Fellow first-graders launched balloons Thursday morning at Cordley School in memory of 6-year-old Paulina Cooper.

But teachers and staff still are working to keep a regular routine for Paulina’s classmates in the days after her death, principal Kim Bodensteiner said.

Paulina died Tuesday after a battle with a rare, inoperable tumor in her brain stem.

“Kids are kind of all over the place in terms of their responses, and we would expect that,” Bodensteiner said. “I’ve had lots of hugs this morning and children bringing in copies of the obituary from the paper.

“Some of them are connecting it to things that have happened to them and are wanting to talk about a family member that died earlier.”

Bodensteiner said a few parents called Thursday to let school officials know their children were having difficulty dealing with Paulina’s death. She said counselors would check on those students.

A district crisis team including school social workers and counselors worked Wednesday with Cordley teachers and staff to answer questions and help students during their mourning for Paulina.

Julie Boyle, the district’s communications director, said the crisis team was routinely called in for emotionally disruptive events, such as the death of a student or staff member.

Audio: Bodensteiner, part 1 Audio: Bodensteiner, part 2 Audio: Bodensteiner, part 3 Audio: Bodensteiner, part 4 Obituary: Paulina Ann Cooper 6-year-old loses fight with rare cancer (09-22-04)

Bodensteiner said a crisis team member worked with each Cordley classroom teacher when they initially spoke with students about Paulina’s death. Students were given the opportunity to make a sympathy card for the Cooper family.

“We have found in the past that it’s a nice way to express how they are feeling and let the family know that they’re thinking about them,” Bodensteiner said.

She said the cards probably would be delivered today to the family.