November 29, 2023 Student Walkout/Protest

Dear Parents/Caregivers, 

We are writing to make you aware of a planned student walkout/protest taking place Wednesday, November 29, 2023, in support of Palestine.

We understand that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East is having an impact on many members of our community, especially those with connections to the Middle East and members of the Israeli, Palestinian, Arab, Jewish, and Muslim communities. We are also concerned about the potential for incidents of Antisemitism and Islamophobia to occur as this conflict continues.

The safety and well-being of our students and staff in all DDSB learning and working environments is our top priority. The DDSB is being alert and attentive to provide care and support for students at schools and in the classroom while also highlighting that incidents of discrimination are unacceptable and will not be condoned. Student walkouts and protests have taken place in the past at various DDSB schools on a variety of issues and we are sharing with you our consistent approach that is in the interest of student safety:

• All protest activity must take place off school property and signage is not permitted within the school building.

• The DDSB and our school is not involved in the protest activity and cannot stop students from leaving the property to protest.

• We always encourage students to stay in class. If students are not in class, they will be marked absent.

• All school community members are required to engage in respectful and civil behaviour even off school property but near the school. 

• Students must not engage in any discriminatory, violent, or harmful behaviour while engaging in any walkout or protest activity (and related social media activity) and DDSB policies and procedures (including and not limited to the Human Rights, Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Racism Policy and the School Code of Conduct) are applicable.

We are in communication with the Durham Region Police Service in the interest of everyone’s physical safety as this is not a school endorsed activity and is taking place off school property. It is possible that non-school community members may attend the protest and anyone participating should prioritize their safety and well-being. The DDSB cannot ensure the safety of anyone off school property. 

Members of our Psychological Services and Social Work Services teams will be at the school to support students who may need additional care and support. If a student needs additional support, they can reach out to the school administration, guidance staff, or a trusted adult who can assist them in connecting with members of our Psychological Services and Social Work Services teams. Students and families can also connect directly by completing the confidential form through this link: https://forms.ddsb.ca/Mental-Health/School-Based-Mental-Health-Support Please note, this is not a crisis line.  We are also including information from community partners, including culturally specific resources for students and families at the bottom of this e-mail after the signature line. 

As a parent/caregiver, if you feel that your child’s sensitivities may be impacted by Thursday’s events, please reach out to your child’s teacher or the school administration to discuss ways in which we can be supportive. If you choose to have your child remain at home, please update their attendance through School Messenger. Parents will receive notification if their student is absent from class without parent permission as per usual practice. 

As community members, we must all be mindful of the impact that we can have on others through our actions. Members of our community may be impacted differently based on their identities and lived experiences, and it may not always be visible. It is important that we all demonstrate empathy, humanity, respect, and care for one another.

Sincerely,

Michelle Monk

Principal