Students Back at Danvers High as Town Seeks to Regain Sense of Normalcy

By John Castelluccio, Bryan McGonigle, Owen Boss and Chris Helms

DANVERS, Mass. — Students and staff at Danvers High School finally returned to classes Friday, three days after the murder of math teacher Colleen Ritzer.

Local officials said Thursday night the main goal was to try to regain a sense of normalcy in the wake such tragedy.

The teenage student police saymurdered his teacher and dumped her body on the school grounds will be held without bail.

Philip Daniel Chism, 14, is charged with the murder of Colleen Ritzer, who was a 24-year-old Andover resident in her second year teaching at Danvers High. Chism pleaded not guilty in Salem District Court on Wednesday.

Ritzer's body was found in the woods behind Danvers High School Tuesday night, according to District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.

Police began searching for Ritzer after a call came in at 11:20 p.m. Tuesday saying she hadn't come home and wasn't answering her cell phone. Authorities found blood in a second-floor bathroom at the high school, sparking a wider search.

Court documents from the suspect's arraignment say prosecutors have surveillance video of the teacher going into the bathroom. Five minutes later, the suspect went into that bathroom.

A judge ruled that Chism would be treated as an adult.

Those who knew Ritzer described her as having "grace and compassion beyond her years." Her students have joined the outpouring of grief for their teacher. On Wednesday night, students and parents and faculty gathered for a vigil in honor of Ritzer.

Here, in reverse chronological order, are all our posts on this subject.

Follow Danvers Patch on Twitter at @DanversPatch for the latest.

• Goal is to Return to 'Some Sort of Normalcy' at Danvers High
• Classmate Says Ritzer Asked Chism to Stay After Class to Go Over Exam
• Student Used Box Cutter to Kill Teacher
• Danvers High Opens Doors for Grieving Students, Staff and Parents
• WATCH: Danvers Turns Out to Remember Slain Teacher
• Grades K-8 Return to School Thursday, No Decision Yet for High School
• Students Hold Vigil for Slain Teacher
• DA Confirms Teen Was Student of Victim
• Town Cancels Dedication of New Danvers High This Saturday
• Teen Pleads Not Guilty to Murder, May Undergo Mental Health Evaluation
• Vigils, Prayer Wednesday to Reflect on Tragedy and Remember Teacher
• Slain Teacher Had "Grace, Compassion Beyond Her Years"
• Teen Suspect in Teacher Slaying Held Without Bail
• Slain Teacher Remembered By Students for Joy, Bright Smiles at School
• High School Remains Closed to Public as Investigation Continues
• Danvers High Teacher Murdered, Body Found in Woods Behind School
• 14-Year-Old Murder Suspect to be Arraigned in Salem Juvenile Court
• Missing Danvers Teen Found Safely
• DA's Office Says Case Now a Homicide Investigation
• Danvers Schools Closed Wednesday as Police Investigate Case of Missing Teen
• Police Searching for Missing Danvers Teen