LONDONDERRY — Connor Edmunds' classmates were missing their little friend as they settled into their afternoon kindergarten class at Moose Hill School on Monday.

"Connor was a beautiful little boy who really made connections with the other children," said Moose Hill Director Bonnie Breithaupt.

Connor, 6, was found by Derry firefighters Saturday afternoon submerged beneath the ice of his grandparents' swimming pool at their Derry home. He was rushed to Parkland Medical Center, where he was declared dead later that evening.

"He always said hello to me in the hallway, no matter what was going on," Breithaupt said.

On Sunday, Briethaupt found herself giving the heartbreaking news of Connor's accidental death to the parents of the afternoon kindergarteners in Barbara Curro's class and in Connor's reading group before the children arrived to school Monday. The school's guidance counselor Kathy Wuorio met with the staff Monday morning and had three other counselors from the district on hand for the afternoon session.

"It was a great gift for the parents to be able to break the news to the children," Wuorio said.

"It was far better to hear this terrible news from the child's own family and give them the opportunity to react and cry in their own homes."

Wuorio said when the children came to school Monday they were able to talk about Connor with the staff.

"They had questions which is understandable," she said.

"It was difficult, but they shared stories about things that Connor liked doing, how funny he was and how much they were going to miss him."

Wuorio said the children made cards and drew pictures for Connor's family and that one girl signed her name in green "because that's Connor's favorite color."

Monday afternoon, Connor's parents, Matthew Edmunds and Carin Rowe, came by to talk with the Moose Hill staff after school was let out for the day.

"We gave them Connor's art projects, journal and library card," Breithaupt said. "You could just see how every little thing of his will be treasured forever."

Matthew Edmunds said he was so touched by all the efforts of the Moose Hill staff.

"Connor touched the lives of more people than we could have imagined," he said. "He just had one of those personalities that made everyone love him."

Edmunds said that Connor was especially proud of his school photo.

"It was his first one and he was just so proud of it," he said.

Moose Hill Principal Richard Zacchilli said additional counselors were also present at Matthew Thornton Elementary School to provide support for the classmates of Connor's older sister, Linda Rowe, a fifth-grader at the school.

"We'll plant a tree in Connor's memory on the school property," Breithaupt said.

In addition, the school is collecting money for the fund Connor's family set up to help cover expenses.

"We didn't have any life insurance on Connor," his dad said. "No one really thinks of your child dying before you do."

Edmunds said he wanted to expresses his gratefulness to the Derry Fire Department and to Det. Gregory Santuccio of the Derry Police Department.

"He really helped me a lot that day," Edmunds said.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, April 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. The burial will follow in the St. Patrick's Cemetery, Route 102, Hudson. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Connor Matthew Edmunds Fund, c/o Bank of America, 57 Crystal Ave., Derry, NH, 03038.