By Janice Podsada
Herald Writer
MUKILTEO — Sixth-graders at Harbour Pointe Middle School taped butcher paper to the walls Thursday and in a shaky hand wrote their goodbyes to a fellow classmate.
Deangelo Balagot, 11, died Wednesday afternoon at Providence Everett Medical Center’s Colby Campus after he collapsed around noon in a classroom.
He apparently had been having breathing problems, said Andy Muntz, Mukilteo School District spokesman.
On Thursday, teachers told students that Deangelo had died.
"There was an impromptu memorial," Muntz said. "It was a really sad day Thursday."
Counselors were brought in from other district schools to talk with students. There were about 25 children in the room when Deangelo collapsed.
"We got the kids out of the classroom, and the school nurse started administering CPR. The fire station is right next door, and medics started working on him right away, " Muntz said.
A letter went home with all students telling parents of the aid call.
"At that point, we didn’t know he had died," Muntz said.
Wednesday night, teachers and staff called parents whose children were in the classroom when the boy collapsed.
Counselors met with Deangelo’s classmates to talk about the loss of their friend.
On Thursday, the length of butcher paper, covered with goodbye notes and poems, was taken down and carefully wrapped like a sacred scroll.
"We’re going to give it to his parents," Muntz said.
You can call Herald Writer Janice Podsada at 425-339-3029 or send e-mail to podsada@heraldnet.com.
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