Zach Colwell watched Wednesday morning before class as about 20 of his schoolmates gathered around the flagpole at Lawrence High School, heads bowed in prayer.

The uncommon sight — prayer at a public school — wasn’t anathema to these students. Wednesday morning, after all, marked the 15th annual “See You at the Pole — National Day of Student Prayer.”

“I like it because you just feel good about doing it, and it gives you the chance to pray for others,” said Colwell, 17, an LHS senior. He planned to join his classmates in prayer after his mother dropped off some items he forgot at home.

Dozens of students participated in the event at public junior high and high schools in Lawrence, as well as at the private Veritas Christian School and Bishop Seabury Academy.

“See You at the Pole” is a grass-roots prayer event begun in 1990 in Texas. According to the organization, the event is meant to provide students around the world an opportunity to pray for one another, their school or anything else.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, public school students can pray and participate in religious activities when it doesn’t interfere with class instruction. Public school students are allowed to organize prayer groups, religious clubs and See You at the Pole gatherings before school. Groups associated with prayer or religion must have the same access to school facilities as other extracurricular groups.

Across town

At Veritas Christian School, about 50 students were participating in the event at the same time as LHS students.

They prayed aloud and sang songs such as “Our God is an Awesome God.”

While Veritas students have prayer and say Bible devotionals throughout the day, students came to school early to participate in See You at the Pole.

They said they enjoyed the group prayer, even though rain was falling by the end of the event.

“It was better this year than last,” said Daniel McPherson, 13. “We had more people. We were all more aware of it.”

He said the best part of the event was that students had the opportunity to say their prayers aloud.

At one point in the event, Veritas administrator Jeff Barclay suggested students pray for the students in the public schools. Students followed through.

One girl prayed that the Christian students in public schools not be ashamed of their faith.

For 13-year-old Kirsten Bennett, praying for public school students was one of the best parts of the event. Although she’s never attended public school, Bennett said she knew of public school students who had gotten into trouble for practicing their beliefs.

“But it was a while ago,” she said. “I think the laws may have changed.”

6News video: Students gather outside schools to say prayers See You at the Pole

Bennett and her friend, 13-year-old Danielle Marsh, said they would like to have prayer at the flagpole every morning.

“Except I wouldn’t want to come in this early every morning,” Marsh said.

‘Personal business’

At LHS, the students silently prayed while listening to Christian music and with other students walking by. Some stopped and watched. Others glanced over and made their way into the school.

Colwell chalked up any stares or glances from those walking by as just curious people.

Students don’t talk about See You at the Pole at school, he said. And they don’t put up posters announcing the event. Colwell said he didn’t even know until he got to school Wednesday that it was See You at the Pole day.

“You just don’t hear about it much,” Colwell said. “It’s just kind of your own personal business. No one is going to make fun of you for praying at the pole or scold you for not doing it.”