St. Georges updates school policy, several students caught drunk
The St. George's school achieved a 100 percent pass rate at the recent school leaving examinations. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The St. Georges’ board has voted for a policy that should any student place the school in a disgraceful light – he or she will be dealt with severely.
This decision was made after some of the secondary school students were intoxicated while in school uniform at a Long Bush bar in June.
VINO was reliably informed that after the secondary school results were announced in mid-June where the school achieved 100 percent passes, the St. Georges’ students along with Elmore Stoutt High School and the Seventh Day Adventist [secondary division] students went to the bar to celebrate.
And while the St. Georges students apologised and were able to graduate, Deputy Chairman of the Board Reverend Ronald Branche told VINO that if a similar incident should occur again, the student or students will not be able to graduate.
The only reason the students involved were able to get off lightly was because the school did not have a clear policy on how to handle such a situation, Rev. Branche explained.
“This is the first time it happened. However, there was a vote and a new policy has been drafted. So if a student causes to place the school in disrepute, there will be consequences,” the Deputy Chairman added.
As for the bar that served the students the alcoholic beverages, Reverend Branche disclosed that he understands a parent may take legal action, but could not confirm if the parent has actually gone through with it.
However, he had some harsh words for the proprietor and staff of the bar.
“These children were under aged and in school uniform. Selling them alcohol was out of line,” he stated.
VINO attempted to reach the Principal of the St. Georges school [secondary division] but was told that she was on vacation overseas.
The St. Georges’ Secondary School is a co-educational facility which was opened in September, 2004. On September 10, 2006, the school started the year at its spacious new ground located at Palestina Estate.
24 Responses to “St. Georges updates school policy, several students caught drunk”
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Yay Father Branche and the St. Georges Secondary School Board! When I first heard about this I too felt they should have been punished by not being able to walk or not being able to participate in prom. I am in full support of this decision passed by the board. I do not understand why any bar in the Virgin Islands would serve alcoholic beverages to clearly underage patrons. The police should be called in to investigate and that bar should be heavily fined so that this does not happen again.
It is illegal to sell alcohol to children UNDER the age of 16 years. So this really is just a case of law vs. morals. The business cannot be penalized severely UNLESS one of the students were under the age of 16.
THE PLAN WAS FOR THEM NOT TO WALK, AND THEN IT WAS DECIDED LET THEM WALK AND APOLOGISE DURING THE GRADUATION, PARENTS HAD TO SIGN IN AGREEMENT TO THAT, WHICH THEY ALL DID. THE KIDS SUBMITTED A WRITTEN APOLOGY EACH AND THEY IDENTIFIED ONE STUDENT TO READ AN APOLOGY ON BEHALF OF THE WHOLE GROUP. UP TO THE TIME OF GRADUATION PARENTS AND STUDENTS KNEW THAT WAS THE PLAN. BUT THE PUBLIC APOLOGY NEVER TOOK PLACE. I GUESS THE BOARD DID NOT HAVE THE BALLS TO GO THROUGH WITH IT CAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO AIR THEIR DIRTY LAUNDRY,THUS AFFECT FUTURE ENROLL MENTS AT THE SCHOOL. TALK ABOUT CARING FOR STUDENTS WELL BEING. I WONDER HOW IT MADE IT IN THE NEWS, WELL SAH.
16 years is de legal age to drink Branche.. Wha you dere talkin?
I Soooooooo Agree & I Too Sure Half Of Dem Children 16 Or Older…Dem Need Get Dem Facts Straight!!
What about the other “half” that were under 16???? You think they were asking for ID before they sold alcohol?
It was a Results Day party.. only graduate were supposed to be there. And you know seh half ah the children graduating from school does be 17/18 goingg..
You think they were checking anyones ID for proof of age, much less what class they were in???? Really????
well saw! this school sure knows how to be in the news!!
AND SO LONG AFTER THE FACT SMDH
Wait wait wait…you telling me the valid and legal age for drinking in this territory is 16?? or is this some B.S you ppl talking off the top of your heads??? Talk to me fo real i wanna know??? so you cant so much as learn to operate a vehicle till you’re 18, but you can practice getting drunk two years before… brilliant i tell you!!!
It’s the same thing i’m here saying. 16 to drink, 18 to drive. But it is true though; I heard the announcement on the radio a couple of times.
I WAS TOLD IT IS 21
Despite the drunk students St. Georges school was one of the top schools both in the primary five exam and graduate of their high school…check the facts
i am pleased that a new policy will come into play and It is my hope that no one jack would be spared. I must though say that the SGSS staff must be vigilant at all times. This must be at school and off compound as well. When a reputatyion is tarnish it is the hardest thing to regain. Keep an eye for those girls wereing their socks not to the proper height, theboys whose pants start go below their butts etc etc etc. These are the minor things that we turn a blind eye to until it is too late. It is good that the parents can pay for a child’s education. However it is a previledge for that child to be a part of that school. If the standards are not maintained then what will we have to be proud of?
STANDARDS ARE TO BE MAINTAINED BY BOTH THE BOARD, TEACHERS AND PARENTS
I cannot believe you all here arguing over this. Them children were in school uniform and were sold alcohol. The proprietor of the establishment should know better. This was out right disrespect for themselves, their school and the law. I don’t care of old they are they are still school children. Besides the legal drinking age needs to be raised.
if i am not mistaken i know there was 1 drunk student and another 1 that wasnt even in the graduating class that ‘pretended’ he was drunk
well well, imagine this made the news long after the fact. The board members of that SGSS are two faced and so full of double standards, talking about they were allowed to walk because there was no policy in place. The plan was to allow them to walk and make a public apology during the graduation, but in hindsight they realised that it would be bad publicity for the school and bad for business, and thus hurt the school financially. father Branche i know you mean well, and you were off island during all this melay. i personally believe as do other parents, the amount of money that is being paid is much more than what is being offerred, especially in the science dept. the kids were behaving as teenagers do, i do not condone the behaviour, but teenagers make mistakes and even adults too in situations like these. the proprietor was wrong to serve them alcohol because they were in uniform despite their age. SGSS you want to be different be different in all ways. stop the double standards.
That’s why the children will never do any better with parents like you making excuses for them. Regardless of how you feel about the school the issue at hand is that those kids were in a bar in their school uniform drinking alcohol. When I was a child in school, you couldn’t get close to a bar door but today anything goes and the parents/adults keep making excuses. There is no need to wonder why the youths keep falling with laid back parents.
Smh …That School Is On Some Serious Stuff. I Swear They would do anything to keep their image. People make it seem as if St. Georges Is Some Special School For “Special” Kids … lol FUNNY! If they only knew the kind of things that go on in that school. The conversations the teachers have about the students….the type of teachers it has in the school. The teachers did NOT care that the students were drunk they cared that they ruined their image. Sooooo Your future is secure here is a BS Mission Statement, If they did actually care about the well being of the students. SEVERAL STUDENTS CAUGHT DRUNK! … i recall that no more than 2 were drunk. But hey whatever i guess the teachers were there so they saw everything….. Yea Right.
So what you saying is next year no at georges girl going to the results jam? Boy that’s a hurt cause them girl could wine!!!
St. Georges***
lol!!