Student brings multi-tool knife to schoolyard fight

Palmerston College has made a statement about a fight at the school where students were punched and kicked and one boy pulled out a multi-tool pocket knife but did not open the blade.

A students has pulled out a pocket knife, unopened, during a fight at Palmerston College’s middle school campus this morning.

A STUDENT has pulled out a pocket knife during a fight at a Palmerston school playground on Monday, the Education Department has said.

An Education Department spokeswoman said the student did not pull out the blades of the multi-tool pocket knife, only held the object in their hands.

They said the fight happened just after 10am and involved four Palmerston College students at the Roseberry middle school campus.

The spokeswoman said the fight was broken up within seconds.

“School staff acted in a swift and appropriate manner, de-escalating the situation in less than a minute and ensuring the safety of all students,” the spokeswoman said.

“The school based constable who was already at school supported staff following the incident.”

The Education Department said no students were injured or required medical attention.

St John Ambulance said they had not report of the incident.

Parents and carers of the students involved were called in and the students removed from the school grounds.

The spokeswoman said Palmerston College would take appropriate action to ensure the safety of all students, teachers and staff is maintained.

“All students have access to counselling support (including an on-site full time counsellor) and should they wish to discuss the incident with the school, they are encouraged to speak with their teacher.”

In a statement on Facebook, Palmerston College thanked the co-operation from students and staff following the fight.

However a letter from the school was only sent to parents this morning detailing the fight.

“Yesterday’s incident was a fight involving five male students,” the letter states.

“It was a serious fight that saw a number of students punched and kicked.”

“One of the students have a multi tool in their possession.

“During the fight, this tool had no blades exposed.

“It was held in the student’s hand while they were hitting another student.”

The school also reiterated it’s zero tolerance to violence and that weapons were not to be brought to school.