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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
April 10, 2018 | The Valley Catholic
National School Walkout, a Principal’s Reflection
By Robert Graves,
Co-Principal of Holy Spirit School
Like hundreds of other schools
around the country, on March 14, our
Middle School students joined in the
National School Walkout in remem-
brance of those students and staff who
lost their lives at Marjorie Stoneman
Douglas High School in Parkland,
Florida. Though sadly, there have
been dozens of other school shoot-
ings during the past several years,
the Parkland shooting, and the ac-
tivism of its surviving students, has
energized youth across the nation to
finally say, “enough!”
The march at Holy Spirit School
was simple – st udents lef t t heir
classrooms in silence, each carrying
a beautifully decorated paper cross
with the name of a Parkland victim,
and processed single file around the
school to the Church. Once inside, the
silence continued and a slide show
with the faces and names of each
victim was projected. We ended our
silence with a prayer led by our Stu-
dent Council Religious Affairs Officer.
What was remarkable about our
march was not the steps we took to
honor these fallen students and staff.
What was remarkable was the silence.
Out of respect and in remembrance of
their fellow students at Parkland, our
students remained steadfastly silent
throughout the seventeen minutes
and beyond. Even the well-known
“squirrels” and semi-professional
class clowns, stopped their fidgeting,
squirming, and whispering to view,
in solidarity with their peers, the
results of what our society is capable.
Even more remarkable than the
silence, were the tears and muted
sniffles of the students in the room.
As the Parkland victim’s pictures
filled the screen, and a bell tolled for
each one, it was possible to feel the
air being drawn from the room each
time the slide changed. By the time
the final prayer was tearfully read
aloud, the air was returning, but only
enough for each of us to be thankful
for each other.
Students at Holy Spirit School decorated
crosses with the names of Parkland victims
and carried them during the National School
Walkout.
As the students returned to class,
breathing deeply for the first time in
seventeen minutes, they were still si-
lent, though even an outside observer
could sense a change. Some exited
holding hands, some were still in
tears, but most of all, they appeared
grateful – certainly for the end of an
emotional and moving service – but
also, for the newly appreciated gift of
each other. Life can indeed be short
and even cruel at times, but at least
for today, while remembering those
who were taken from us, they are
concentrating on those that remain.
Whether the “movement” of end-
ing the violence and creating the
awareness for change that has arisen
from Parkland and other senseless
tragedies continues into the future,
we cannot say. However, I am en-
couraged by the words shared at the
service:
“Our prayer service and our period
of silence this morning recognize the
dignity and well-being of each and
every person. We recognize how pre-
cious every life is and how fragile it
is. At any given moment, unexpected
events can change the course of our
lives forever. Time and time again we
are reminded that life is a gift and
we need to cherish every moment we
have. Let this be a reminder for us to
be thankful for what we have, who
we have, and to treat each other with
kindness and respect.”
As I returned to my office, I could
not help but be reminded of the now
even more powerful words from
Isaiah 11:6, “A little child shall lead
them...”
Saint Frances Cabrini Students hang prayer flags in honor of the Shooting Victims in Florida.
Saint Frances Cabrini Students
Stand in Solidarity with Shooting Victims
The National Walkout to End Gun
Violence was held on March 14, a
month after the tragic loss of 17 lives
at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
School in Florida. In a letter sent to
Catholic Schools in the Diocese of San
Jose, Bishop McGrath encouraged all
middle schools and high schools “to
be united in solidarity and prayer with
this cause and these people.”
Saint Frances Cabrini School made
March 14 a Day of Prayer. In the middle
school, each class participated in
prayerful activities to raise awareness
to the dangers and problems associated
with gun violence while classes with
younger students promoted the idea
of “Walking Up” instead of “Walking
Out.” Students were encouraged to
“Walk U