A colorful display crowded with framed portraits, painted skulls, handwritten cards, marigolds, fruits, and candies marked the entryway of Leslie Middle School on a recent visit.

The ofrenda, or altar, commemorating loved ones was one of many at local schools put up for Día de los Muertos.

Shannon Flores, a reading teacher at Leslie, contributed a framed photo of a former student who died last year, Cael Krout.

Krout was among Flores’ first group of students when she began teaching at Leslie four years ago.

She described him as “amazing and super smart.” He loved dinosaurs and science, sang in the school’s choir and played various sports.

He would have been a sophomore this year.

Flores keeps a memorial for Krout in her classroom, featuring his portrait on the wall, surrounded by a l

See Full Page