The mood at three Clovis Unified schools was somber Tuesday, the first day back for students after a plane crash Friday claimed the lives of three of their classmates who were sisters.
The girls -- Kaitlyn Hook, 15, a freshman at Clovis High School; Rachel Hook, 12, a student at Clark Intermediate; and Mackenzie Hook, 9, a fourth-grade student at Clovis Elementary -- died when a plane piloted by their father, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Luther H. Hook III, 44, crashed near Fallon Municipal Airport in northern Nevada.
School psychologists staffed drop-in centers at the three schools Tuesday and visited the girls' classrooms.
Students at Clovis High were subdued, Principal Pam Winter said. The school was on a two-hour class schedule Tuesday, which gave students more time to talk or share stories about Kaitlyn, Winter said.
Reactions to Kaitlyn's death varied from student to student, Winter said. Some went to the drop-in center for more private talks, while others needed to share their feelings in their classes, surrounded by friends. Other students needed to "get on with the business of the day," she said.
Kaitlyn was on the Clovis High track team, played in the band and was an honor student.
"She was very well-liked, so it's going to be difficult," Winter said.
On Tuesday, some students wrote notes on a banner or letters to Kaitlyn's family "as a way to say goodbye," Winter said.
At Clark Intermediate, the mood was "pretty quiet and somber," said Principal Scott Steele. Rachel was in the school band and choir and played soccer.
"Our school psychologist went from class to class, following Rachel's schedule," Steele said. Students trickled into the drop-in center throughout the day, he said.
A vigil for Rachel, her sisters and father on Monday evening provided "a chance for kids to mourn a little, and that was good," Steele said.
Teachers at Clovis Elementary -- Mackenzie's school -- were "deeply saddened" and felt a double loss, Principal Isabel Facio said, because Rachel had been a fifth- and sixth-grade student there before going to junior high this year.
Mackenzie's death was talked about in her classroom, and help was tailored to elementary students.
"We tried to stick to our routine for the day, because younger children need that," Facio said. "But we gave a lot of hugs today."
The girls lived in Clovis with their mother, Brenda Hook, and their stepfather, Pat Doles. Their father often flew them to Nevada in his plane so they could spend weekends with him.
A memorial service for Luther Hook will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Hangar 2 of the Naval Air Station in Fallon, Nev.
Funeral arrangements for the girls are pending.
Donations to the Hook Children Memorial Fund can be sent to the attention of Erin Farinelli at Central Valley Community Bank, 1919 Howard Road, Madera, CA 93637.
The account number is 001526189.
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