Booze and drugs at fourth form camp

By ABIGAIL CASPARI in Rotorua
Nineteen Rotorua Lakes High School students have been suspended or stood down for drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis at a school camp.

The incident has prompted a review of the way the camps are run.

The Year 10 students were on a three-day camp at the Okataina Outdoor Education Centre.

Principal John Ellis, who was in Wellington at the time, said the four staff who were at the camp became suspicious that students had access to alcohol.

Staff fears were confirmed after a water bottle filled with Coke and bourbon was discovered.

It was not known how many bottles of the mixture were at the camp but Mr Ellis suspected there was more than one.

The following day acting principal Wayne Hall and deputy principal Ali Painter went to the camp and spent the day interviewing students.

As a result of their inquiry 16 students were stood down, most for two days.

A further three students, all boys, were suspended. Two of those students had smuggled the alcohol into the camp while the third had sneaked in a "small amount" of cannabis.

It was not clear how many students had been smoking the drug at camp but Mr Ellis said it would have been a small group. Those suspended were allowed to return to school after meeting with the school's board of trustees last week.

More than 40 students attended the camp. Beforehand they were each given a form outlining items to bring and those to leave at home, which was to be signed by parents.

Students also went through their bags with staff before leaving for camp. Early in the camp staff became aware there may have been banned substances on the grounds and gave students the opportunity to hand them in without consequence. Nothing was handed in.

It was not until that night the alcohol was found as the students were getting ready to go to bed.

Mr Ellis was at a principals' conference in Wellington and was notified the next morning. He said the incident was dealt with by Mr Hall, Mrs Painter and board chairman Peter Faulkner.

Parents of the offending students were contacted the day after the incident and were also sent a letter about the incident. Parents had been supportive of the action taken by the school, he said.

Mr Ellis described the incident as an "extreme disappointment" for the school.

"Obviously we are not very proud of [what happened]. It casts a pretty dark cloud on this particular camp."

He said the night of the incident and the following day were very hectic for staff dealing with the students, and staff had done "a fantastic job".

To their credit most of the students were remorseful and admitted their involvement, he said.

Mr Ellis said the board was reviewing camp procedures at its next meeting at the end of this month once staff had filed reports.