RUSSELVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Yaritza Ramos Nolasco - fourth grader at Russellville Elementary

By Press release submission

Dec 21, 2020

Russellville Elementary School issued the following announcement on Dec. 19.

Colbert County Schools mourns the loss of 9 year- old Yaritza Ramos Nolasco, who was a fourth grader at Russellville Elementary School. Please keep Russellville City Schools and Yaritza Ramos Nolasco’s family in your thoughts and prayers this holiday season.

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It has been a tremendously sad day for many of us at RCS as we mourn the tragic loss of 9-year-old Yaritza Ramos Nolasco, who was a fourth grader at Russellville Elementary School.

RCS Superintendent Heath Grimes said Yaritza and her family have only been part of Russellville City Schools for a year and a half after moving to the area from their home in Guatemala in search of better opportunities. He said she comes from a family with a limited educational background and has faced many challenges, but Yaritza had achieved so much in her time at RCS.

"Yaritza was a special part of our RCS student body and was doing so well here," Grimes said. "So many who knew her have said she was just an inspiration. She was bright and eager to learn. Her light and presence will be so missed by all those who knew her."

RES Principal Kristie Ezzell said Yaritza took full advantage of the new opportunities she was given and was a precious student who loved school and her teachers.

"Even though Yaritza had only been at RES (from Guatemala) for a year and a half, she was really thriving this year," Ezzell said. "She had the sweetest smile! We are so saddened by this horrible tragedy and the loss of our sweet girl. We will be there to support our students and faculty through this, and we also hope, with the help of our community, to be able to help the family as well."

Losing a student is one of the most unimaginable things for a teacher. Their students become their family, not just for that school year but for years to come.

Yaritza's teacher, Mrs. Cortney Green, said she was an absolute joy to teach and a true inspiration for all that she had overcome.

"Yaritza was like a little sponge," Green said. "She had been flourishing. She was learning multiplication and loved phonemic awareness. She had learned to write her name in cursive, and on the last day of school she hugged me and said, 'I love you Mrs. Green.' She loved Frozen and The Little Mermaid. She also loved watching videos of (my daughter) Emmy cheering on my phone. This little class has been my greatest blessing this year. I have learned so much from them, especially Yaty."

Grimes said a GoFundMe has been set up for Yaritza's family to help with funeral expenses and the costs associated with having her body transferred back to their former home in Guatemala where much of their family remains. The target amount has been set at $10,000.

"My heart is absolutely broken for this family," Grimes said, "and I hope our community and others will rally around them during this devastating time. I've been part of the Russellville community for five years now, and I've witnessed what this community can accomplish when we band together. I sincerely hope our community will reach out to this family and show them the love of Christ and how we help each other in this community and in our country."