Clarkstown South Principal Reaches Out To Parents
Sending Homecoming Dance message tonight
Clarkstown school district administrators seeking to avoid a repeat of last weekend’s post-Homecoming activities are reaching out to parents. Clarkstown High School South’s principal is sending a recorded telephone message to students’ parents and guardians that the school only sponsors the Saturday’s Homecoming Dance. Clarkstown South does not support or sanction any after-dance activities.
Clarkstown Police and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office are investigating whether Clarkstown High School North students got sick after drinking alcohol while on an unsupervised party bus trip after Saturday evening’s Homecoming Dance. The school district staff is looking into whether any violations of school or behavioral code occurred.
The message from South Principal James Vitale should reach parents and guardians around 6:30 p.m.
Good evening. This is Jim Vitale, principal of Clarkstown South High School. I would like to inform the parents and guardians of our students, that we do not sponsor or support any post-Homecoming dance activities. If you are allowing your child to travel to a venue in New York City, you should be aware that there is a high probability that alcohol and or other illegal substances may be present. This creates a dangerous health and safety situation. Your child’s welfare may be at risk. We look forward to a safe Homecoming weekend.
The school's web site lists the South Homecoming Dance beginning at 6:30 p.m. and ending at 10 p.m. The school requires all students to stay until the end of the dance. Superintendent Margaret Keller-Cogan sent a letter to all district parents on Wednesday about her concerns for the health and safety of students and the guidance they need to make the right decisions.
Tony T
6:52 am on Friday, October 21, 2011
Mr. Vitale
Per the article in the Journal News earlier this week and some of the comments, it apperas that students from North who showed up drunk at the dance were turned away at the door. Which was the proper dcecision. However, it appears from that article that the school made no provisions to ensure the safety of these students. Were parents or guardians notified to come and get their children, did the school officials present make sure the students did not driveaway drunk.? Will these students be disiplined as will those drunk on the party bus? Mr. Vitale's you stated "that we do not sponsor or support any post-Homecoming dance activities" Are the "party buses" permitted on school property? If you don't support this activity the buses should not be permitted on school property and if they are they should be subject to search! Your response and that of the District seems more like a CYA than a real attempt to protect our students and work with the community to resolve the problem.
Rob
7:10 am on Friday, October 21, 2011
Why would you get involved with the private affairs that have nothing to do with a school activity. All that does is give the parents that are afraid to tell there kids NO you as a scapegoat.
Gail w
9:44 am on Friday, October 21, 2011
Mr Vitale is doing the correct thing sending a message to parents who are afraid of their own children - not allowing them to attend a trip to NYC . That venue is not a place for 16 year old kids to attend, unsupervised, at that hour. Parents need to start taking responsibility ... And not trying to make everyone else ( as suggested by Tony) ... Protect your own children... Don't allow your kids to show up at school drunk!
Tony T
11:02 am on Friday, October 21, 2011
I think that if a student shows up on school property "drunk" and is turned away from a dance/sporting event/ or just for class the school has a moral obligation to ensure that that student get's home safely. You state "Don't allow your kids to show up at school drunk! but what if they do....what is the schools obligation? If it was my child I would hope they call me or my contact person.. The consequences suffered at school or at home would come later. The article on the events at North per the Superintendent only stated that the students deemed drunk were turned away...would you as a responbsible parent let one of your childrens friends who showed up at your door leave on their own....there was no mention by the Sperintendent or Mr. Vitale what plans were made to ensure their safey!! If rhey were serious about our childrens safety, and you are correct the parent is the first line of defense, they would have an all incom[osing policy rather than a event driven fly by the seat of your pants response and "reach out letter"!
Mike T
2:50 pm on Friday, October 21, 2011
I don't get why this is such a big deal. They're kids. While I believe the District is taking excellent precautions in alerting parents of potential issues occurring off school property at non-school sanctioned events, there is no reason why the party buses should be searched: that is an infringement on personal activities and the school should have no influence there. And let's remember- why should a handful of drunk high school students ruin an evening of fun for the students that just want to go out and have fun. Also, sixteen year-olds are typically not allowed in clubs and such. Those venues are strictly 18+. And I believe it is up to the parents to decide if their children are mature enough to attend such an event. Let the parents decide- they know their kids better than anyone else. Don't dump your parenting responsibilities on the school, yet remember it's impossible to monitor absolutely everything your kid is doing!