May. 01, 2019
It has come to the attention of the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) that on Friday, May 3 from 9:20 to 9:50 a.m. there is a planned walkout of students. This student-led, provincial initiative, is concerned that the LGBTQ+ community may potentially lose their protection when it comes to GSAs under the new government. It has been promoted on Instagram and has received some media attention.
The CBE recognizes the importance of public schools in creating a stronger democracy and the right of students to advocate for important causes. While we support student voice and engagement, parents/guardians should be aware that this student walkout is not a CBE-sanctioned event. We will not encourage participation, nor will we prevent students from walking out or re-entering the school at the end of the protest.
Students who choose to participate will be marked as an unexcused absence. As a safety precaution, we will suggest that students who chose to participate stay on school property. If a student is absent from school, parents/guardians are responsible for reporting their student’s absence to their school. Students whose absences are not reported will be marked as an unexcused absence.
The Calgary Police Service has been notified of the potential walkout, in the interest of the health and safety of participants and the surrounding community.
You are encouraged to speak with your child about participation based on what works best for your family and talk about why they want to participate and other ways they can make their voice heard. If your child chooses to walk out, please ask them to make safe choices and to be respectful in their participation.
