Jenna Mansueto:

Hi, my name is Jenna and I’m a junior. Alongside Kaden Florsheim, Felicia Miller, and Sammy Kagan I helped to serve as a student organizer for today’s events.

Like many of you, I was appalled by the actions of a deranged gunman in Parkland, Florida exactly one month ago today. The violence and large-scale death inflicted upon a population of students — just like us — saddened me deeply and altered the way in which I view our nation’s schools. It is our firm belief that all students should be able to learn, explore, and grow without the undue burden of fear, that students should be able to trust their schools and their nation with their safety, and that that trust should not be broken.

Sammy Kagan:

Today, we’ll be spending time addressing and taking action in response to gun violence in Parkland, Chicago, and across the country. We’ll be conducting a ceremony to honor victims of gun violence, educating ourselves on the state of gun violence in America, and demanding change from local and national leaders. But “gun violence” isn’t some far-fetched topic which exists only in the studios of CNN and CBS; it is incredibly important that we remember that gun violence is an issue which should be of great concern to each and every Chicagoan, as our city continues to suffer gun-related injuries and deaths with alarming frequency.

Felicia Miller:

The ultimate goal of our time in the coming hours is to ensure that the minds, voices, and hearts of Parker students are given space to explore and grow. We seek knowledge, change, and solidarity to ensure that our students develop and mature in a healthy and nurturing environment. Rather than pushing a singular political narrative, today is about recognizing the pressing issue of gun violence as it pertains to the everyday lives of students, Chicagoans, and Americans.

Kaden Florsheim:

We encourage you to participate in today’s activities fully, understanding the appropriate attitudes for each environment and further considering what you can do to make the most of this unique opportunity. Please be respectful of one another, recognizing the awareness and sensitivity necessary when discussing an issue such as this. It isn’t easy to speak your mind and today more than ever it is our imperative to encourage, rather than belittle, our peers.

Before we go, we would be remiss if we didn’t thank Parker’s amazing faculty for all of their hard work. From the incredible efforts of Mr. Brandon — our go-to man for today — and Mr. Novick to the aid of Dr. Frank and Ms. Jurgensen to Mr. Saracino to our spectacular teachers, today’s student focus wouldn’t have been possible without the help of supportive adults.