Westborough Students Join Gun Protest Walkout On March 14

WESTBOROUGH, MA—Students from Westborough schools joined a national movement this week to protest gun violence in schools and call for stricter laws. Students walked out of class starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14.

The walkout events were planned across the country in direct response to the 17 students and staff who were killed and numerous people injured in the Valentine's Day massacre in Parkland, Florida. The walkout takes place on the one-month anniversary of the shooting.

Students participating in the national walkout on March 14 left their classrooms for 17 minutes – one minute for each life taken at the school on Feb. 14, according to organizers.

Westborough schools administrators supported the walkout, and Superintendent Amber Bock sent the following to the student body prior to the walkout:

Dear Parents and Colleagues,

Last week we shared a series of updates in the days following the tragic events in Parkland, Florida. I am now following up with a communication from our Gibbons and WHS student body leaders regarding the planning they have put in place for the students who wish to participate in the event on March 14th. Our role on the leadership team has been to listen and support their planning, with a focus on safety and thoughtful assistance. Below is the planning by schools as prepared and explained by the student leaders:
Dear WHS School Community:
We know that the events in Parkland, Florida have been weighing heavily on our minds over the past few weeks. Unfortunately, the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School was in no way an isolated tragedy. Our childhoods have been scarred by mass shootings, but this one stands apart in that youth-driven activism has grown out of the grief and sadness. On March 14th, Westborough High School will be joining the national call for action against gun violence and to address mental health by engaging in a walkout in solidarity with the millions of our peers who have decided that enough is enough. At 10 am on this date, all members of our community are invited to leave school for 17 minutes and walk to the turf, where we will hold a moment of silence for those in Florida and beyond who have lost their lives to gun violence. We will also demand our voices be heard by those in power by signing a letter to our Congressional delegation calling for legislative action. This event will also include opportunities to sign a message of support and solidarity for those in Parkland and to register to vote in order to continue this movement beyond this one action of protest.
Those students who choose to not participate in the walkout will be directed to either the cafeteria, library, or tables in the lobby area. We will respect any and all students who decide not to participate.
We hope this event will provide a platform for our peers and community to come together and take a stand to address this complex issue.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Hopkinson, Sr. Class President ‘18
Omar Siddiqui, Jr. Class President ‘19
Rhea Balasubramanian, So. Class President ‘20
Neil Kale, Fr. Class President ‘21

WHS Parents:
Some parents have asked how to support the students. Speaking with your children to discuss their feelings and their opinions about the day, both before or after the observation, is the best support. The students have not planned to add in observers or parents to the event. The administration kindly requests that there be no visitors, parents, or anyone other than faculty monitors, inside the fenced stadium area. Parents can gather at the perimeter areas outside of the fencing if you wish to observe the event. A police detail will be on site to ensure safety of the event.

Dear Gibbons Students:
As many of you are probably aware, there was a mass shooting at a school in Florida a few weeks ago. Seventeen people were killed, and others were wounded and taken to the hospital. The shooter was a former student of the school. Many students and citizens of the United States are devastated by this event. You may have heard about a national school walkout taking place on March 14th as a show of respect for those lost.
For students who are interested, Gibbons Middle School will participate in this event. Students and Teachers are not required to participate in the walkout. The walkout will be at 10:00 am on March 14th, 2018, and will last for seventeen minutes. At precisely 10:00, interested students will quietly leave their classrooms and head to the courtyard located in the center of the school. The event is meant to be a very solemn occasion and is not a political rally. The walkout is meant as a show of respect for the seventeen people who were killed in that horrible massacre. Also, if any student is interested in speaking during the event, he/she should contact Mr. Foley.
Again, participation is completely optional, and neither the Student Council nor the Gibbons staff is encouraging anyone to participate or not participate, we are just making sure that there is a safe way for students to participate in this national movement.
Thank You,
Gibbons Student Council
Gibbons Parents:
The Gibbons participation is contained within the perimeter of the Gibbons building and inner courtyard and will remain a student event only. This ensures a safe and well monitored observation by students.

K-6 Parents:
The students and faculty of the PreK-6 schools are not planning to walk out or to bring up the tragic events.
Our practice is to take the lead of our students. If staff members notice students talking about the events in Florida or the walkout, we will be there to listen and support, as needed. Counselors and administrators will support the staff with a script to use if many students are talking about the events. The script does not include facts or opinions, and will simply remind our students that the school staff cares about them, and works hard to keep everyone safe. We will continue to keep our students’ routine in place, as that will go a long way to help students feel safe and supported.
Conclusion:
As a faculty we continue to focus on creating the kind of school environment where caring and connected relationships create a community that feels safe to our students. We are exceptionally proud to educate students who so thoughtfully and collaboratively developed a day of participation and observation for something they communicated was important to them.