Students return to class for first time since deadly Oregon school shooting

BEND Ore. (KPTV/Gray News) - While cars and buses still moved through the drop-off lines, Justinna Rosett said most Silver Rail parents took a different approach to the start of school Thursday.

“Everybody walked their kids. Everybody talked to one another. The sense of community was really nice,” she said.

It was the first day back for families since a shooting last month at the Bend school left three students and a teacher dead.

“It was pretty hard for me as a mom,” parent Nicole Ybarrondo said. “I mean, I held it together to the best of my ability.”

Rosett said she felt mixed emotions. She has a fourth-grader.

“He wants to go back,” she said. “Kids are so resilient. I think it affects me more than him, to be honest.”

Leaders of Bend-La Pine Schools said going back to school is the best thing for most students. However, everyone needs to return in their own way and at their own speed.

“Returning to routine and predictable schedules and experiences are really good for kids as they navigate this trauma,” said Karen Rush, executive director of elementary schools.

Rush said they tried to make the day feel as normal as possible while still acknowledging the tragedy and offering support to those who needed it.

To help with the transition, Thursday was an early release day. Teachers started off by reading grade-appropriate scripts to their class about what happened.

There were counselors on site for all students and staff who needed extra support, as well as a new school resource officer who came out of retirement to work at Silver Rail full-time.

“I’m really grateful that we have one,” Rosett said. “I feel for all the schools that don’t.”

The district also replaced damaged doors and locks, added privacy screens to certain windows, and blocked off the area where the shooting happened.

Before coming back officially, parents had the chance to bring their kids for a walk-through. Ybarrondo said it was tougher than expected.

“I don’t think I was even prepared for my daughter’s reaction,” she said. “It turned into a trauma tour of sorts. ‘Mom, let me show you where I was running to find a place to hide. Let me show you the closet that I hid in. Let me show you where I was when it started.’”

The district said more than 90% of the students came back to school Thursday. The rest may have requested transfers to other schools within the district. Others might have withdrawn entirely and are now homeschooling or exploring other options.