A tragic event occurred Friday after-school during a SACC program at Franconia Elementary School in Alexandria.

Third-grader Wesley Lipicky was in the gym at the school when a motorized room partition was opened.

Lipicky was caught between the partition and a wall and suffered serious traumatic head injuries.

He passed at a hospital on Friday night. He was only nine years old.

Wesley Lipicky is the son of AHS Adapted PE and Health teacher, Amy Lipicky.

“Amy has a special gift of working magic with our students,” Principal Tim Thomas said in an email to school staff.

A GoFundMe was created in honor of Wesley Lipicky here. Funds raised by the GoFundMe that are not used by the family of Wesley Lipicky are planned on being donated to a charity in his name.

Fairfax County Public Schools have announced that the use of motorized room partitions will be stopped until a safety review is conducted.

According to FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand, no previous injuries with similar partitions have been reported before.  

Safety protocols relating to room partitions will be reviewed and revised as needed as part of the review.

“It’s hard to express the sorrow that I feel for Amy and her husband and their families,” Thomas continued in the email. “Please keep Amy and her family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Beloved by all who knew him, Wesley Lipicky will be missed.