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A third girl filmed the attack and later posted the video on social media. She and two other people were removed for their involvement in Tuesday’s assault and the attackers were immediately suspended.
Four from the Gray High group are in Year 10 and one in Year 11, all between the ages of 14 and 15.
The assault on the classroom continued despite protests from the teaching staff present.
John Paul II High School principal David Sullivan said the victim suffered a facial injury. I was “moved but fine” and was not in school yesterday.
Gray High School principal Andy England confronted the Catholic school this morning yesterday to apologize “unreservedly” to the victim and his whanau, staff and the school community at large.
It was also addressed at a special assembly at Gray High today.
“I am dismayed. I am deeply disturbed by the behavior of this small group of students,” said Mr. England.
“I am upset, disturbed and ashamed for the sake of our school. I never expected anything like this to happen, and nothing like this had happened in my time at school.
He is in his final weeks at Gray High, having resigned to take on the role of principal at Darfield High School in Canterbury.
England said he understood the assault had been triggered by posts allegedly made on social media.
“Schools are always prepared for the worst. However, nothing can prepare anyone for something like this. We prepare for schools to close if a madman appears, but we do not consider that students from another school will simply walk into a classroom. class and assaulting another student, no one would ever expect it.
“Classrooms are intended to be safe places, like a hospital in a war, like a marae, like a church. A classroom is a space where young people have the protection of their school and adults in that space and the whole of the normal society. rules that normal people never break. “
Yesterday’s assault broke the “sacrosanct” nature of the classroom, England said.
John Paul II High School principal David Sullivan said he was “disappointed and shocked.”
He worked with Mr. England and the police.
Both principals said they did not believe the assault fairly reflected the positive relationship between the two schools.
Mr England said: ‘I don’t think this incident is being fairly reflected in the broader community at our school, which is as shocked as I am. We will obviously take direct action with this group and consider what else we could have done to prevent it. incident to ensure such things do not happen in the future. “
Mr. Sullivan said: “John Paul II is a safe and caring place … What happened on Tuesday should never happen in our schools. Ensuring that our students, families and school staff are cared for and cared for is our vital goal. especially right now. ”
– Viv Logie
