Ossining Schools Plan For March 14

The Ossining school district has a multi-pronged approach to the National March 14 Student Walk Out. High schoolers are encouraged to participate in the Spreading Kindness Plan whether or not they participate in the 17-minute event. Middle-schoolers will have a school-wide assembly on themes of respect, caring, kindness, safety and unity.

There are several organized events planned for March 14 across the Hudson Valley. Each student body has different motivations to organize and their own way to proceed. Likewise, all school districts are not alike. Some districts, like New Rochelle, applauded students' desire to be a part of the political process, but decided that as the demonstration is not a sanctioned school event, students who miss a class will have the absence recorded as an unexcused absence, and students who arrive to school or class late will be marked late.

The National School Walkout In A Nutshell

On Wednesday, March 14, students, staff, and supporters will walk out of their schools at precisely 10 a.m. for approximately 17 minutes in honor of the 17 people who were shot and killed at the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida earlier this year. The walkouts also serve as a protest against gun violence.

Who Organized Them?

School walkouts are typically organized locally, with student activist groups, concerned students, concerned parents or active members of the community putting the call out.

The marches were called for on the national level by Women's March Youth EMPOWER, which sought across-the-country marches to "protest Congress' inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods."

"Students and staff have the right to teach and learn in an environment free from the worry of being gunned down in their classrooms or on their way home from school," the event page said.

What's Happening In Ossining

Ossining High School students and staff have planned a multi-proged approach. Here's a letter from the principal:

Dear Parent/Guardian(s) and Students:
Over the last few weeks, I have been working with our student leaders, district leaders, and staff to
develop a plan for an organized demonstration of concern for national school safety on Wednesday,
March 14, 2018. We a want to remind our community what we here at OHS stand for: Peace, Respect,
Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity. Below you will find our plan for our coordinated display of unity on,
March 14th, 2018, a day where we can place a keen focus on being kind to those we meet.
Coordinated Display of Unity
❏ An announcement will be made at 10 AM for interested students to come together in support of
school safety. Students will be directed to a designated location on our campus. There will be
staff members directing students where to exit and go.
❏ Students who attend the event will be excused from class (Part of Period 3 and 4).
❏ We will host a small ceremony, approximately 17 minutes long. During the ceremony, student
leaders will discuss the purpose of raising awareness for school safety, remember the lives lost in
Parkland, and emphasize positive messages about the importance of building a strong school
community.
❏ After the 17 minutes, students will return to their 4th period class. Students will have until
approximately 10:45 AM to get to their class without being marked late.
❏ The Ossining Police Department, as well as OHS staff members, will be helpful in keeping students
safe during the event and directing them where to go.
❏ Students who do not participate in this event will continue their regular school day schedule.
Spreading Kindness Plan
❏ All students will be encouraged to show extra kindness to those they meet on March 14th.
❏ We invite all students and staff to wear Ossining colors or gear on this day to promote UNITY
throughout our school community.
❏ We challenge ALL students to find 17 people (both staff and students) to reach out to on this day
and spread a message of kindness by their actions or words. This can take the form of a simple
“thank you” to an educator who has helped you in some way or sit with a student who you do not
know at lunch and get to know them. The ideas are endless and our hope is to model what we
want our world to be like.

Please note that this event is for students only. Parents and community members will be unable to access the school campus during this time. Please know that this decision is in an effort to keep all students safe during the event at 10 AM. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

In these challenging times, it is important to remember that “together is better” and our community
should be representative of the world we want to live in. This is the message we hope is made clear on
March 14th.
If you should have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at: 914-762-5760 ext.
2302 or email me shancock@ossining.k12.ny.us.

Sincerely,

Stephen P. Hancock
Principal

In a coordinated display of UNITY, our AMD student leaders (AMD Student Equity Leaders, AMD Student Council Leaders, and members of our AMD Kindness Club) have gathered and worked with Ms. Cellio and members of the Support Staff and administration to plan for a school wide assembly for Wednesday, March 14th, at 10 AM. In this 17 minute assembly, students and adults will rotate to six student led presentations, and hear messages from their peers that focus on RESPECT, CARING, KINDNESS, SAFETY, and UNITY. These messages also support our AMD ROCKS program. Additionally, as we participate in raising awareness for school safety and remember the lives lost in Parkland, Florida, we as a school community will emphasize positive messages about building a strong community. I share words of pride for our student leaders and the entire student community of AMD as we collectively stand and support school safety and continue to build a stronger school community.