St John pupils produce a lasting tribute to Joao

Thursday 25th March 2010, 2:58PM GMT.

Joao’s parents, Roberto and Luisa, and family members with pupils at the bench dedicated to Joao’s memory (00920480)

PUPILS of St John’s Primary School have unveiled a lasting tribute to a fellow pupil who died in a tragic shooting accident while on holiday last year.

Joao Calaça-Sousa (8) died from massive blood loss last November after accidentally shooting himself while playing at his aunt’s house in Venezuela.

Since the tragedy, teachers at his school have asked pupils to help create a tribute to the popular youngster. And yesterday the school dedicated a bench and three newly-planted apple trees to Joao as they officially opened a nature trail in the school’s grounds.

the bench was officially dedicated to Joao during a ceremony attended by the youngster’s parents, Roberto and Luisa.

The opening of the trail was part of a day of activities to celebrate Joao’s life as well as to raise money for people affected by the floods and landslides which struck Madeira last month.

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