An 8-year-old student at Valders Elementary School who died two weeks ago in a tragic traffic crash left behind quite a legacy with children and adults, alike.
Skylar Rose Beattie, who resided in Manitowoc, died of injuries suffered in a one-vehicle rollover crash on I-43 in Manitowoc County.
Skylar Rose’s Principal at Valders Elementary was Jason Prochnow, who tells Seehafer News he knew her very well.
He said, “She was a student here since 4K, so I had seen her every day since she was a 4-year-old.”
Prochnow added, “she was a very bright girl, typically always smiling.”
He offered an example of how she showed kindness to other kids.
“She and her cousin which was her best friend, really took in the new kids this year,” he explained. “Made sure they had someone to play with at recess, someone to sit with at breakfast. They were really conscious of that.”
As for the impact on classmates and teachers of her life being taken, Prochnow explains.
“It’s been very difficult, but we have had a lot of support amongst ourselves, and from our staff at all the buildings in our school district,” he said. “We have had a lot of support from outside.”
The principal says the school district does have plans to honor Skylar Rose’s memory.
“We are going to have a pink-out day at some point in February,” he revealed. “We are going to ask all the students and staff in the school district to wear pink in her honor because that was her favorite color.” Another event that is being planed is a kindness challenge, which will also take place in February. Prochnow explained that they are going to “link Skylar and her memory to that challenge by initiating a donation drive.”
Prochnow added, “They remain strong, but it’s the most difficult thing that’s happened here at our school in all the years that we’ve worked here.”
