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This Friday, April 20th, students across the country will walk out of their schools to raise awareness about gun-violence.  Some Lincoln High students will be participating from 10-10:47 a.m. at Lincoln High’s Beechner football field.

A group of students used social media to organize an event that will include a moment of silence as well as student speakers during the 47 minutes – the length of the shooting at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Although the event is not school-approved, students may still partake in the walkout, but there are some conditions. 

Lincoln High principal Mark Larson said in an email to parents, “We would like to emphasize that student walkouts are not approved nor organized by LPS. They are not sponsored by our schools nor the school district. Our schools are focused on providing a normal learning environment for all students…Our school staff will monitor and supervise students who are involved in a walkout and who remain on school grounds – to keep the environment as secure and orderly as possible. We want to underline: We can only monitor students if they remain on school grounds and do not leave the campus.”

Lincoln High will not provide any equipment or support for the walkouts, and teachers are not allowed to take part in the walkouts, except for monitoring and keeping an eye on students. Regarding attendance for the time during the walkouts, if you leave and return during the class period you will be counted as tardy, however, if you are at the walkouts for longer, you will be counted absent. If you miss an entire period, however, you will be counted absent.

Larson said, “Students who leave for a walkout and return to the same class will be recorded as tardy.  If they leave for longer, they will be counted absent. According to NSAA policy, students participating in NSAA events through the school must be present in every class that day to participate in activities on that same day or over the weekend. To be clear, if a student does not attend a class on Friday, they cannot participate in NSAA events Friday or Saturday.”

However, Larson confirmed, as long as student athletes don’t miss an entire class, they will still be allowed to participate in sporting events. With our adjusted schedule due to the Distinguished Alumni Assembly, 4th period begins at 9:33 a.m., and 5th period ends at 11:05 a.m.

If students go to their 4th period classes and then leave at 10 a.m., and if they make it back to their 5th period classes before the end, then they will only be counted tardy for those classes. As always, parents can also excuse students if they wish.

Activities on the field will include student speakers and a reading of the names of students killed at Columbine.

Students are being asked to sit in the bleachers for the presentations.

**The Advocate staff will be covering this event. Check back after the walkout for more information.