Monday, Elementary School children who rode Manor's bus were contributing to a collage of sympathy notes adorned with tiny buses for his family.

"Each student got to write a special message," Brudvig said, describing the therapeutic activity.

"You have to do things that help heal. I think knowing they can do something that can help the family heal makes the kids feel good inside.

"Right now, they're supportive of the family -- that's their big focus."

There will be memorial activities throughout the rest of the school year that will involve students district-wide, Brudvig said.

Manor's murder follows a string of other tragedies that closely touched NACS, including the death of beloved teacher Cassie Bronson in a 2005 car accident.

"It's hard," said Superintendent of Schools William Scott, deeply saddened and disturbed by the latest event.

Magoon had phone him at 4:30 a.m. Friday to tell him of the bus driver's death.

"I can't absorb it," Scott said. "I can't understand how it happened."

He sent a letter home to parents, telling them about the availability of grief counseling for their children.

"Expressed in there, too," he said, "are our deep concerns and our sadness at the loss."

The school's flag hangs at half-staff as a visual symbol of that sorrow.

Manor's family has established the Darcy R. Manor Memorial Scholarship in his memory to benefit students at Northern Adirondack, his alma mater.

And a fundraiser for the family is in the works, Scott said. Eric Gibson, of the homegrown and nationally renowned bluegrass band the Gibson Brothers, called him Sunday to volunteer a performance.

The event will take place in early June, Scott hopes.