Joshua Acosta will always be part of the Northlake Middle School community, according to some signs posted outside of the school building. They declared, “Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat.”
Now students, faculty and staff and parents will be able to look at a living memory to recall the sixth-grader, who died unexpectedly on May 11.
In a sometimes-emotional ceremony Tuesday afternoon, students, faculty staff and Berkeley District 87 administrators watched as a “Joshua Tree” was planted in his honor by some members of Joshua’s family and the school’s administration.
Also, some of his ashes were mixed in the dirt that was spread around the tree. Joshua’s father, Jesus, broke down as the tree was planted.
“He left us a little too soon. … This is how we can remember him every single day, how we can feel his love every single day,” said Sunil Mody, the middle school principal. “We can watch him grow every single day, feel his love every single day, feel his spirit every single day. We will plant a memory for us for a lifetime.”
Joshua’s mother, Wendy Acosta, tried to hold back tears as she thanked everyone for their support. Students dropped off balloons and flowers and other mementos at the Acosta home in Melrose Park. Dozens of students and staff attended a memorial service in his honor on May 20; some performed musical tributes.
Wendy Acosta said she received dozens of letters. She said she read them all.
“There was love in those letters, that he loved school and you love his jokes. He will live in a lot of different people. Thank you for giving your love and support to me,” she said.
Joshua had gone into physical distress and passed out in a classroom on May 11, according to police. He was taken to Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, where he died an hour later.
With school ending soon, the district has given parents a list of resources to reach out to in case children need assistance, District 87 Superintendent Terri Bresnahan said. The list has gone home in a letter to parents and in a district’s newsletter.
“The school is doing as best as can be expected,” she said. “The amount of support from staff and faculty and parents has been tremendous.”
The tree — a cherry blossom donated by Home Depot — rests directly across the school’s north sidewalk from Friendship Park, where middle schoolers kick soccer balls and throw around footballs. It also sits between two other trees that were planted in the memory of other staff.
“It should bloom really nicely,” Bresnahan said before the ceremony and moment of silence.
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