The support for the New Garden Friends School community has been amazing, and we continue to be grateful to the schools, counselors, families, friends and community members who have volunteered their services and time, thoughts and prayers to help our students, our school and the Level family.

While Josh only enrolled at NGFS in January, his impact and connection to our school community was immediate and powerful. Josh felt at home here and had already established himself as a gentle, generous leader with an infectious smile. In our meeting for worship last Friday, staff and students reflected on his connections to our community and peers, as well as his commitment and passion for academic endeavors. Upper School students created a Goodbye Mural of remembrance and created a video recording of their thoughts to share with Josh’s family. Each heartfelt thought was carefully worded and shared the tremendous impact that this young man had on each person in our school.

Comments included:

“Josh is one of those remarkable individuals whom you didn’t have to know to love…he was truly unique. He was so full of love and life that you couldn’t not love him back. He was charming, outgoing, friendly welcoming and kind. The one thing I will never forget was his smile; it could light up the room.”

“Coming to NGFS was a great thing not just for you (Josh) but for all of us…Your smile and voice will always be on my mind. I will think of true happiness when I hear your name.”

We continue to grieve as a community for our loss and more importantly for the loss to the Level family.