New Trier Adjusts Schedule For National School Walkout

WINNETKA, IL — New Trier High School administrators are accommodating students choosing to participate in Wednesday's national school walkout by adjusting class schedules for the day. Students will not be punished for taking part in the anti-gun violence protest, all normal school policies about conduct and expression will stay in place and students are expected to remain respectful of differing points of view, according to a letter from the school's principals.

The decision to add an open period into the morning bell schedule of both the school's campus was made "to maintain student safety, provide adequate supervision and ensure a safe and respectful environmental for all," principals Denise Dubravec, of the Winnetka campus, and Paul Waechtler, of the Northfield campus told families Monday.

Students at thousands of high schools plan to walk out of classrooms at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, which marks a month since the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The student-led demonstrations are set to last 17 minutes in recognition of the 17 people who were murdered.

At New Trier, the demonstration has been organized by the New Trier Student Alliance as well as other student groups. They plan to have a moment of silence, read the names of the victims and hear brief statements from students. A "very large number" of students at both campuses are expected to participate, administrators, said.

The change to Wednesday's class schedule adds a 25-minute open period from 9:55 to 10:20 a.m. to allow time for the protest to take place. Students not participating in the walkout can use the open period to go to the cafeteria, the library or other parts of campus as normal.

Administrators said there would be a second adviser period following the open period until 10:45 a.m. It will allow teachers to take attendance and "provide a transition that will allow students to be ready to engage in their classes for the remainder of the day."

No students will receive disciplinary action for demonstrating during this period, although those who protest outside of the approved window will be treated as any other student skipping class.

Students who leave the grounds of campus before, during or after the demonstration will be subject to the same disciplinary consequences they would face at any time.

All students were reminded that school policies about conduct and expression will still apply, and all students are expected to behave in an orderly fashion and remain respectful of differing points of view, according to the letter from the principals.

Administrators said the changes to the schedule means that there will be staff available to supervise all students, both inside and outside of the buildings, during the demonstration. The schedule adjustment also "assures that students are not singled out for their decision to participate or not," the principals said.

Both campuses will be closed to visitors from 9:30 to 11 a.m.