From the PPS web site and email:

“Dear PPS Community,

As you may know, March 14 has been highlighted as a day for students across the nation to honor the lives lost in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14. With the nation’s attention focused on issues of school gun violence, student safety and civic engagement, this is a tragic but teachable moment for our students – and for all of us.

While our policies do not allow us to condone or participate in a walkout, as some have called for, we can offer an affirmative message to your students that we, like they, are grieving and angry about yet one more mass shooting in a school. I would like to let you know how we, as a district, plan to respect and support the voices and actions of our students while also ensuring their safety. My hope and expectation is that we spend time on age-appropriate lessons about what constitutes a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment, that we allow students to express their views and that we encourage civic engagement on this issue.

I have asked school leaders to give some attention and planning for a visible, school-wide event on March 14 to begin at 10 a.m. and last 17 minutes in honor of the 17 students and educators who lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. This could take the form of students and staff joining hands in a circle on the playground, families joining their students for a peaceful walk around the school grounds or some other activity. Please check with your school principal about plans for that day.

No student or school employee should ever feel unsafe when they walk into any classroom or office at Portland Public Schools. We will continue to do all we can to ensure our schools are safe, welcoming and supportive for everyone. Thank you for your support.

In service of our students,
Guadalupe Guerrero, Superintendent”