Pinecrest Academy Responds to National School Walkout Day

In response to National Walkout Day that occurred at schools across the nation on Wednesday, March 14, Pinecrest Academy High School students gathered in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel on the school's campus to pray for the 17 victims of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Prior to students' walk over to the Chapel, they were addressed over the intercom with this message:

"It’s been exactly one month since the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Thousands of students and teachers are planning to walk out of their classrooms today as part of the #Enough! National School Walkout to raise awareness about issues of school safety and the impact of gun violence. We are inviting everyone who would like to pray for the victims and their families to walk over to Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel in silence and join Father Daren in prayer from 10-10:17am, in honor of the 17 victims from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting."

Once students assembled in the Chapel, Father Daren Weisbrod, who serves as the High School Chaplain at Pinecrest, read the names of the 17 students and faculty who were killed, and all prayed for each victim by name.

“It’s important that we respect our students’ concerns over acts of violence and the underlying issues linked to this violence," commented Fr. David Steffy, President of Pinecrest Academy. "Pinecrest Academy’s response to our students’ concerns and their desire to show solidarity with the victims was in line with the way we respond to every tragedy and event that calls for action. As a community, we always come together in unity and in prayer when a need arises."

Almost 100 students from the High School participated in the activity.