School leavers remember Olivia as Year 6 ends

Olivia Pratt-KorbelImage source, Family handout
Image caption,

Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed in August 2022

  • Published

Olivia Pratt-Korbel's classmates have paid tribute to her as part of their Year 6 leaving celebrations - almost two years since the schoolgirl was shot dead in her home.

Olivia, nine, was murdered by gunman Thomas Cashman who fired shots as he chased a fellow drug dealer into her house in Liverpool in August 2022.

This week would have marked Olivia's final week at St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Junior School in Huyton, where her fellow Year 6 pupils have been wearing hoodies bearing her name.

Head teacher Rebecca Wilkinson said Olivia "will forever be remembered by our school community".

Image source, St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Junior School
Image caption,

Year 6 pupils have been wearing hoodies bearing Olivia's name

"In what would have been her last year at the school it is only fitting that our Year 6 leavers pay tribute to her memory," she said.

"Everything we've done we've done in collaboration with Olivia's mum Cheryl."

Cheryl Korbel, was also injured in the shooting, presented an award in her daughter's name at the school leaving celebrations.

"That will ensure that we will never forget Olivia," Ms Wilkinson said.

"The children leave but Olivia's memory lives on here."

Image source, St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Junior School
Image caption,

The list of school leavers includes Olivia's name in her favourite colour, pink

The Year 6 pupils will also be treated to a day trip to Alton Towers.

Meanwhile, Ms Wilkinson said the school had received a £20,000 donation for a school minibus and was looking to raise an additional £8,000 through fundraising.

"We are intending for the design of the minibus to commemorate Olivia," she said.

"The new minibus would help us expose the pupils to new cultural experiences, visiting the kinds of places we know Olivia would have loved."

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