SCS Day of Recognition Memorializes MSD Victims

SKANEATELES, NY (March 14, 2018) – On Wednesday, students from Skaneateles High School and Skaneateles Middle School each participated in a Day of Recognition from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in order to memorialize the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy that took place on February 14.

At the third period bell, students who wished to take part in the recognition ceremonies were invited to the middle school commons or high school auditorium.  Students who did not wish to participate, remained in class.

Student leaders from Skaneateles Middle School prepared a heartfelt display in the commons, which honored each of the 17 victims with 17 minutes of silence, as each victim’s name was read every 60-seconds. 

Each victim was honored with a maroon or gray balloon, which the student collection collectively released into the morning sky following the 17 minutes of silence.

In the high school auditorium, student leaders prepared a similar ceremony in which 17 candles were illuminated, honoring each victim as a short synopsis was read about their story.

A small gathering of high school students did elect to participate in the morning’s national walkout from 10:00 a.m. to 10:17 a.m.  They gathered peacefully, as one, below the Skaneateles High School’s American flag, which was lowered to half-mast in honor of the victims. 

At 10:17 a.m., each student returned to the building and re-joined their fellow classmates.

“Today was a difficult day to navigate as we sought to uphold the values of the school, and the wishes of our students who wanted to express themselves in regards to the tragic loss of 17 lives at MSD, while respecting those wished to not participate in any of the events. In the end, we chose to honor and support our own students and give them space to express themselves as they saw fit,” said Skaneateles Central Schools Superintendent, Ken Slentz.

Keep in touch with events and happenings in relation to the Skaneateles Central School District by visiting online at www.skanschools.org or following the district’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Skaneateles.Schools/.