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#Unity: North Branford High School Walkout Held March 14

As a show of unity and supported by the school district, hundreds of North Branford High School (NBHS) students took part in a 17-minute national walkout outside their school building at 10 a.m. today, March 14. The event was one of thousands at schools around the country marking exactly one month since 17 students and adults were shot to death at Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) High School in Parkland, FL.

NBHS students were given the option to participate. The majority of the student body participated and wore the event's white, heart-shaped sticker with a purple "17" on the outside of their jackets.  The NBHS walkout, as well as 17 minutes of reflective time offered in classrooms at North Branford Intermediate School today, allowed the district to validate for students that they are not alone in wanting to bring a stop to "...these senseless acts of violence around the country," North Branford Superintendent of Schools Scott Schoonmaker told Zip06/The Sound.

The NBHS walkout did not include students carrying signs of protest or students giving speeches.  Students began exiting the back of the building at 10 a.m. Schoonmaker invited North Branford police to attend and show the students their support; with some detectives also joining students and staff as they walked. The walkers made a loop through the student parking lot before eventually heading back into the building.  Also gathered outside the building was the school choir, which repeatedly sang "God Bless America" as walkers passed by. Before returning to their classes in the building, many students penned messages on white heart-shaped stickers that they added to a banner that will be sent to MSD high school.

The walkout was coordinated with the Student Council, school staff and the district as a way to empower students by helping them to honor those who died and show solidarity and support for the remaining students and staff of MSD high school, said Schoonmaker.  Since the Feb. 14 MSD school shooting, a national conversation led by students of MSD is calling for an end to violence in schools. The discussion is also creating trending social media messages tagged with #Enough, #Unity and #NeverAgain.

"This is not a political stand in any way, shape or form. This is a community saying enough is enough, we want our schools to be safe places for our students to come and our community to come into. It's as simple as that," said Schoonmaker. "And we want to unite, and what better way [to] empower our students than to give them a voice to teach them those skills to say, 'We want change.'"

NBHS school principal Todd Stoeffler said students brought the idea of participating in the day to him a few weeks back. He said their request was then carried out as a coordinated effort involving faculty and administrative team leaders, the Superintendent, and NBHS Student Council.

NBHS Student Council president Kayla Bonaldo opened the March 14 walkout with a statement given over the school's public announcement system.

"Today is about unity and standing up to end school violence," said Bonaldo. "Our hope is that this walk will serve as a quiet moment of reflection and respect and remembrance of those lost. To show our support for the Parkland community, each student will be getting two stickers. The sticker with the 17 on it is to wear to show our unity. The white heart sticker is to be placed on the banner after we finish our walk. You may write words of encouragement on it; and this banner will be sent to Parkland's high school to show our sympathy for the 17 lives that have been lost."

One participant wrote, "Lost but not forgotten. We will NOT stop saying their names. Thank you all for making students' voices heard. You inspire us every day. Stay strong,"

Among dozens of other notes written by students and stuck on the banner were messages including, "Words can't describe how I feel...Stay Strong;" "North Branford is here to walk with you and support you;" "Never Again;" "We are standing with you! #ENOUGH;" "Change is Coming;" "#Unity;" "We're in this together;" "NB is #MSDStrong;" "North Branford Connecticut Walks with You" and "Our hearts and prayers are with you. #Enough #NeverAgain."