 Cassie Eyre's locker at St. Elizabeth Seton school is covered in card and notes from friends, Monday, April 27, 2009. Cassie died over the weekend after she ingested ecstasy at a party. (Sun Media/David Bloom)
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EDMONTON -- A school paused yesterday to mourn a lost life and contemplate the disastrous effects of drugs.
First period was cancelled at St. Elizabeth Seton Elementary/Junior High at 3711 135 Ave. - the school Cassie Eyre attended.
The 14-year-old overdosed on ecstasy at a West Edmonton Mall-sponsored teen party Friday.
Doctors took her off life-support Saturday afternoon.
"I know everyone is going to miss her because she was everybody's friend," said Darrian Navarro, 14. She considered herself the third in a friendship triangle with Eyre and Ashley, the girl who survived overdosing alongside Eyre.
She said she was supposed to join the girls at the Rock 'n' Ride dance party.
"If I would've been there, they wouldn't have done (the drugs)," she said.
Students roamed between memorials in the school halls after teachers gathered for an early morning meeting with the principal.
"Thank you for your thoughts and prayers," said the school's principal over the PA system.
"I know there probably won't be a lot of work done," he said before announcing classes would resume.
Two memorials were set up in the school hallways for Eyre.
Her locker was completely covered in handwritten letters and notes by 9 a.m., with more posts spilling onto the doors of neighbouring lockers.
Rosaries were tagged to a large photo taped up in the middle of the locker.
"Spread your wings. Fly home where you are at peace,' said a note stuck directly atop Eyre's picture.
A crowd of students huddled together, about a dozen at a time staring at the memorial. Many of their faces were straight and still. Some had tear-reddened eyes.
"It's going to be hard not seeing you on the bus, walking with you in the halls," wrote another student, even after writing they weren't particularly close friends.
Some students would hug as they greeted each other before their pilgrimage to the memorials.
A box of facial tissue was stationed on the table of a second memorial near the school's entrance, alongside a stuffed dog toy and two bouquets of flowers.
Three high school boys lingered long after other students shuffled back to second period classes. Two of them, Chris Courtenay, 17, and Lonnie Powell, 16, were with Eyre the night she overdosed.
"We were telling them to stop it," said Powell. They refused, so "we broke into tears."
"Their mind was set," added Courtenay.
While they struggle with sadness and anger at the loss, the three boys said they hope it opens student, parent and educator eyes to ecstasy abuse.
"No one catches it until something bad happens like this," said Courtenay.
