11:30 A.M. UPDATE: Silver Rail students return to school nearly a month after shooting

Silver Rail Elementary students walked back into school Thursday for the first time since a Bend teen killed students and a teacher on Oct. 15. Children walked, biked or were driven in by parents or bus on a bright fall day. Bend Police officers were on campus, and school staff welcomed students back. A chain-link fence next to the front entrance was covered in red and purple fabric hearts, one for each student to carry with them. The trees at Stone Creek Park across the street had sparkly purple ribbon wrapped around their trunks. Families felt strongly about returning to a site where many had traumatic memories. “My daughter is excited to go back, but my wife and I still have some feelings of uncertainty surrounding how things are going to go,” said Ian Inman, parent of a 6-year-old Silver Rail student. “Ultimately, though, we are ready for her to go back, too. It’s what she wants.” He and his wife have had several conversations with their daughter about everything that’s happened.

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