Cheltenham Secondary College: Year 12s slammed after drinking at swimming carnival

A “large group” of Cheltenham teens who got stuck into the grog at a school swimming event have been slammed by their principal.

Cheltenham Secondary College Principal Karl Russell. Picture: Cheltenham Secondary College

Senior students from a school in Melbourne’s southeast have been slammed after they rocked up to a swimming carnival drunk.

In a message sent to parents on Wednesday, Cheltenham Secondary College principal Karl Russell confirmed a “large group” was caught-out boozing before the school event at Oakleigh Recreation Centre on Monday.

“A large number of Year 12 students arrived at the school swimming sports carnival having consumed alcohol. Once at the pool, staff realised something was not right,” Mr Russell said.

“A further investigation found a number of bottles containing alcohol, with pool staff alerting teachers to discarded bottles and containers in bushes around the pool’s boundary fence.

“The consumption of alcohol at school or school events is simply not acceptable, especially when Year 7 and 8 students were exposed to the poor behaviour on show from so many of our Year 12 students.”

College Principal Karl Russell sent a message to parents on Wednesday. Picture: Supplied

He said the consumption of alcohol at school events was “simply not” acceptable. Picture: Supplied

A source told the Leader that students had been left in tears following the postponement of the February Year 12 formal, however on Thursday acting principal Brooke Matthews told the Leader the event would still go ahead.

“The school is investigating a reported incident involving students drinking alcohol before attending a school sports event,” she said.

“The school will work further to educate our students on the responsible consumption of alcohol.

“The health and safety of our students is always the school’s top priority...the school formal will be held as planned.”

A number of drunk students at the carnival were allegedly also under the influence of Xanax, the source said.

They also said the students had been “disheartened” after the whole cohort was initially punished for the misbehaving student’s actions.

“To miss out on the event and have none of the actual perpetrators punished for it is very sad, the Year 12s are very disheartened,” they said.

The Department of Education was contacted for comment.