SOUTHWICK – Schools across the country participated in the national Walkout on Wednesday morning. After 17 people were killed in a school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. on February 14, a national school walkout was scheduled exactly one month after the tragedy.
In Southwick, a group of students at the Southwick Regional School organized a way for their peers to voice their opinion or show tribute or support for the victims and families at Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
Right before 10 a.m., seventh through twelth graders had the choice to write letters to either Southwick first responders, students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, or politicians. Then, at 10 a.m., students were able to walk outside by the front entrance of the school near the flagpole. If students didn’t want to walk out, they could stay in the classroom and work on their assignment.
Students at Southwick Regional School speak during the school walkout on Wednesday morning. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick)
The students who organized the walkout, Evelynn Schoenthal, Jennifer Motsko, Anna Blumenthal, and Caroline Hess, stood with a loudspeaker to welcome students and faculty who joined outside. The four students started the walkout by reading a few of the letters that their classmates wrote, and then read the names of all 17 victims from the shooting in Parkland, Fla.
Thanking Southwick first responders, and their school resource officer Michael Taggart, the students ended the program by having 17 seconds of a moment of silence for the 17 victims.
The four girls who spearheaded the walkout felt that their school needed to take part in this national initiative.
“Our main focus is supporting the students and supporting school safety because schools should be a safe environment,” said Schoenthal. “Let’s make our school a part of a bigger movement.”
The walkout was also an opportunity to keep some students more informed with what is going on with schools across the nation.
“I think a lot of the kids don’t really know what is actually happening,” said Hess. “It’s affecting everyone, and it affects us too.”
According to Principal Joe Turmel, about 50% of the student body was at the walkout, holding signs, and showing support.
Several students walked out and made signs. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick)
Turmel was very pleased with the way all of the students conducted themselves on Wednesday morning.
“I’m really, really proud of the students that approached me,” said Turmel. “I’m proud of how we were able to work together to make this happen and how everyone conducted themselves outside.”
Taggart, who’s in his second year of being the school resource officer for the entire district, was humbled by the students acknowledging his dedication to keeping the school district as safe as possible.
“It’s very much appreciated, but this is what we (first responders) do, we do it for them,” said Taggart.
Moving forward, students at Southwick Regional School can participate in the walk-up challenge when school is in session. Students are asked to approach 14 students and three adults at the school to ask them how their day is going or sit with them at lunch.
Before Wednesday, it was expected that more than 3,000 schools in the United States and Puerto Rico would take part in the walkout.
