Flags Lowered for Somer at Grove Park Elementary

ORANGE PARK, FL -- Somer's Thompson's classmates at Grove Park Elementary School are making sympathy cards to help themselves and the girl's family through the tragedy.

Many walked to school with today's shocking announcement that Somer would never be coming back fresh in their minds.

Principal Lynda Braxton says grief counselors are on hand for students and teachers who need them.

"Teachers are having students involved making sympathy cards so that they can feel like they're contributing and they're able to express themselves in their sorrow and their care, not only for Somer and her mother and siblings who have all gone to this school," Braxton said.

"And we are extremely heartbroken with the outcome of this incident. We like everyone else, hope they find the culprit."

Somer, 7, vanished while walking home from school Monday afternoon. Her body, which was found Wednesday in a Georgia landfill, is being autopsied today.

Her disappearance has parents thinking about safety to and from school. Braxton says 52 students called out sick Thursday afternoon - a number that has grown all week.

"Absenteeism is up," she said.

Grove Park already buses students who live within 1 1/2 miles from school, but Clay County Superintendent Ben Wortham told First Coast News the district will look at its policies for getting kids to schools to see if anything can be done to keep them a little safer.

For more coverage on the Somer Thompson, CLICK HERE.

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