Climate March in Sonoma on Dec. 6

High school students must be signed out by parent to participate or face disciplinary consequences.|

Across the U.S. there will be youth-led “climate strikes” midday on Friday, Dec, 6 – including in Sonoma – in an effort to raise awareness about climate change. A group of students at Sonoma Valley High School are expected to march from campus to the Plaza at 1:30 p.m.

Sonoma Valley Unified School District (SVUSD) addressed the issue of such “walkouts” during school hours in a letter to district families. “The District wants to support students in expressing themselves in ways that keep them safe,” SVUSD Superintendent Socorro Shiels wrote in the letter, but added the district “cannot condone students leaving campus for a walkout for any reason,” as safety of the students remains the first priority.

“That being said, we understand that students feel strongly about various issues including climate change and want their voices heard.”

Any student wishing to leave will be required to be signed out by a parent and participating in the march will count as an unexcused absence, although students who are signed out will not be disciplined.

According to SVHS science teacher Kelly O’Leary, the school’s Earth Club students will be walking out of class at 1:30 p.m. and heading to the Plaza for the rest of the school day.

According to the Action Network, 7.6 million people took to the streets for the September Climate Strike.

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