Nursery creates tribute to toddler

Nosaj Stovell, who was just 21 months old, was in collision with a reversing taxi last Wednesday evening and was pronounced dead at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. 

It is understood he had been a passenger along with two adults when they disembarked at Wyndham Hill, Hamilton Parish. The Bermuda Police Service is investigating the incident.

The death of the toddler has devastated the community — particularly the staff of Kiddie Academy, where he was a student.

Sharon DeSilva, owner of the nursery and pre-school, said although the children are “too young to understand” what has happened to their classmate, the staff are all distressed.

“It’s been a really tough time,” she said. 

“I spoke to all the teachers on Thursday morning and we are going through the stages of grieving. Everyone was really quiet and subdued, but then we felt edgy and angry.

“We are not looking forward to the funeral on Friday but will be there. Myself, my deputy head and Nosaj’s teacher will be in attendance, and we will also reach out to the family beforehand.

“At the moment we are all putting up a good front at the school and going about our daily classes, to take care of the others.

“We are all still in shock and several teachers have been in tears, but have to put on a smiling face for the other children.”

Mrs DeSilva said: “Nosaj was just a lovely, happy boy; always smiling and running around.

“He was one of my younger students and was in the toddler class, but was full of energy and full of life.

“None of us can bear to take down his name tag on his cubby hole [for the children’s lunchboxes], and we intend to leave it there for the rest of the year. No one has the heart to touch it.”

She added: “Nosaj’s classmates are at an age where they won’t even be able to comprehend what has happened, but I did have a chat with some of my students and told them, ‘You must always be careful when you’re on the road’.

Accident

“I also intend to send a note to the parents. I haven’t managed to do that yet as we have all been in a bit of a daze. This just shows you that you can’t turn your back for two seconds, because anything could happen.

“I feel for the taxi driver; I’m sure he is going through some serious emotions himself. This was an accident, but it just shows how they [children] can slip away from you in a matter of seconds.”

Staff at the school are now planning a permanent tribute to Nosaj, by naming their garden after the toddler.

Mrs DeSilva said: “We are planting a little garden out in the back where we will grow flowers, tomato plants, and one of the teachers has also planted two trees.

“We will get a little plaque made and go out with the preschool children and name our garden after Nosaj.”