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Chelsea High School, Beach Middle School students participate in ‘walkout’

(Contributing to this story were Chelsea High School reporters Anne Findlay and Faith Olberg.)

Several hundred students at Chelsea High School and Beach Middle School joined thousands of other students across the country, state and county for a “walkout” Wednesday.

Nationally, the walkout was originally intended to be a protest against gun violence and a call for stricter gun laws.

Chelsea School District officials worked diligently to provide safe locations for the walk out while honoring the wishes of both the students who chose to participate and those who chose to remain in the classroom.

At the high school, about 200 students participated in the walkout that took place in the Commons and lasted about 20 minutes.

There were three student speakers and students paused for 17 seconds of “silent reflection” for the 17 lives lost one month ago at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Principal Mike Kapolka said in an email to parents following the event.

Teacher Art Finger said, “The walkout has been in the media a lot lately, and a lot of students participated to honor the lives lost.”

Ethan Corkin-Howell was one of those students. “The reason why I walked out is to honor the 17 students [who] lost their lives in Florida. I did it because we need new security methods.”

Following the walkout, students then returned to their second-hour class for attendance to close out the class period, Kapolka said.

At the middle school between 150-200 students “walked out” of class and headed to the gym where they signed postcards, participated in chants and held posters, Principal Nick Angel told parents in an email update following the event.

The Beach student leadership group invited Chelsea Mayor Melissa Johnson to speak and she focused on “student engagement, getting involved and growing as a leader.”

At the end of the school day, students released 17 balloons to honor the Florida shooting victims.

High school students expressed differing views of their participation in the walkout.

High school student Tori Miller said, “I wasn’t hoping to achieve anything but it was nice to hear the main message that there was a problem. People had different views on how to solve that problem but we all were aware that there was a problem.”

Student Chase Woodward had another reason for participating. “There’s no respect. It seems like there’s no value of human life anymore. This walkout was about showing that students care and things have to change. We need to come together, and we want a solution.”

School safety was paramount to student Cassidy Hollingsworth. “I think we need metal detectors and new security,” he said.

Kapolka summed up the event by telling parents, “I am proud of how our students handled themselves in a thoughtful, organized and peaceful manner this morning, while expressing their concerns.”

(A huge thank you to teacher Adam Schilt for his assistance in emailing his student’s reporting to Chelsea Update.)

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1 thought on “Chelsea High School, Beach Middle School students participate in ‘walkout’”

  1. I support the student walk out 100%. My only comment is to also consider our wildlife. Please do not release balloons into the skies. They only end up in our fields and waterways inviting wildlife to eat them and become ill.

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