By Damion Mitchell, Staff ReporterTHE PARENTS of more than 250 tenth grade students of Immaculate Conception High School in St. Andrew have been called to a meeting this afternoon to discuss, among other things, the increasing levels of indiscipline of students.
Sister Mary Catherine Aarons, principal of the all-girl school told The Gleaner last night that the students' behaviour was of "serious concern".
WE ARE NOT HAPPY
"We want to alert the parents that we are not happy," she said adding that too many tenth graders were still "not settled" having completed one term.
The principal also noted that parents would also be asked to sign an agreement at today's meeting on their children's behalf indicating their commitment to abide by rules of the school, to encourage more cohesion.
Sister Mary Catherine confirmed reports that a group called the 'New School Order', has emerged at the institution and that there have been graffiti at the schools to advertise the group, but she denied that its members were operating similarly to a gang.
Only last December, school administrators reportedly reprimanded tenth grade students when the graffiti was discovered. The students were instructed to clean bathrooms and other areas of the school.
However, some parents have opposed such 'disciplinary' actions as inappropriate saying that innocent students should not have been required to participate in the clean-up activities.
But Sister Mary Aarons said yesterday, "You (the parent) better get happy with it."
Questioned whether janitors were employed at the institutions, Sister Mary said, "we have people but they are not here to clean up walls and so on that children write on."
Parents are considering the filing of a petition condemning the actions of the school administrators, The Gleaner was told.
