MYRTLE BEACH, SC (AP / WBTW) – From Maine to Hawaii, students planned to walk out of school Wednesday to protest gun violence in the biggest demonstration yet of the student activism that has emerged in response to last month’s massacre of 17 people at Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

There are an expected 3,000 protests nationwide from elementary aged through college level students. Across the Grand Strand and Pee Dee, schools are hosting a number of events for National School Walkout, but many are discouraging students from leaving the school building.

HORRY COUNTY

Horry County Schools will not permit students or teachers to walk out of school, citing safety concerns, but the district spokesperson says other events to honor the 17 Florida victims will be made available to students.

St. James High School – School to host a memorial event at 9:30 a.m. to honor the students killed in Florida.

FLORENCE SCHOOL DISTRICT 1

Most Elementary schools in Florence School District One including Delmae Elementary, Dewey Carter, Greenwood, McLaurin, North Vista, Savannah Grove, Timrod have reported that they will have a moment of silence.

Briggs Elementary will hold a “BEE” the Change activity with students in grades 3-6.  Students will write kind words (they can use when trying to change someone’s day for the better) on bee cutouts.  These will be hung in sets of 17 around our school. 

Lucy T. Davis Elementary  will acknowledge National School Walkout Day in protest of school violence by inviting parents and community members to circle our school for 17 minutes on March 14th. We want to show our students that our community loves, cares and supports them!

Moore Intermediate will have a moment of silence. Also the school will ask each homeroom class to collect $17 (one dollar for each victim killed). The money will be donated to purchase library books for their school library in Florida. Moore Intermediate will have its school name on labels to place in the front cover of the books.

Royall Elementary is sponsoring a program for the first responders who are charged with protecting our schools. The school is inviting first responders to Walk In to Royall (drop in format).  The students and staff are inviting first responders to lunch on Wednesday, March 14th from 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 P.M.

Southside Middle to host assembly program at 1:30 p.m.

Sneed Middle to host assembly at 10:00 a.m.

Williams Middle activities will he be held at 10:00 AM

Part I 9:40 AM

  • 7th grade students will report to the track field.
  • Students are asked to create posters and signs to display during the walk.
  • Student Speakers
  • All students walk around track field
  • 17 representatives will release balloons in honor of the 17 people killed during the Florida School Shooting on February 14, 2018.

Part II  11:25 AM

  • 8th grade students will report to the track field.
  • Students are asked to create posters and signs to display during the walk.
  • Student Speakers
  • All students walk around track field
  • 17 representatives will release balloons in honor of the 17 people killed during the Florida School Shooting on February 14, 2018.

South Florence High School will host an event that begins at 9:30, students will view BNN (in first period).  This program will last 7 – 10 minutes.  BNN has created a beautiful memorial video montage memorializing the victims in Parkland, Florida.

When the program has concluded, an announcement will come on instructing teachers to escort students out of the building to fire-drill evacuation locations.  The teachers and students who move to the front of the building, will continue to their lines as usual.

Teachers and students who usually evacuate to the rear of the building will do so as usual but instead of standing at lines in the back, will continue moving around to the front of the school.  Teachers and their classes will go to designated lines listed below, each class sharing a line with a class that already has a line assignment. 

West Florence High School students have the option to participate or remain in class.  The student council was placed in charge of this and has created the following agenda:

  • Program Outline – 17 Minutes To Remember
  • 10:00 a.m. – Students will be in place at the designated area
  • Speakers – Hagan Rollins, Anne Walker Payne, Destin Frontis
  • Moment of Silence
  • Return to Class

All students are being asked to wear white to symbolize peace and unity.  They have also made posters with pictures of the victims to remember them.  Contact Stacy Gore at West Florence is the administrative contact person.

Wilson High School Due to the current weather forecast of extremely cold overnight temperatures, our anticipated program start time may be delayed to allow for the temperature to increase.  The school will provide updates as administrators continue to monitor the conditions and make preparations and decisions that will be in the best interest of our students.

  • 10:00 a.m. – Principal Dr. Eric Robinson will address the students, faculty, and staff, via the intercom system, with words of comfort and encouragement as well as provide instruction and directions for the forthcoming planned event;
  • 10:05 a.m. – SGA President Zya Harrell will address the students, faculty, and staff via the intercom system, as to the significance and meaning of today’s planned event 
  • 10:15:a.m. – Students, faculty, and staff will adjourn to a designated area on the outside campus where administrators and SGA Officers will release 17 environmental safe balloons in celebration and remembrance of the 17 lives lost in Florida. 

Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to come dressed in purple as a sign of school unity, commitment and support.

Florence Career Center will host an assembly program at the Florence Career Center beginning at 10:00 am (outside)

MARION COUNTY

Marion County Students have designed their own programs to show support and raise awareness about gun violence in our nation. 

Creek Bridge will gather in the gym to participate in a 17 minute protest/walk.  The Student government will give a short speech about the facts surrounding school shootings and honor the Parkland school victims.  Seventeen student council members from Mullins High School will light a candle and walk a lap around the gym honoring the victims.  They will also have a moment of silence that will last seventeen seconds and together sing the song, “Lean On Me.” 

Marion High School students have created an assembly with a call to action. Their program Why Walk Out When You Can Step Up will begin with a purpose set by the student body president Jalen Fogan. Invited speakers Sheriff Brian Wallace will address how the community can Step Up, Principal Daris Gore will speak to how the school can Step Up and seventeen student representatives will talk about how students can Step Up.  Students created their own social media hashtag to use during this event as well (#OUTFOXTHEFEAR AND #NOFEARINTHE SWAMP). They will conclude with a moment of silence and PowerPoint show honoring the victims.

MARLBORO COUNTY

Marlboro County High School students, faculty and staff will wear burgundy and silver to honor both the victims and survivors of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida.

COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

The bell tower on the Coastal Carolina University campus will chime 17 times beginning at 10:05 a.m. in memory of the 17 victims of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.