been here. It's not like your normal use of computers where you use your run of the mill word or data processing applications."
According to Hogan and Casey, the school department hopes to also use the technology with another accident victim, six-year-old Jonathan Schores, and his classmates. And with a little work, the contacts could occur on a somewhat regular basis, perhaps even leading to opportunities for the two injured students to participate in classroom activities through the virtual connection.
"I think it's fantastic if we can arrange for that possibility," said former school committee member Dan Moynihan, a family friend and spokesperson for the Schores' family. "Obviously, it would help both students assimilate back into the classroom for when that time comes. And I know Jonathan misses his classmates terribly."
In addition to the efforts of the school department to ease the rehabilitation process for those injured in the accident, Moynihan also praised several other individual and collective altruistic actions of citizens and business, including those of a local contractor who installed an access ramp to the Schores' home free-of-charge, and of charity group, the Friends of the Schores and Eustace Families.
According to Cheryl Murphy, co-chairman of the charity group, an auction will be held at the Montvale Plaza on Jan. 21 to benefit to two local families.
"Basically, we're a group of Linda Schores' friends and after the accident, we just wanted to do something to help them since we couldn't help them heal," said Murphy of the auction plans. "And this has really just taken on a life of its own. We've already sold 600 tickets, so the response has just been wonderful."
With a myriad of items such as free manicures, vacation packages, and driveway pavings donated for the event so far, Murphy and Co-Chairman Christine LoPilato are still hoping for additional donations.
"Anything that people are willing to donate we'll take. We're really not asking for anything specific," said Murphy. "With the holidays quickly approaching, we're trying to put this together as quickly as possible."
In addition to a live and silent auction, the event will also feature raffles, games, entertainment, and dinner.
Citizens interested in making donations for the Montvale Plaza event can contact either Cheryl Murphy at 781-279-1917 or Christine LoPilato at 781-279-4164. 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to the Schores and Eustace families to cover medical and rehabilitation costs. All donations are tax deductible. Approximately 40 tickets are also still available for the Jan. 21 event, which will occur from 7 pm to midnight.
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