After tragic crash, Indianapolis Junior Academy pushes for normalcy for grieving students

The students in Ms. Rideout's classroom quietly focused on the assignment: Draw your dream dog.

In the midst of tragedy, teachers at Indianapolis Junior Academy were easing students into light, easy classwork.

The first, second and third-graders colored quietly on the first day back to school Monday after losing their principal and two students in a tragic car crash that also injured three other students.

That mixed-year classroom of young students was missing one girl: Malia Siziba, a 5-year-old first-grader who was killed, along with 12-year-old Sandile Ncube and the school's principal, Norris Ncube.

As students drew their dream dogs, two real ones trotted into the room. A flurry of squeals and laughs erupted.

"Can I hug him?" one student asked the handlers of the two therapy dogs. Other students rushed to pet Rosebud and B-Dawg, the golden retrievers brought in to comfort the grieving students.

Classes resumed Monday after the school was closed for the week following the Tuesday crash on West Washington Street, thought to be caused by a driver who suffered a medical problem.

A car driven by 80-year-old Jack Reed struck Ncube's vehicle, which also carried five students he was taking to school that morning.

The crash remains under investigation, as police wait for toxicology results, IMPD Sgt. Kendale Adams said. Reed's family has said they believe he suffered a stroke.

Two students, Buhlebenkosi Anita Nkoma, an eighth-grader, and Deon Siziba, a sixth-grader, have since been released from the hospital. They are resting with broken bones, said acting principal Daniel Ortega, a pastor at Glendale Seventh-day Adventist Church, the affiliated church.

One student remains in critical condition. Jessica Senele Ncube, the daughter of Norris Ncube and twin sister of Sandile Ncube, is slowly recovering.

She has a spinal injury, Ortega said, but they don't know how severe.

For most of the Monday's school day, students met with counselors and pastors, and spent time with the therapy dogs. They talked, cried and prayed together.

But school officials say they are also mindful of helping children move back into a normal routine. They'll start with easy classwork before an eventually push toward normalcy.

"We want them to be able to move on," Ortega said. "But they are not going to be fully concentrating at first. We are leaving it up to the discretion of the teachers."

The students in Tirza Rideout's bright blue classroom exclaimed about the dogs, and raised their hands, bouncing in their chairs, to ask questions.

"Do they get presents at Christmas?" one young girl asked. Another student asked if they play fetch.

"Come here, come here," a young boy repeated eagerly to the dogs.

"Just being around a dog, your blood pressure goes down," said Brian Yensho, one of the dogs' handlers. Yensho takes the trained therapy dogs to hospitals to offer consolation to people who are suffering.

The therapy dogs are a key part of the school's plan to offer support for students on the first day back, which began with an assembly, a ceremony where the flag outside the school was lowered to half-mast and counseling sessions.

Ortega said the school has seen an outpouring of support from the community. Mental health professionals offered their services and schools around the country sent cards with condolences.

Pastors at the affiliated church spoke to the children about death Monday morning. Members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church believe death involves going to sleep until the next coming of Jesus Christ.

"We told them, 'You know how you go to sleep, and the next thing you know, it's morning?'" said Harvey Kornegay, senior pastor of Glendale Seventh-day Adventist Church. "We said, 'They have fallen asleep and Jesus will wake them up.'"

The school and church also have offered support to Busi Ncube, wife of Norris Ncube.

She is trying to be strong for her daughter while grieving the deaths of her son and husband, Ortega said.

People in Indianapolis' Zimbabwean community have rallied around the woman, and family from her home country have flown here to help her.

Principal, 1 student are dead after tragic crash Tuesday

"She is a strong woman," Ortega said.

Meanwhile, the school is trying to fill the teaching gaps after Ncube's death.

The school is beginning the process of hiring a new principal. But Ncube also taught fourth and fifth grade, so the school has shifted teachers to cover the classes.

A pre-kindergarten teacher has taken over Ncube's classes, and the school hired someone to take the pre-K role, though they are looking to hire a permanent replacement.

Most good teachers already have jobs, Ortega said, though he's hopeful the right person will come to fill the role.

Call Star reporter Madeline Buckley at (317) 444-6083. Follow her on Twitter:@Mabuckley88.