School assaults prompt disciplinary action

Waitaki Girls’ High School. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Waitaki Girls’ High School. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Two assaults at Waitaki Girls’ High School in a month have prompted action from the board of trustees.

School principal Sarah Hay confirmed the "assault of one year 9 student on another" in the school grounds on February 13.

One 13-year-old was believed to be injured.

The Otago Daily Times understands a fortnight later, a year 9 student and a year 12 student were involved in another incident where the 14-year-old was injured after having her "head hit into the ground" by the older student.

Board acting presiding member Nicole Phillips said they would not delay in taking decisive action in the school’s disciplinary process.

"We do not accept any antisocial behaviours in our school environment and do not hesitate to take strong action when there are fights.

"Fortunately these are typically rare in our school so we are extremely disappointed to be working through two incidents."

The school had high expectations for students around their learning and behaviour and strove to have an engaging, happy and safe learning environment, she said.

A whānau hui was held at the school last week to discuss Māori education strategy and the previous term one hui.

Ms Phillips said there were no discussions or questions regarding the recent incidents at the hui.

School disciplinary processes are set out in the Education and Training Act 2020, along with the Education (Stand-down, Suspension, Exclusion and Expulsion) Rules 1999.

She said due to "confidentiality" she could not comment on the outcome of the disciplinary process regarding the incidents.