It's been a very different and difficult start to the school year for students and staff at St. Elias Community School in Haines Junction.

There, hallway walls are being filled with the memories of a spirited teacher and vice-principal who had been a major part of school life since the late 1980s.

Richard Godson, who passed away Sept. 3 after battling cancer, is remembered at the school as an interesting man who was interested in life, school principal Ruth Lawrence said Tuesday.

"He was easy-going,” she said, recalling his "mantra” that governed his teaching style of being "friendly, firm and fair.

"It was very effective.”

Since learning of Godson's death last week, students have been sharing the memories and thoughts of their teacher and vice-principal on a memory wall in the hallway, as well as through a private memory box for those who don't want to publicly share their thoughts.

Godson, born in 1958, split his time between teaching everything from music to law to social studies among other subjects over the years, to serving as the school's vice-principal, bringing with him a sense of humour.

He also wrote plays, organized Christmas concerts and always had a little factoid of information on him, Lawrence said.

His love of music translated well at the school and in the community as Godson was responsible for initiating the music program at St. Elias and in organizing the annual Alsek Music Festival (which was on hiatus this summer after Godson's 2008 retirement from it).

"He initiated the music program at the school, allowing the program to evolve to continue to attract students. His innovative teaching method takes rock 'n' roll songs and creates sheet music for the brass and woodwinds to keep the students involved and engaged,” Lawrence said earlier this year just before a fund-raiser was held for Godson.

Part of the band program included students' trips.

"Richard and the band took trips all over the Yukon, Alaska and B.C., and was often the highlight of the year,” Lawrence continued. "He is the touchstone of the school for so many of the students. He is the vice-principal and my working partner here at the school.”

The Alsek Music Festival, originally named the Junebug Festival, began in 1992 as part of the Alaska Highway 50th anniversary celebration and continued each year until 2007.

The March fund-raiser, held to help support Godson during his fight against cancer, saw more than 500 people turn out. It drew $18,350 in donations with businesses in town donating their services for the evening event which included performances by local musicians and a silent auction at the Westmark Whitehorse Hotel.

As the school remembers a beloved teacher, Lawrence said she expects staff and students will attend his celebration of life when it is organized.