Woodleigh School students’ bad behaviour rewarded, parents say
A group of students busted with booze and cocaine in a limo on their way to the Woodleigh School formal were later involved in the school’s end-of-year celebrations, angering parents at the Mornington Peninsula private school.
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Parents at Mornington Peninsula’s Woodleigh School are upset that students involved in a coke and booze binge in a limo on the way to the school formal have been feted during a Year 12 celebration.
The five students were on their way to the school formal at the Mornington Racecourse in August when they were caught with the contraband.
The Langwarrin South school vowed to take action and the students were suspended and counselled about alcohol and drug use.
But the fall out from the night continues with a number of parents concerned about the way it was handled.
One parent said he understood that they would not take part in the Year 12 end of year formalities so was upset to see them involved.
Another said it sent the wrong message to the school community.
It was claimed that one of the students suspended from the $26,000 a year school spent the week skiing.
Three of the students were described as being “front and centre” in a Reflection Service in the Bush Chapel on October 23.
“I am glad that my child will no longer be at the school. It certainly has been one of the most disappointing experiences my wife and I have had at a school,” a disgruntled parent said.
But principal Jonathan Walter has backed the students saying “their talented contribution helped make it a happy and beautiful celebration for this year’s cohort”.
“It was a beautiful occasion which celebrated the achievements of the year level and provided an opportunity for students and their families to come together and reflect upon, and finalise, their journey at Woodleigh School,” he said.
“This celebration included students who were involved in the incident at the formal.
“Following their return to school after their suspension, all of the students undertook counselling. Importantly, they have taken responsibility for their actions and showed great remorse.
“As a result, they were keen to give back something positive to the school before finishing the year.”
Mr Walter leaves at the end of the year to take on the job as principal at Carey, in Kew.
“At Woodleigh we believe in restorative justice and the students’ involvement in the service gave them this opportunity,” he said.
Restorative justice is a process that is gaining momentum in the community, including schools.
In the past, students doing the wrong thing in Year 12 would often be made to do their exams off site and miss out on end of year festivities.
Year 12 students who trashed an arts room at Camberwell High before the exams faced restorative action but they are understood to have been allowed to sit their exams at the school.
It was unclear what disciplinary action students involved in a flare rampage at Northcote High received.
Restorative justice educator David Vinegrad said he would not specifically address the incidents but that the process “took a relational approach to wrongdoing and harmful behaviour”.
“In some school based incidents that are managed by traditional approaches we see justice being delivered through punitive approaches including suspension and expulsion. These blunt disciplinary ‘tools’ often run counter to school vision statements and espoused values and more importantly don’t deliver on people’s needs. People often feel harshly done by, not heard or given a voice and often the whole thing is not fair,” Mr Vinegrad, who runs Behaviour Matters said.
He said when suspension and expulsion were the only consequences a “learning opportunity goes begging”.
“RJ can be an extremely difficult process particularly for wrongdoers when they are confronted by those affected with the harm that they have caused.
“RJ is not a soft option, some students in Singapore request to be caned rather that be involved in an RJ process.”
Woodleigh’s Mr Walter said the reflection was one of the main Year 12 celebrations.
“Their talented contribution helped make this a happy and beautiful celebration for this year’s cohort. I have been very pleased to witness their commitment to finishing their schooling in a positive way,” he said.
“We wish all our students the greatest success in their final examinations currently underway and for their next steps into their future.”
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Woodleigh’s Year 12 Valedictory dinner will be on November 21 at RACV Cape Schanck Resort.
It will cost $115 a head and families wanting to stay overnight will be eligible for a discount.