Heaven is that special place where we believe pain and sorrow are replaced by joy and peace.

On Nov. 12, a little piece of heaven lined up in front of Catasaqua’s Sheckler ES in the form of fourth-grade students.

The students stood side-by-side holding white balloons with individual messages attached, to be released into the air for their friend and classmate Darious Condash.

Darious was killed in a hit-and-run accident Nov. 6 on Schoenersville Road, Hanover Township, Northampton County. Township police have arrested Royce Atkins, 22, of Hanover Township, Northampton County, on charges of careless driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

The faces of many of the students appeared somber and detached as they stood in front of the school building. A number of fourth-graders embraced one another with a comforting hug, as tears of loss and sadness flowed down their young, faces.

Principal Eric Dauberman stood in front of the fourth-graders, himself holding a balloon in one hand, and delivered a heartfelt, moving message.

“This is our way of letting go of the sorrow and sadness and sending a message to Darious about how loved he was,” Dauberman told the students, as his voice cracked with emotion.

Shortly before releasing the balloons into the air, Dauberman asked the students to bow their heads in a moment of silence for Darious.

“It’s alright to be sad; it’s alright to be hurt,” Dauberman told the students. “We’re going to let go of all that fear, all that pain and all that sadness.”

Dauberman then counted down and on “one” the students released the balloons. Soon faces of sadness were replaced with expressions of happiness as the students watched the balloons slowly drift skyward.

Dauberman thanked the students for the level of maturity they exhibited during a difficult week of grieving.

“It’s still alright to be sad, but let your sadness go away,” Dauberman told the students.

Memories of Darious will live on among Sheckler staff and the student body.

“I had the honor of teaching technology to Darious,” teacher Erica McDonough told The Press. “He always had a smile and a kind word. He truly was a pleasure to have in the classroom because of his caring demeanor and his constant effort to always try his best.”

First-grade teacher Tara Flamisch also shared her memories, remembering Darious as a child with an enduring smile.

“Darious was such a sweet, caring, quiet child with a twinkle in his eye,” Flamisch said. “Each morning for the past four years, I would stand in the hallway and see Darious come into the school. He would just smile at me and that was more than enough. It was a great way to start each day.”

According to district officials, the Sheckler Home and School Association is currently collecting funds for the family of Darious.

Also, a GoFundMe account has been set up to assist family with funeral costs.

“The entire Catasauqua Area School District school community is stunned and saddened by the loss of Darious,” said district Superintendent Robert Spengler. “We are so very fortunate to be part of a small, close knit educational community that can respond quickly and passionately to these types of crisis situations, providing support for all affected.”