Nationwide protest and it's affect on SET (part 2)

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prin...@sethigh.org

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Jan 29, 2026, 9:49:56 PMJan 29

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Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians,

Thank you for being patient as we worked to figure out what tomorrow will look like. I will bullet point the important points to make sure that parent know what their action items are:

School will start as normal at 8:30. The special schedule will start at the beginning of what is typically 2nd period
From 10 to 12 we will have active discussions about recent current events and the reasons for the protest. This will be a safe space for students of all political ideologies and we encourage participation from everyone.
At 12:00 there is a potential exit point if families do not feel comfortable with what will happen during the rest of the day. Only with parent permission, though.
From 12:00 to 2:00 we will have an extended lunch/flex time where students can work on protest signs, hangout with friends, or get emotional support if any of the conversations were triggering. This will be available to all students.
From 2 to 3:30, with parent permission, students will march with their protest signs. Staff will supervise to ensure safety but will not be carrying banners or actively protesting. Staff will have yellow vests to ensure traffic safety.
Students who do not wish to protest or who do not have parent permission will go to 5th period.
Parent permission will come in the form of an email response to this email.
Any signs that are created using SET school supplies must be approved by SET admin. Bring your own supplies if you wish to fully exercise your 1st amendment rights and not have your views subject to censorship.
If you choose to not send your student to school, please request a virtual day using Core Competency ("My student will be absent") so that we can still potentially regain attendance for the day

Now for the long form version of everything that I bullet pointed above.

First, what is the protest about and why is SET supporting the students who want to protest? The protest is a nation wide economic blackout protest that has been gradually gaining steam this week in response to ICE practices precipitated by recent events in Minneapolis. The protest is asking that everyone not go to work, not go to school, and abstain from shopping. We do not have any control over the protest, but do have many students who were planning to not come to school in support of the protest. We believe that the most appropriate way for us to respond to a student strike like this, is to provide a space where students can safely exercise their right to protest. We are very concerned about the inequity of only those who can afford to protest getting to protest, so we as a staff want to be here to support the students who have to be at school because maybe their parents have no choice but to work. I am so grateful that our students recognized that being at school with us is the most effective way for them to express themselves. We have committed to the students that we will not have a normal day of school, and instead will give them time to reflect on current events and exercise their 1st amendment rights in a manner of their choosing.

The students asked that they have time to work on posters for further marches that are planned this weekend, and they asked that they be allowed to use school time to march. As long as they have parent permission we are going to allow the students to march along Aero Dr., across the 163, to Convoy, and back from 2:00 to 3:30 PM. Only students who have permission from their parents will be allowed to attend even though we would normally be a little looser on permission slips for a local walk like this. To give permission, you must respond to this email.

As I mentioned in the bullets, if you would like to opt out of the whole afternoon experience, it is totally fine to do a pick-up anytime after 12:00.

The morning will be a structured discussion about current events with a safe space for all students to express themselves. We will start in an All ROAR where Ms. Geis and I will facilitate a discussion, followed by smaller group settings facilitated by select faculty to allow for more intimate conversations. Our hope is that our students will be able to hear each other, hear each other's stories, and hear each other's hopes and fears. In the event that anything that is said during the conversations is upsetting and students need help processing their emotions, we will have support available during the 12:00 to 2:00 timeframe.

Please make sure that you understand that we will need to approve any posters and signs that are made using school resources. We will be urging our students to be respectful in tone because minds are rarely changed through antagonism and belittling, but even with that suggestion, there may be students who choose a more combative tone. Those signs will need to be made using their own resources and can only be displayed when outside of our building. I ask that students please remember that they are representatives of SET when they are on or near campus, and to please consider the impact that your actions and statements may have on the reputation of our school. Let's please keep the messaging clean and productive.

Thank you everyone for working with us on this sudden, non-standard day. We are doing our best to support our students and to do the right thing. I am super grateful to our staff for always being there for our students and to our students for choosing what I hope is the best way to protest on this day of protest. Please note that we have some staff members who already had tomorrow off. Please do not judge them for not being there to support you. I am not aware of any staff members who are choosing to protest instead of being there for you.

Don't forget to respond to this email if you give your student permission to march. You might get pressure from them, but please know that there is no pressure from us.