Two fights, ambulance called in one day at Nuriootpa High School in Barossa Valley

A notorious SA school was sent into lockdown following three separate incidents in one day, including a knife being held to a student’s chest.

A mother has detailed the “gut-wrenching” moment her 12-year-old son called her after he allegedly had a knife held to his chest by another student at a Barossa Valley school this week.

The alleged incident occurred at Nuriootpa High School (NHS) on Tuesday, and was one of three incidents on the day, with another student being assaulted in a separate fight, and an ambulance called to the school for another matter involving a student.

The Advertiser understands that all three incidents were not related, and all happened in quick succession of one another during lunchtime, with police and ambulance called to the school.

Nuriootpa High School. Nuriootpa South Australia. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

NHS was also placed into lockdown on Wednesday, and police were called to a “disturbance”, which The Advertiser understands involved the older brother of another student who was assaulted on Tuesday.

Shocked mother, Kelli Howett, who told The Advertiser that her son Phoenix, a year 7 student, called her after a fight in which he had a knife held to his chest.

Ms Howett alleged that Phoenix was confronted by a student known to him, who verbally abused him, before a friend of that student assaulted Phoenix, before pulling out a knife and threatening to stab Phoenix, holding the weapon to his chest.

She said her son reacted and “threw punches”, before the fight was broken up.

The Advertiser understands that a school investigation determined that Phoenix threw a punch before the knife was pulled, after he was verbally threatened.

Mother, Kelli Howett has told The Advertiser about the "gut wrenching" moment her son called her to say he had a knife held to him at Nuriootpa High School. Picture: Douglas Smith

“This other kid’s mate stood up and went and shoved my son into a wall, tried to hold him down and was like, pushing him up against the walls, or a pole or something,“ she said.

“My son, I’ve always taught my kids to never throw a first punch and to never bully anyone, but, by all means, if you’re going to defend yourself, you defend yourself no matter what.

“Obviously my son saw red, and just started sort of laying into him and gave him quite a few punches.

“The other kid who originally started this, who has been the issue for my son, was yelling out, ‘pull out your knife, pull out your knife’.”

Ms Howett said her son suffered “significant cuts and bruises” from the altercation, and quickly called her after to say what had happened.

There were three separate incidents at the school in the space of one day.

SA Police confirmed they had attended the school on both days, after the mother reported the alleged altercation to police on Tuesday.

“Police have received a report of an assault involving two students at the school on Tuesday 4 March,” SA Police said.

“The matter is being investigated and police are working with the school and those involved.”

The Advertiser understands that shortly after, another student was leaving school at the end of the lunch break and was followed across the road by a group of students, with the boy being assaulted as a large group cheered it on.

As a result of that incident, the boy’s older brother caused a “disturbance” at the school the following day, which sent the school into lockdown with police being called.

“Police were called to the school in Nuriootpa just after 3pm today (Wednesday) after reports of a disturbance,” SA Police said.

“Upon arrival, officers spoke to both parties.

SA Police attended NHS two days in a row to a number of incidents, one allegedly involving a knife being pulled by a student and held to the chest of another student.

“No offences were disclosed at the time and students causing issues left the area.”

In response to the school’s handling of the incident with her son, Ms Howett commended school staff, saying “they did what they could”, but questioned whether there was enough staff to police the school, which has a population of about 1200 students.

Principal David Marino said staff responded quickly to each incident and that bullying and violence was not acceptable at the school.

“Each matter has been addressed by our staff quickly, keeping the safety and wellbeing of our students in mind at all times,” he said.

“In every case, those who have initiated violence and threats have been the ones dealt with.

“In each situation, our school contacted families of the students who were directly involved, and provided disciplinary action – including suspensions and exclusions – or wellbeing support.

“I won’t hesitate to continue taking this action, alongside the important programs we’re introducing like the explicit teaching of appropriate behaviour across the school.”

Originally published as Two fights, ambulance called in one day at Nuriootpa High School in Barossa Valley