The New Zealand flag was lowered to half-mast at John Paul College in memory of 17-year-old Jesse Howe, who died after a crash in which he and 11 other Rotorua teenagers were injured.
Jesse had been in a critical condition at Waikato Hospital since the crash on July 17 and was
taken off life support on Sunday morning.
John Paul College held a special service for Jesse on Monday and the school's deputy principal visited the teenager's family on Monday afternoon.
The funeral for Jesse will be held this Saturday at the Edmund Rice Centre at John Paul College from 1pm.
The teens involved in the crash, half of whom were from John Paul College, were returning to Rotorua from a party in Taupo. The van they were travelling in failed to take a left-hand bend about 2.30am on State Highway 5, 14km south of Rotorua. The van crossed the centre line, hit a bank and rolled.
A Facebook group dedicated to Jesse Bleu Howe had the following post: "Taken way too soon. Our boy fought till the end. Rest easy Jesse, until we meet again, you are so loved by everyone who had the pleasure in sharing your life with you. YOUR [sic] THE MAN!!"
Another said "Forever missed, but never forgotten. RIP Jess xoxo."
Skylight acting chief executive Tricia Irving Hendry said Facebook could serve as a positive outlet for teenagers who had lost someone they loved.
Skylight is an organisation which helps young people to deal with change and grief.
"It's a way of celebrating a life and of kids venting.
"It does seem some young kids are able to use Facebook to express feelings and emotions they wouldn't otherwise be able to face to face, because they might find it [talking face to face] more embarrassing or they may be more shy or introverted," she said.
However, she said Facebook posts could also heighten the emotion because teenagers could see the posts and reread them.
"For some kids it might get quite overwhelming rereading it," she said.
Mrs Irving Hendry said young people would seek support from their peer groups.
"Everyone's grief, like fingerprints, is unique. There are no rules and young people will all respond differently," she said.
Parents should look out for any signs of increased risk-taking by their children.
"If you think they are getting into stuff because they are overwhelmed, it is important to get help," she said.
"Any big loss can lead to kids trying to manage big, strong feelings."
This could lead to increased risk-taking, such as speeding or drug-taking as a way of trying to contain or escape from feelings, she said.
She encouraged parents to get their teenagers to use all the support available and to have an outlet for their emotions - whether it be writing in a notebook, playing sport, music or just spending time with their friends in a safe environment.
Families can contact Skylight by emailing rs@skylight-trust.org.nz or telephone (0800) 299 100.
Two other Rotorua high school students have died as the result of car crashes in the past six weeks.
Reporoa College student Aaliyah Mita, 12, died on July 4 after a crash on July 1, and Rotorua Girls' High School student Kristi-Rae Ruri-Gardiner died on July 23 after a crash on July 22. Four other girls were injured in that crash.
Online tributes:
- "Taken way too soon. Our boy fought till the end. Rest easy Jesse, until we meet again, you are so loved by everyone who had the pleasure in sharing your life with you. YOUR THE MAN!!"
- "Forever missed, but never forgotten. RIP Jess xoxo."
- "RIP Jesse Howe ): Yew will be missed ..".
- "R.I.P. jesse howe. you came in to my life when you were my sons age ... will never forget you love and will be so missed. R.I.P Little Brother."
