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Secondary Campus students join Nationwide Walkout to Protest Gun Violence in America

As many Americans are appalled by last week’s horrific shooting at a Texas elementary school, students at Meridian High School and Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School took a stand against gun violence in schools by joining in a nationwide walkout.

(Photo by Isabel Costa)

Organizer Elijah Pelton, a junior at Meridian, worked with the organization Students Demand Action to publicize and bring attention to the event. Students packed onto the Meridian football field with signs and strong words, urging lawmakers for stronger gun laws.

Pelton began the event with a powerful speech and then read aloud the names of the 21 confirmed victims of the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. As he read each name, students would respond, “Enough!”

Pelton’s sister, Flora, a freshman at Meridian, emplored students to take gun violence seriously and involve themselves in efforts to combat it.

Virginia State Delegate Marcus Simon took the stand to encourage students to vote for change and motivate others to vote for candidates that endorse common-sense gun laws.

After the speeches, students held in a “Die-In,” where they were asked to lie down on the field in a moment of silence for the victims of gun violence in schools and elsewhere. Students remained still for 213 seconds, one second for each mass shooting in America since the beginning of 2022.

(Photo by Miles Pierre)

JUNE 2 - 8, 2022 | PAGE 23

(Photo by Tim Kasik) The Sounds of the Ukulele fill Mount Daniel

In Mrs. Nicole Guimaraes’ music class this year, second graders learned to play the ukulele.

These proud Mount Daniel students hosted their families for a special in-class concert called Ukulele Day. They shared the chords they learned during the show, culminating in the song “Thunder” by Imagine Dragons. Some students also performed original solo pieces for the audience. At the end of the evening, they even got to teach their family how to play.

Learning an instrument teaches many skills that fit our International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme Learner Profile traits. It allows students to communicate, take risks, and be reflective, among other essential skills.

Thank you to the Falls Church Education Foundation for funding the ukuleles for the Mount Daniel Music Program!

Meridian sports playoffs continue

Meridian sports are on a roll!

Tomorrow night is big for Mustang fans as Girls Lacrosse plays in the State Quarter-Final game on the Meridian Stadium field at 6 pm. The Regional champs are gearing up for a competitive State Tournament.

(Photo by Enzo Paradiso)