Needham HS Students Take Part In National Walkout

NEEDHAM, MA — Students Needham High School started school Wednesday by commemorating the one month anniversary of the Parkland, Florida shooting.

Superintendent Dan Gutekanst wrote in a letter to the community that the school district will supervise, but not promote or participate in the walkout. Due to a two-hour snow delay, the walkout turned into event to start the day, rather than interrupt it. Students remained outside for 17 minutes in memory of the 17 victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

"We support and encourage student voice and civic engagement at every level in the Needham Public Schools; in fact, one of our core values is citizenship," Gutekanst wrote.

A Needham Patch reporter was briefly at the rally and heard a student describe one of the shooting victims before being asked to leave by Principal Aaron Sicotte.

Students who participated in the walkout will be expected to make up any work missed according to the teachers' availability, according to Gutekanst.

The March 14 walkout was proposed by the group Women's March Youth EMPOWER, which is calling on students and teachers to leave school to remember the victims and send a message to Congress to pass stricter gun laws.

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