Students at Branford High School (BHS) took part in the March 14 national walkout at 10 a.m. by walking out from class, but staying inside the building, due to concerns about snow on the ground outside creating a hazard. The walkout was conducted with the approval of the district and was closed to the public.

Thousands of students across the country walked out of their classrooms for 17 minutes at 10 a.m. on March 14 as part of a call to end the violence in schools; exactly one month after a school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL killed 17 students and adults on Feb. 14.

Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez told The Sound/Zip06 on the morning of March 14 that the BHS event was organized with school student leaders working with the high school and district for the past two weeks. Hernandez also shared a letter sent to parents to inform them of the walkout plans.

Hernandez also noted seventh and eighth grade students at Walsh Intermediate School participated in the day by conducting a "reflective 17-minute walk" at approximately 9 a.m. on March 14. That walk did take place outside of the building with a loop around the school.

Students were given the option of participating in the walkout/reflective programs.

The letter to BHS and WIS parents, signed by Hernandez, BHS Principal Lee Panagoulias and WIS principal Raeanne Reynolds, was sent on March 12. The letter reads: "Dear Parents and Guardians: On March 14, 2018, a National walkout is planned to recognize the recent tragic event in Florida. The student leaders of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and their powerful voices have been instrumental in raising the National discourse on critically important civic issues impacting our Town, State and Nation.

In preparation to support our high school students, Mr. Panagoulias and BHS student-leaders have planned appropriate and civic-minded events for high school students to participate in should they wish to do so. The purpose of the event is to support our youth as they add their voice to the National discourse on issues related to school and community safety. We are proud of our students and understand that expressing points of view is important to their civic development. To that end, the high school has planned a 17-minute event. This event is voluntary and will be facilitated by students with the support and supervision of school personnel. Because this event is taking place during the academic day, it is not open to the public. In an effort to ensure the safety of our students, we have coordinated with our local police and they will be on campus March 14, 2018.

Similar to the high school, the District will support our 7th and 8th graders. Mrs. Reynolds is working with her staff and student-leaders. The upper grades will demonstrate their support of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students by participating in classroom discussions, followed by a reflective 17-minute walk on school grounds. The Branford Police Department plans to support this event in the same way as the high school's activities. We have not planned for any organized activities for children in grades PreK through sixth-grade but continue to support all students' learning about age appropriate civic issues."