(CONTINUING TO UPDATE with additions – scroll down!)

ORIGINAL REPORT, 6:25 PM: Instead of a walkout – it’s a walk-in.

On Thursday morning, teachers, staffers, parents, and community members are gathering outside public schools for a “walk-in” – a show of support, rather than a protest.

Since schools start at different times, the walk-ins are happening at different times. We’ve heard from two schools so far. One is West Seattle High School – teacher Jennifer Hall tells us:

At West Seattle High School, we (staff members, parents, community members) will be gathering in front of the building on California Avenue at 7 AM, and then we will WALK IN together between 7:10 and 7:15. We will be serving coffee and donuts, and enjoying conversation about positive hopes and dreams for our school inside, and school will start on time.

We’ve also heard from Gatewood Elementary. From Jena Ingrahm with the PTA:

Supporters will gather in the playground at Gatewood before school starts at 8:15 and then walk in together. The school day starts on time.

Why do a walk in? We are gathering across the country as communities to assert that these are our schools and they must be fully funded. Too many decisions about public education are made outside our communities and without the voice of parents, their children and the educators who know the students best. By standing up together, in our communities and across the country, we send a strong message to policymakers and educational leaders that we all support fully funded and resourced public schools.

All you have to do is show up and wear red!

If your school participating? Please let us know so we can add the info – start time and gathering place – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

ADDED 9:16 PM: Thanks to Angela Powell from the Alki Elementary PTA for sending word they’re participating too. This post on the PTA website has details; participants will gather outside the school at 8:20 am and walk in together.

ADDED 10:24 PM: Concord International in South Park also has a walk-in. Robin Schwartz from the Concord PTA says, “Wear red for ed(ucation), meet out front at 9 am to sign the poster board that will be delivered to Olympia, and walk in together!”

ADDED 7:08 AM WEDNESDAY: Schmitz Park Elementary also is participating, according to teacher Alison Aylesworth, who says the gathering time is 8:20 am: “Meet on the playground, write on the vision board and walk-in at 8:35! Wear red for ed!”

ADDED 10:55 AM WEDNESDAY – TWO MORE: Kayo adds in comments that “Pathfinder is also participating. Wear red and meet by the small playground at 8 am.”

And via e-mail, Sandra Gray tells us Fairmount Park Elementary will do it too – wear red and gather in front of the school along SW Findlay, 8-8:40 am. (UPDATE: They’ll gather along Fauntleroy instead.)

ADDED 3:09 PM WEDNESDAY – THREE MORE: From the Denny International Middle School newsletter:

“Before the Bell” Support for Schools Rally, 7:05 am, Denny Front Entrance

What’s your vision for our Public Schools? Join us “before the bell” on February 18 to stand together and celebrate our schools. Across the country from New York to Los Angeles and more than 20 cities in between, parents, students, teachers, educators and community leaders are gathering “before the bell” to stand together in support of great public schools. We’ll be meeting in the entrance courtyard at Denny as scholars arrive, from 7:05-7:35.

Via e-mail, Holly Briscoe from the Highland Park Elementary PTA says, “HPE will also be participating in the walk-in. We are encouraging families to wear red and to sign the vision board at drop off. Event begins at 8:30.”

And in comments, AJP says Louisa Boren STEM K-8 is in, too – 9 am to 9:30 am.