Our VIS Family Deals with
the Pain of Grief
"Hearts break for the children left behind who have to find the courage to face life without that pillar of support. As a school we try to be a stable and reliable force to see them through the darkest days so that they can cope with everyday life without that essential being."
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Ms. Totty Aris - Head of School
The new year brought in a fresh start for many and it has been great to see our students get back into the swing of things despite the cold season. However, with great sadness in our hearts we have had to deal with the pain that comes with the consequences of death within our school community.
In January, our Grade 10 student, Viti, was taken from us after a brave battle with cancer. She had been at VIS since Grade 5 and will be remembered for her endearing character, her courage and persistent efforts to see the positive side. Most recently we had further bad news as one of our parents, David Gray, also passed away after battling a liver disease.
I was immensely proud of our students who stood up at Viti’s memorial and spoke of her with gratitude and fondness. She was brave and hopeful throughout her illness and will be missed and remembered as a role-model of courage. There is a sense of injustice in the world that comes with anyone dying and it feels deeply unfair that a young person has to get so ill when life is normally about the many years ahead, we all feel that pain with Viti’s family.
David will be remembered as his son’s father, a great role-model to a brave son who now has to face life without that presence. He will be fondly remembered both as a man with a lovely personality and also as a supportive parent who was dedicated to supporting his son. He connected with his child’s education by getting involved; not only as an elected Parent Representative on the Board of Directors, but also serving on many committees, offering his time and expertise thereby contributing to the stability of the school and engaging with our community.