Today was a bittersweet day.

Baptista would have been 16 today, February 26, if his life had not been so tragically cut short back in October in Stratford.

Baptista’s family and a small group of his Year 11 classmates gathered in Mr McCormack’s office to remember Baptista on this poignant day.

Mr Hayes and Mr Graham joined them and shared a cake to celebrate his birthday.

It was a sad day but one that celebrated his short life too in a dignified and fitting way.

He will be remembered always and as his family’s tee shirt stated – ‘Gone but never forgotten.’

Afterwards his family attended Ash Wednesday mass with the school at St Antony’s Church.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord.