NORWICH – Following the unexpected death of a local student, school officials Monday put their crisis plan into action to help others grieve the loss.

Geoffrey Powell, a 15-year-old 9th grader at Norwich High School, passed away Monday, Feb. 4 at the Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse after a short illness. He is said to be remembered as “a great friend” by many.

After getting a phone call Monday regarding the death of the student, school social worker Kelly Collins-Colosi said she, the high school counselors and psychologist began to trace the individuals in the building who had close ties with Powell. “We first try to locate students who where closest to the student so we can inform them first,” said Colosi. “We contacted families of those students who we felt were close with him and invited them to come to the building when we told the students.”

Colosi says after certain individual students were informed, Principal Thomas Knapp announced Powell’s passing at approximately 2:20 p.m., Monday over the loud speaker for the building. “Not knowing exactly what was going to happen, we wanted to inform the students at large of what we knew quickly so rumors would not begin to circulate,” she said.