HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2002-01-23, Page 2o.
2 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, January 24, 2001
Principal says
threat situation
not as serious
as people think
From Pogo 1
situation was for other
students, Shropshall said
police acted on the matter as
soon as they were aware of it.
Once the student was in
custody, he said, "There were
no fears of anything happening
from that stage."
The male student had been
arrested and later charged with
uttering death threats,
possession of stolen property
and possession of a prohibited
weapon.
While youth, who
cannot
the
be
named under
the Young
Offenders Act,
had possession
of a prohibited
weapon, police
say neither a
gun nor a knife
was involved.
Police did
confiscate "an
object," said
Shropshall.
He wouldn't say what it was
but that certain objects are
considered "prohibited
weapons" even though they
are not guns or knives.
When asked if the object
seized could have been used to
kill, Shropshall said, "I don't
believe it would. It would have
done bodily harm."
While the student was
removed from the school last
Wednesday, it wasn't until
Monday, Jan. 22, that school
authorities issued a letter to
parents explaining the situation
in hopes of ending all rumours.
A staff member said faculty
were told to direct any
inquiries about the situation
directlx to Doherty and that
tiey were kept in the dark
about what was unfolding in
the school, learning as much as
anyone about the incident
from the letter that was sent
home.
The -letter told parents
Goderich OPP are currently
investigating the actions of a
student at GDCI who allegedly
wrote a threatening note and
that the matter has been treated
very seriously by the OPP and
the GDCI staff.
The letter further said the
student has been suspended
from school and is currently in
police custody and that "other
rumours you may have heard
have greatly exaggerated the
story."
"The reason I sent the note
home with students (Monday)
is, as it says, there have been a
lot of unfounded rumours and
things that are totally untrue,"
said Doherty. "There has been
a lot of concern from parents
about safety."
"In my opinion the school is
as safe now as it ever was.
Most of the stories that people
are saying are absolutely not
true," he said.
According to Doherty,
police are continuing their
investigation by interviewing
students who had direct
contact with the suspended
student. To date, Doherty
estimates police have spoken
with as many as 70 students.
"There is an ongoing police
presence in our school because
they continue to interview
students about what they may
know," said Doherty. "That's
the only reason (police) arc
here. They're not here because
of safety issues or safety
concerns that I may have,
they're conducting an
investigation."
While Doherty admitted the
incident was the most serious
he has dealt with as principal,
he said thc situation is not as
serious as some might think.
"It's thc most serious
incident that I've been
involved with as principal but,
as I said, it's not nearly as
serious as people arc making it
out to he," said Doherty. "We
treated it very, very seriously
because we have to but it's not
what people think."
Avon Maitland District
School Board
Communications Officer Steve
Howe commended both
Doherty and the Huron OPP in
the way they handled the
incident.
Howe said Doherty's
positive relationship with his
students was one reason the
situation was brought to light
so early.
"The complaint about this
student was brought forward
early and reacted on quickly
by the principal," said Howe.
"Thankfully the situation was
caught so early
that there was
no risk or
potential
endangerment
to anybody in
the school."
Huron OPP
a I s o
commended
the school
board officials
and GDCI
staff "for their
quick action in helping to
resolve this situation."
Doherty said he expects the
investigation to end today
since students start exams on
Thursday. After the
examination period officers
may continue the
investigation.
Shropshall said officers will
be talking to every student in
the school before the
investigation is complete, to
ensure there are no other
concerns from students.
"When we're done, there's
potential there could be other
charges," he said.
"I'm concerned about thc
school's image but of course
school safety is a primary
concern." said Doherty. "I
don't want people to get the
perception that this is an
unsafe place to send their kids
and that's why I sent the note
home.
"I told a teacher last week
that I feel safer walking down
the halls than I've ever felt. 1
honestly believe that we have
a very, very sate school.
"I believe it was an incident
that was isolated and it was
dealt with seriously because it
had to be."
With files from Trm Cumming
Quoted
'I feel safer
walking down
the halls than
I've ever felt'--
GDCI principd, Tod
Doherty
News
McMaster
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Playing with Pooh
Michael Freeman, Ally Gerber and Darby Oster were among
the kids at Seaforth Cooperative Children's Centre that
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cake, honey sandwiches, games and, of course, Pooh.
Children brought their favourite Pooh characters from home
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DRAW WINNERS
MEN'S DOOR PRIZES
Paul Ahrens, Mitchell - Travel Bag
Ken Glanville, Walton - John Deere Book
WOMEN'S DOOR PRIZES
Bonnie Louwagie, Gadshill -- John Deere Blanket
Rose Marie Chalmers, Milverton - Afghan
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Shea Schneider, St. Marys -- JD 4700 Sprayer
Andrew Lindner, Gadshill -- JD 4700 Sprayer
Melissa Van Moorsel, Bornholm - JD 4700 Sprayer
KID'S COLOURING CONTEST
Tom McKee, Mitchell -- Tractor Model
Janice Nyenhuis, Sebringville - John Deere Books
BALLOON CONTEST
Kent Neeb, New Hamburg - John Deere Boots
Correct Number of Balloons - 205
Logan Farm Equipment would like to thank
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THE HURON -PERTH
CATHOLIC DISTRICT
SCHOOL BOARD
Junior & Senior Kindergarten
REGISTRATION
January 29 -February 2, 2001
In order to register for Kindergarten, children must be
four (4) years of age on or before December 31, 2001.
Parents are required to bring the Baptismal
Certificate, Birth Certificate and Immunization Record
Card of the child you intend to register. Parents should
contact their local school. The following schools offer
Kindergarten classes:
St. Joseph's School (Kingsbridge)
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Mt. Carmel)
St. Joseph's (Clinton)
Precious Blood (Exeter)
St. Mary's (Goderich)
St. James (Seaforth)
St. Boniface (Zurich)
Sacred Heart (Wingham)
St. Patrick's (Dublin)
St. Patrick's (Kinkora)
Holy Name of Mary (St. Marys)
St. Mary's (Hesson)
St. Ambrose (Stratford)
St. Joseph's (Stratford)
St. Aloysius (Stratford)
Jeanne Sauve (Stratford)
529-7646
237-3337
482-7035
235-1691
524-9901
527-0321
236-4335
357-1090
345-2033
393-5580
284-2170
595-8929
271-7544
271-3574
271-3636
273-3396
Parents who expect that their child will enrol in the
optional French Immersion Program in Grade 1, in
future years, have the option of enrolment for
Junior/Senior Kindergarten at either their local
Catholic School or the French Immersion Centre (St.
Mary's School, Goderich or Jeanne Sauve School,
Stratford) at which they expect to enrol their child for
a French Immersion Program.
Ron Marcy, Gaetan L. Blanchette,
Chairperson of the Board Director of Education
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