South Sound Times

Local parents and students gathered at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis on Sept. 17 to protest online learning and for not being allowed to play school sports.

Close to 125 students and parents were at the protest. Students who are in the sports programs wore their respective school’s sports uniforms.

These students said that playing sports is their top priority. Many students highlighted the difficulties they’ve experienced with the online learning program.

“We want families to have the option,” between in-person and distance learning, Kelsi Hamilton, one of the organizers of the protest and a mother in the Chehalis School District, told The Daily Chronicle.

Jayce Talley, a freshman at Onalaska High School said sports is a priority for her. 

Sports are important "because I’m an athlete, but we also want schools to be open because it is important to have school,” Talley told the Daily Chronicle. 

Presley Smith, another student, said he misses his friends. 

“I miss my friends and I miss seeing people at school and interacting with teachers and stuff, and I can’t do that as well on our 20-minute zoom calls,” Smith told the Daily Chronicle.