SANDPOINT — More than 100 Sandpoint High School students fell silent Wednesday morning in honor of those killed in the Parkland, Fla., high school shooting a month prior.

The SHS teens joined thousands of students across the country who walked out of class at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes for the 17 people who were killed in the Florida shooting.

"It's main purpose is to honor those Parkland victims and to facilitate civil discussion with our peers," said SHS junior Ben Robinson, one of the event organizers.

Robinson said he and a couple other students came together to organize the event. Robinson, along with SHS senior Dutt Rogers, called the group to attention after filing out the front doors of the school, calling for two minutes of silence for the victims of the Parkland school shooting. The organizers then handed out paper and pens to anyone who felt inclined to write a letter to a state legislator regarding school safety.

"I'm really happy with how it is going so far," Robinson said as the walkout neared an end. "I'm pleased with the level of maturity my peers have shown as far as that moment of silence, and there are a lot of students who have taken a piece of paper to write letters. It seems like a lot of discussion is happening. This is really what we wanted."

Prior to the walkout, senior class president Cienna Roget said she planned on participating in the walkout. While headlines across the country tout students protesting gun violence, Roget echoed Robinson in that the purpose of the walkout was to honor the lives lost in Florida.

"It can have connotations of calling for gun control, but really, the main point is just 17 minutes for the 17 students," Roget said. "I think even if you are against gun control, it's still important to participate in it because it is mainly focused on honoring their lives."

Also prior to the event, SHS senior Abby Johnson said she wasn't sure if she would participate, but after deciding to walk out with her classmates, she was glad she did.

"Earlier I said I was afraid it was just going to be kids walking out, talking to each other and not really doing much," Johnson said after the event. "But I'm really impressed that (the organizers) took the time and made sure we had a moment of silence and really directed the conversation ... so I am glad I did and I think this was really beneficial and awesome."

While the students were well-behaved and organized, walking out of class does not go without consequences, however.

Lake Pend Oreille School District Superintendent Shawn Woodward said the students who wished to participate in the walkout were told beforehand they had a right to do so.

"They were also told that our attendance policy would be utilized to enforce consequences related to unexcused absence from their class," Woodward said in an email to the Daily Bee. "Also, the high school administration worked with student leadership to provide a safe place for students to go." 

In addition, for supervision purposes, the students were "highly encouraged" to go to the commons area rather than going outside, Woodward said. Although they did go out the front doors, the students did stay under the covered area just outside the commons.

SHS Principal Tom Albertson said the day would be treated as any other day, with instruction happening in the classroom during that time. Students who chose to walk out would therefore be treated the same as any other day as far as absences or tardies.

"There will be no extra consequences, nor will there be any leniency," Albertson said. "We will follow school policy."

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.