Zoey Felix is reminder to Shaner to continue to love and keep all preschoolers safe

She meant life, and she was life.

Even in her short five years on Earth, Zoey Felix was full of life and shone as a bright light to all around her, Topeka USD 501 superintendent Tiffany Anderson said.

She pointed out how Zoey's name, Greek in origin, means "life." The Romans, on the other hand, used the Latin term "felix" as their word for "happy."

Several members of the Shaner Early Learning Academy gathered outside the school Thursday afternoon to honor the memory of Zoey Felix, the 5-year-old girl who had attended the school last year before she was killed on Oct. 2.

Zoey Felix embodied love at Shaner Early Learning Academy

Earlier in the day, Topeka USD 501 workers planted a yellow marigold tree outside the school, which will bloom vividly every spring in honor of Zoey.

"It'll be a reminder of joy," Anderson said. "It'll be a reminder of life, and it will be a reminder that collectively, we at Shaner and at Topeka Public Schools surround ourselves in support of children and love on them when they are in our care, to ensure they have the best possible experiences, and that they feel loved and cared for."

She said it remained the responsibility of those who loved Zoey to continue to spread love and joy, "and to care and advocate relentlessly for every child we have the opportunity to cross paths with."

Shaner principal Regan Baxter spoke on behalf of teachers and staff who had grown to love Zoey during the brief time they were able to spend with her.

She shared that Zoey loved going to class with teacher Barbara Murphy and classroom para Sasha Camacho, and her favorite activity was caring for the class' stuffed animals in their veterinary play area.

Zoey Felix memorial fund will help other Topeka Public Schools early learners

Apart from the tree, the school will also place a framed photo of Zoey inside a school display case, in addition to a jar of paper hearts inscribed with words and memories written by attendees at Thursday's memorial.

In honor of Zoey's memory, the Topeka Public Schools Foundation last week set up a fund meant to help pay for any necessary funeral and memorial costs, although an unidentified funeral home has agreed to cover the expenses.

The foundation fund, however, will use any additional dollars to help support USD 501 early childhood students like Zoey in preschool and kindergarten. District social workers will determine where those collected donations are best spent.

More: In Zoey Felix's difficult last year of life, this Topeka preschool was her one refuge

Baxter, in wrapping up the tree planting ceremony, reminded attendees that the staff at Shaner hope to continue providing the same love they gave Zoey to all of their students.

"We love kids," she said. "We love them and care about them. We're going to meet each and every one of them where they're at, and teach them and love on them and ensure that they know they are safe, cared for and loved each and every day they walk through the halls here at Shaner."

Rafael Garcia is an education reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at rgarcia@cjonline.com or by phone at ‪785-289-5325. Follow him on Twitter at @byRafaelGarcia.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Shaner Early Learning Academy plants tree for preschooler Zoey Felix