A bittersweet day: Sierra Guyton's siblings return to Clarke Street School without their sister

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- She died after she was shot in the head while playing on the playground at her school -- just feet from her home. On Tuesday, September 2nd, 10-year-old Sierra Guyton's siblings and friends returned to Clarke Street School for their first day of this new school year.

The first day of school is a day usually filled with excitement, but this year, it's bittersweet for Sierra's father, Onjuan Guyton and his family.

"It was kind of hard getting the rest of my children up for school and not having her a part of those activities," Guyton said.

In May, 10-year-old Sierra Guyton was shot while she played on the Clarke Street School's playground. She was caught in the crossfire -- shot in the head. She died weeks later at the hospital.

"Me and my family, we're just trying to move forward, you know -- help the kids get back in school and get back on track with their education," Onjuan Guyton said.

On Tuesday, Sierra's siblings returned to their school without their sister at their side.

"They wanted to go back to where they were comfortable and where they have the same friends and same teachers and everything," Onjuan Guyton said.

It's a sentiment other parents at the school share.

"It was very important for them to come back here because they like the school," Clarke Street School parent Quiana Versey said.

On this first day of school, parents at Clarke Street School say they're warning their children to pay attention to more than just their books.

"I just told them, if they see strangers on the playground, tell the teacher.  If you see anyone maybe about to get into a fight, tell a teacher and just be aware of the surroundings," Versey said.

It's an effort to make sure another tragedy like what happened to little Sierra doesn't happen to another child.

"We're going to keep doing what we were doing and just hope that things get better around here," Onjuan Guyton said.

18-year-old Sylvester Lewis and 28-year-old Jamey Jackson have been charged in this case.

Lewis faces three felonies: first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree recklessly endangering safety and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Jackson faces a single felony: possession of a firearm by a felon.

Both men are set to stand trial in the case -- Jackson in October, and Lewis in November.

CLICK HERE for additional coverage of the case involving Sierra Guyton via FOX6Now.com.