Central Mountain Student Plans for National Walk-Out Day

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – Students at Central Mountain High School will be given the option of participating in Wednesday’s National Walk-Out Day for high school students across the nation.

As announced by the high school, the 10 a.m. Wednesday Walk Out will last 17 minutes to recognize and remember the 17 lives lost in the Parkland, FL school shooting. The district has circulated a notice of the observance through a letter from Central Mountain High School Principal Steve Turchetta:

Dear Parents, Students, and Community Members of CMHS;
In response to the recent school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, high school and middle school students across the nation have organized a walk out on March 14, 2018. The walk out is scheduled at 10:00 AM and will last exactly 17 minutes to signify the number of lives lost in the tragedy.

KCSD and CMHS respect our students’ voices and encourage our students to be engaged and informed about current events and controversial issues. We will not discourage or punish students who choose to participate in the walk out. However, student safety is our first concern.

Students who wish to participate in the walk out will be permitted to go the CMHS gymnasium for 17 minutes. While in the gymnasium, students will have the opportunity to write a card to the Parkland, Florida school community or a government official. Students will not be permitted to display signs or be disruptive. Students who do not wish to participate in the walk out may remain in their classroom. Our school day schedule will proceed as normal.

KCSD Security, Pennsylvania State Police Lamar, and other local law enforcement are aware of this event and support our buildings through being present and on alert.

Please understand, neither KCSD nor CMHS are promoting a cause or enabling a debate about any issue political or other. We are simply working to help our students safely express their personal feelings in a safe and respectful manner.

We encourage you to talk to your student(s) about their views, the seriousness of consequences, and the importance of “see something, say something”. Keeping our children, our schools, and our neighborhoods safe is our top priority. We appreciate your cooperation and support.

Sincerely,
Steve Turchetta
CMHS Principal