With two days left in the school year, Wednesday was supposed to be a lighthearted, easy break from the rigors of final exams at Bryant Intermediate School.
Students said the school's talent assembly, a silly end-of-the-year spoof where teachers and pupils unwind instead became a tribute to student Elizabeth Smart, who apparently was kidnapped from her bedroom at about 2 a.m. Wednesday.
Student body officers decided to proceed with the assembly as planned to honor Smart, said Jason Olsen, spokesman for the Salt Lake school district.
Two groups dedicated their performances to Smart. At one point during a slide show when Smart's photo appeared, the ordinarily unruly crowd of 13- and 14-year-olds felt silent, eighth-grader Devon Orr said.
Smart's peers _ especially some eighth-grade girls _ were visibly upset, crying in the halls and visiting counselors provided by school district, seventh-grader Lauren Francis said.
Smart is a friendly but quiet girl, one who ran unsuccessfully for student-body president last year and always participated in school activities, Orr said.
"She was really sweet. She would say 'hi' to anybody she saw in the halls," eighth-grader Amy Hernandez said. If there were a few minutes left at the end of class, Smart would finish her homework early or pull out a book to read, Hernandez said.
Francis' French teacher often told her seventh graders to follow Smart's example, because Smart "was academically perfect in French," Francis said.
Smart plays the harp, sings in the school's choir and excels in class, earning a place in Bryant's accelerated learning program.
"She always told you that you looked good that day," classmate Tiffany Morris said. "I just hope she's safe and hope she comes back soon."
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
