Twelve-year-old Jontae Wells was becoming a sensible young man. The Suitland boy was making progress, parents and teachers said. He had made the honor roll for the first time.

Two weeks after receiving his honor roll certificate and school wide recognition for academic improvement, Jontae was struck by a vehicle while crossing Silver Hill Road the afternoon of Feb. 27.

A day later, the Benjamin Foulois Elementary School fifth-grader, described as outgoing, determined and friendly, succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital.

The Morningside school welcomed Jontae's mother, Aubrey Wells, to an annual pep rally Friday to remember Jontae's successes at the school while also helping to ready students for the Maryland School Assessments beginning Monday.

The Wells family is dealing with the loss of Jontae the best they can, Aubrey Wells said. Jontae's three siblings are each dealing with the loss differently and her oldest son, who is 17, plans to join the national Job Corps, a free education and training program, to help others in his younger brother's memory, she said.

Although he was the youngest child, Jontae was as an old soul, who enjoyed singing and listening to soul music legend Sam Cooke, Aubrey Wells said.

The school's fifth-graders were selected in a writing contest to meet the Washington Wizards on March 12, which Jontae would have enjoyed, said Benjamin Foulois Elementary Principal Veonca Richardson.

While at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., students asked Wizards' guard Juan Dixon to sign a photo in Jontae's memory, which Richardson presented to Aubrey Wells during the pep rally along with tickets for the Wells family to see an upcoming Wizards game.

An aide in Jontae's fifth-grade class, Brenda Gibson, said she had seen a tremendous change in his behavior since the beginning of the school year. He had made a commitment to change his attitude and stop acting out in class, Gibson said, adding that his outgoing demeanor helped him form strong relationships with both classmates and teachers.

"We want to make sure he will not ever be forgotten in our class," Gibson said.

Jontae was buried March 10 at Temple of Praise in Washington, and many students, teachers and community members attended to mourn his loss, said Sabrina Vann, parent liaison at Benjamin Foulois.

Prince George's police said Jontae was crossing the three-lane highway in the designated crosswalk and the accident occurred near the road's intersection with Pennsylvania Avenue, causing congestion during peak hours.

The driver remained on scene, police spokesman officer Larry Johnson said Friday, and charges had not been filed.