Parents and guardians of high school and middle school students in the Carmichaels Area School District received a letter March 13, informing them that students across the country were planning a nationwide walk-out. Most of the demonstrations were planned in honor of the 17 victims of the recent shooting at Parkland High School in Florida, and in protest, to advocate for stronger gun legislation. The letter stated that students in this school district would have the opportunity to deal with the horrific event in an alternative way.

Carmichaels Area School District wanted to handle the students’ desires to honor those victims in a way that would not cause a disruption to students who did not wish to take part in the ceremony, according to Superintendent of Schools John Menhart.

Menhart said the event was a “100% voluntary” ceremony to honor the victims of the Parkland school shooting. He also said that a majority of the students opted to remain in their classes, but that the event was put together in a way to not interfere with classes.

“The whole ceremony went off without a hitch in that everyone acted respectfully and either chose to go to the gym for the 17-minute ceremony or they had the choice to stay in class,” said Menhart. “This was a private event and so we did not allow any media groups to come in and photograph or video any of the students or the event.”

Another national movement that has gained momentum since the Parkland school shooting has been the push for the “walk-up” movement. The basis of the movement is for students to walk up to 14 students and three teachers and say something kind to them, in honor of those 14 students and three teachers who lost their lives in the recent tragedy.

Menhart said students in his school district have participated in this initiative, of their own volition.

“I’m really proud of the way that students handled this event. Our student government approached administrators about doing something on March 14,” said Menhart. “America is a democracy and we want students to know and how to do things in a democracy the right way.”

Menhart was also proud of his students because they were open to the idea of the sacrificial choice they could make.

“This whole [event/ceremony] was a learning experience for the students because this gave them the chance to choose whether or not they wanted to be a part of it,” said Menhart.

Menhart also stressed that the ceremony was not in any way a protest for gun control, like some students and schools around the nation were participating in March 14. The event was solely to honor the victims of the shooting and to encourage positivity.