Confirmation Of Remains Puts School In Mourning

Thursday, February 16, 2006 04:01 AM

The flags will be flying at halfmast this morning at D.P. Todd Secondary School, where 14-year-old Aielah Saric had been attending grade 8 since the fall.

RCMP confirmed yesterday afternoon that the human remains discovered in a ditch along Highway 16, east of Prince George on Friday were those of Saric, who was last seen outside the First Litre Pub on Strathcona on February 2nd. Police are not releasing how she died.

D.P. Todd Principal Brian Toll says he met with Aielah's mother yesterday afternoon and made plans to have a card available in the library for students to sign.

Toll says the teen had a small circle of friends at the school because she was new. "And, yet, as our students found out about Aielah being missing, then of course, the final news (yesterday), they showed genuine concern." He says they're also wondering what's happening, so he plans to use the P.A. system first thing in the school day to "talk to the students a little bit."

"Counsellors are going to be available (today) for any of our students or staff who are going through a difficult time with this (and) we've also brought some people in from the community as well to help out, should they be needed."

The principal says, "Whenever a tragedy like this occurs, it's important that, perhaps, other kids learn from situations -- to just be as careful as they can possibly be."
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