Hoosac Valley High School students release 17 balloons into whipping snow to commemorate the 17 students and faculty killed last month at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the state of Florida.
Hoosac Valley students wait in the atrium for the National School Walkout.
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Nearly 100 students walked out of Hoosac Valley High School on Wednesday morning in the bitter cold to hold a ceremony in remembrance of the 17 killed during last month's school shooting in Parkland, Fla.
"There have been far too many deaths related to gun violence and we are here to demand that something of this magnitude never happens again," organizer Gigi Daley said after she asked her fellow students to gather around her. "Far too many lives have been taken and it is up to our generation to demand change, to make a difference and to make our voices heard. We have the right to go to school and feel safe doing so."
Daley was accompanied by a group of juniors and seniors who read the names of those killed during the shooting. The group then released 17 balloons into whipping snow for the 17 killed last month.
Hoosac Valley was one of thousands of walkouts and protests held at schools across the nation. Most lasted 17 minutes to mark the number of deaths at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Students at Stoneman Dougls soon became the voice of a movement looking to curb gun violence, particularly in schools; a march on Washington, D.C., is planned on March 24. At Mount Greylock, hundreds of students marched outside to share their thoughts about safety and gun violence; at Drury High School, the students held a "walk-in" with administrators and Mayor Thomas Bernard.
Daley said the Hoosac students decided to organize the event to show that the school community stands with those affected by gun violence
"I think that we needed to do something instead of just sitting around doing nothing. That is not OK," she said. "I hope it just shows that even though we are a smaller school that we can still do something."
The event stemmed directly from the students and there was no teacher or administrative involvement. At 10 a.m., students neatly gathered in a line in the school's atrium and solemnly walked through the doors.
Organizer Brittany Green said the shooting sent shockwaves through high schools throughout the country and moved students to take action. She said students can and are making a difference.
"I feel like a lot of times students aren't taken seriously and people think we can't make a change or do anything because of our age but that is not true," Green said.
After the balloons were released, students heard a poem by Victoria Tatro that was followed by the singing of "Amazing Grace" led by students Hanna Koczela and Kayla Garabedian.
The group then finished out the 17 minutes with a moment of silence before convening inside.
"We just wanted to say thank you to all of the students and teachers and the public who came and were respectful," organizer Elizabeth Levesque said. "They really listened to our voices and not just ours but the nations."
一 iBerkshires Staff Writer Jack Guerino
BArT Students March to Raise Awareness on Gun Laws
BArT students gather at Adams Town Hall.
ADAMS, Mass. 一 At Berkshire Arts and Technology Public Charter School, a majority of the students marched to Town Hall holding signs that expressed sentiments like "Fear should not be here" and "Thoughts and prayers don't stop bullets."
Before the clock hit 10, an announcement over the loud speaker asked students to remain quiet for a moment of silence, and they were then instructed to meet outside to begin their walk to Town Hall, located down the street from the school.
As students walked through the snow holding up their signs, cars passing by showed their support with honks. The protest was to raise awareness about gun laws and to show support for the victims lost in the Parkland, Fla., shooting exactly one month ago.
Ruth Bristol, a junior at BArT, spearheaded the event.
"We have a serious problem. We are trying to raise awareness for stricter gun laws," she said.
Ruth stood in front of the student body and gave a short introduction to two student speakers. Mia LaFrazia spoke first, saying, "School shootings have been happening for years and years, yet nothing has been done. Private sellers don't even have to have background checks or an age minimum in some states."
The second speaker was Abby Mullany, a sophomore, who also gave a speech on gun violence. "How many of us will have to look down the barrel of a gun before something is done?"
Faculty members joined the cause and walked alongside their students. Alla Chelukhova, a history teacher, felt very moved by the student-organized event.
"This is very important to me. I am Russian. I have traveled in the world where people would introduce themselves to me, hear my accent, and say 'Oh, you're Russian. Kalashnikov.' And this breaks my heart because this is not the contribution I would like my people to make to the world."
Chelukhova was one of the only faculty members carrying a sign.
Some students decided to not participate in the walkout. Among them was senior Trinity Peets.
"It's not really going to change anything. It's been 20 years [since the Columbine (Colo.) High shooting] and nothing has happened. That's why I didn't walkout," she said.
一 iBerkshire Intern Ashlyn Marcil
Reid Middle School Participates in National School Walk Out Day
Students line up in the cold at Reid Middle School for Wednesday's walkout.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. 一 Reid Middle School students participated in an optional walkout on Wednesday to commemorate the one-month anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
For 17 minutes, beginning at 10 a.m, across each time zone, students, school faculty and support staff around the world planned a walk out of their schools in remembrance of those killed. The students walked out in honor of those 17 individuals who lost their lives, and equally important, to reinforce school safety.
The school community, which was led by the 40 members of the Student Council, assembled quickly in a horseshoe around the front of the building.
"In anticipation of the walk out, we talked with students for the past several weeks about the importance of maintaining a safe learning environment and urged them develop a positive message that would benefit our own school community, which they did with thoughtfulness and compassion," said Principal Linda Whitacre. "I am so proud of our students today, and every day, for being interested in current affairs and wanting to take action."
Following a moment of silence, several students delivered personal remarks and shared personal anecdotes.
Lily Powell
Hi, my name is Lily Powell. Because of the recent events across America that have resulted in students and staff being injured and harmed, I decided to speak out about this subject. Students shouldn't have to worry about the "what ifs" when coming to school. This education community should be a safe, and positive climate where students feel comfortable confiding in teachers and staff. When creating a healthy learning environment, how we treat one another plays a big role. Don't be quick to judge a peer, before putting yourself in their shoes and getting to know them. Let's make a change in the way our school and community treats others and come together to stop these violent actions.
Students, parents, and educators need to work together to develop a shared school vision
Each and every person should contribute to the operations of the school and get involved in the safety of others
Confine in teachers, staff, and other students to let them know what kind of school climate you are experiencing or would like to have
Rise above bullying. Don't isolate your peers, if you see someone sitting alone, ask them if they want to join you. However if they refuse, do not push the subject.
Include everyone's voices and ideas, don't put others down because they have a different point of view
If you notice unusual behavior in fellow students talk to trusted adults who can handle the situation
By taking the time to acknowledge the problems going on in not only classrooms, but around the world we can provide a safe and positive community inside and outside the school.
Ella Ives
Hi, my name is Ella Ives. I wanted to speak today because this is something that I personally feel strongly about. The recent violence at schools across America has really brought this serious subject back to mind. I feel as though students should feel safe in their schools and not worry about the "what ifs." It's also important that children aren't scared to come to school everyday. There are many steps we can take to prevent these events from happening in the future. See something, Say something is a practice that everyone can learn to keep themselves and other people safe. It's time for change, the students, parents, and school staff have had enough. The time is now to stop gun violence in schools.
Teachers and staff can connect with students to provide a safe place
Teachers having open class discussions about emergencies, may help the students get a better understanding of what to do
Students: Make sure you don't let anyone into the building. Let the adults handle the visitors.
If you see something suspicious, consider the warning signs and don't be afraid to talk to teachers, resource officers, or a counselor.
Know the plan (if something like this were to happen, know where to go and how to handle any type of emergency.)
Ask questions if you are unsure of what to do in an unsafe situation, a teacher can answer them for you.
Staff can provide a healthy and comfortable learning environment so that students will feel safe.
When we doing drills in school, take them seriously. Fooling around, talking, and not paying extremely close attention to the teacher's directions can endanger you, teacher and other students.
Together as a group of students, teachers and as a community we can prevent these things from happening in the future. Students may feel safer and not worry about the "what ifs" in a school classrooms. As President Obama once said, "This job of keeping our children safe,and teaching them well, is something we can only do together, with the help of friends and neighbors, the help of a community, and the help of a nation."
William Garrity
Hello, fellow friends and colleagues, my name is William Garrity in the eighth grade and today we are here today to recognize the 17 people that had died in the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., a month ago.
A month ago, 17 innocent people were killed in this school shooting. Since then the students at that high school started to plan walkouts, protest, and spreading awareness about gun safety in schools, gun control, and how to stop school shootings from becoming "normal" in everyday life.
Here at Reid we are very lucky to have security measures that some other schools don't have. The teachers and staff don't let students open doors and keep them locked during school time. We have a good protocol about a shooter coming into our school which uses our security cameras and intercom to make students and teachers aware of where the shooter is and to get everyone out of the building as fast as we can. We also have drills to practice what to do while an emergency happens, and we should take those drills seriously like the real thing because you will never know if it is a suprise practice or the real thing. Always talk to your teachers, resource officer, or counselors if you feel like you're threatened in any way or you think a kid has an unusual behavior.
I would like to thank Mrs. Whitacre for making this walkout happen and for allowing me to speak. Thank you for listening, we students just want to feel safe when we come to school every day.
Mya Desautis
As a teenager in middle school I never thought I would have to think about guns and violence in schools, however, with the recent shootings that have been taking place in schools across the United States I feel that students need to be heard. The adults in charge, especially our government, need to listen to the young people whose lives this is affecting.
I think it's sad that people my age are even in gangs and getting shot every day. Some people I knew and cared for have been shot. That's not what life is about. Think of people you are hurting, like the ones you don't even know. They, too, have families and friends.
So I am asking ...
If you have a problem with somebody, go to the police or tell somebody. Reach out to people, to adults, tell them how you feel. I am sure there is a place or people that can help you. If you think you can do it yourself, then solve it the right way without violence.
I know there are some people that think "no one cares." That's wrong. People do care about you. You should remain positive even if stuff is tough. Deal with it the right way, even on top of everything else that is eating at you. That's the definition of a strong person right there.
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