You may have seen communication from the District about the horrific tragedy in Parkland, Florida and the protests being planned across the country. In situations like this, so many of us feel deeply saddened, angry, and eager to act. We are also aware that the actions people take will differ by family and by individual.
As representatives of Sunset PTA, we do not want to tell you how to act. We want to pass on the information we know, to help you make informed choices about the actions that are right for your family.
On March 14, some individuals are choosing to participate in a 17-minute National School Walk Out, organized by Women's March Youth EMPOWER. A separate National School Walkout has been organized for April 20. It appears that most of the focus is on the upper grades. In response to the potential walkouts, the District sent out information with guidance to families, which you can read here.
The McAuliffe Elementary PTSA in Sammamish started an initiative for students to Wear Blue for Kindness on March 14. The intent is for students to not only wear blue, but also to further promote compassion by performing "random acts of kindness," reaching out to others to reduce loneliness and foster friendships. Their hope is that parents and others in the broader community will participate as well.
The National PTA has released a number of position statements on a variety of topics related to child health and safety, among other things. I've provided links to a few below, but you can learn about all of the topics here.
All of us - parents, educators, administrators - want an environment for our children where they feel safe and supported. As a PTA Board, we will continue to seek out opportunities to support the physical, mental, emotional and social well-being of all children. These are complex challenges, and we look forward to continuing to work with all of you, the Sunset administration, the District and the broader community to advocate for the children and for the educational experience and healthy, safe environment they deserve.
