River Hill HS Walkout On March 14 Part Of National Movement

CLARKSVILLE, MD — Students at River Hill High School were among those joining a national school walkout on Wednesday, March 14. The movement was designed to protest violence exactly one month after 17 people were killed in a school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Participating students left their classrooms for 17 minutes – one minute for each life taken in the Feb. 14 shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.

"The walkout is to show solidarity with the victims of school shootings, but it is also to urge our lawmakers to enact legislation so that there will be no more school shootings," River Hill High School walkout organizer Chris Fazzari told Patch.

Patch attempted to cover the event but was asked to leave, along with other media and adults who came out to support the students.

Watch us get kicked out:

During the event at River Hill High School, students planned to walk outside, some sitting or lying on the ground for a "die-in" to draw attention to human loss caused by gun violence.

Within days of posting an event listing online for the walkout, Fazzari said more than 165 students officially RSVPed. By 10:30 a.m., River Hill students were back in class.

School officials sent an email to families afterward stating that "a number of students" took part.

"The students returned to class after the event, and regular instruction will continue for the remainder of the day," River Hill administrators said. "Students had the option to participate or not participate in today’s walkout, and they were supported in their choice." Officials at several other Howard County schools where students took part issued letters with the same language following the walkouts.

Leslie Englehart, who has tutored students in Howard County with dyslexia, said she was standing on Clarksville Pike/MD 108 near River Hill High School where students were demonstrating "to show that adults support them." She held a sign calling for a ban on assault weapons.

Watch Columbia Patch live on Facebook or see below:

School system administrators said they were prepared for the walkouts, which happened in several schools in Howard County. They asked that students remain on campus for the event.

"While we do not plan to prohibit student participation in activities that are conducted in a safe and responsible manner, we do expect all students to remain on campus and follow system policies and student expectations," Howard County Public School System Interim Superintendent Michael J. Martirano said in a statement, posted in full below. "Students who choose to leave campus will be considered an unexcused absence."

You can find a full list of schools participating in the walkout here.

SEE ALSO:

• Howard County Students Plan Walkouts On March 14
• HoCo Superintendent Talks School Safety And Mental Health

Statement from HCPSS Interim Superintendent Michael J. Martirano on school walkouts:

Dear families,

In response to recent tragedies in our nation’s schools, many students are planning to participate in national walkouts or other awareness events. This Wednesday, a national effort is underway for students to walk out of classes at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes to remember the victims of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and discuss gun violence.

While school system staff are not aware of every event planned in our schools on March 14, we know that many students are angry or fearful as a result of the recent school shooting and want to find ways to lift their voice and create positive change. As a system, we are going to great lengths to ensure that students are able to accomplish this in a positive manner while adhering to system policies and ensuring a safe environment. The HCPSS Office of Safety and Security has a robust plan in place to address any security needs that may arise during these events and school staff will ensure that all students are supervised. School administrators have received guidance and support to proactively respond to the needs of students who may wish to participate in planned events and those who do not. While we do not plan to prohibit student participation in activities that are conducted in a safe and responsible manner, we do expect all students to remain on campus and follow system policies and student expectations. Students who choose to leave campus will be considered an unexcused absence.

Being responsive to the needs of our students goes beyond the facilitation of a safe, student-led awareness activity. It requires action on the part of the school system along with our community partners and community members. I was encouraged by the collaboration from our county partners and participation from members of the community who attended the February 27 forum on school safety and mental health.

The response of the Howard County Public School System is ongoing and is one that will stay at the forefront of my decision making moving forward. Work is already underway to enhance physical school security, establish stronger policies and training around active shooter response, increase mental health supports for students, and cultivate greater collaboration between the school system and the community.

Please take advantage of the resources available to speak with your children about traumatic events and encourage them to access student services or speak to a trusted adult in their school. I want to assure you that the school system holds the physical safety and social-emotional well-being of students and staff as its highest priority.

Thank you for your participation and involvement on such an important matter.

Sincerely,
Michael J. Martirano
Interim Superintendent

Photo by Elizabeth Janney from forum on school safety and mental health at River Hill High School.