Allegations of violence and bullying at Nuriootpa High School have prompted local parents to speak out online, sparking an avalanche of responses from other caregivers – all concerned about alleged spiralling bad behaviour on school grounds.
What started as a social media post by a concerned parent, warning other caregivers to talk to their children about vigilance and safety during trips to the toilet at school, ended in a flurry of comments detailing harrowing stories.
While the story is no longer available to view, The Leader contacted the parent concerned, after sighting the post and reading the exhaustive list of affiliated comments.
The parent has provided her details for the story, however The Leader has chosen not to name her.
She has bravely shared her family’s traumatic story in the hope of highlighting the prevalence of bullying among school students.
“It’s been ongoing for quite a while and the school has had issues with the toilets for some time,” the parent said of the alleged incident.
“My son in particular has been sitting on the toilet and has had the door kicked in, kicked off its hinges… quite frequently followed in by the same group of boys.
“(Last week) he went into the toilet…the next thing, he looked up and all these kids were hanging over the stall – standing on other toilets.
“There were five or six of them, and (they) took a photo… we don’t know if that photo still exists or whether it was deleted,” the parent said.
For the parent, it was shocking to hear the severity of the reported incident – which occurred in school time, and on school grounds.
“I know I’m not the only parent,” she said.
The parent added that following her story post on social media, she had private messages from over 12 other caregivers, with children at Nuriootpa High School.
“I’ve had people inbox (message) me all weekend saying they’ve only just found out why their children aren’t eating at school – (and it’s) because they’re too afraid to use the toilets.
“That’s just not okay.”
The parent said her son’s anxiety level “is ridiculous” following the incident, which she confirms she has reported to the school.
Without a solution, she is currently examining other educational options.
“I even said that I would home-school him and he said, ‘Yeah, but why should I miss out on school because of the bullies and because the school won’t do anything’,” she said.
“He feels like if he doesn’t go, changes schools or is home schooled, it’s just letting them win.
“You send a child to school to be protected.… I just want the school to take notice and take action.”
Following our interview the parent messaged to advise her son was suspended from school yesterday, as a result of physically retaliating in response to the alleged incident.
The parent’s weekend social media post prompted a response from another local mother, who wished to remain anonymous but was also willing to share her Nuriootpa High School story with The Leader.
“It’s been quite a week,” the mother said.
“I’ve got a Year 7 and a Year 8, both boys – and there were issues last year but this year it’s gotten even worse.
“In the first two weeks, my Year 7 boy was attacked… bitten on the face (by a child who) tried to gouge his eyes out.”
The mother went on to share a host of other serious events, detailing incidents of alleged horrific assault, which she says have been experienced by both her sons at Nuriootpa High School.
For her, this past week “has been the absolute boiling point.”
The mother says police were called to the high school on Thursday after a threatened stabbing, which did not involve her children, but later the same day a group of students allegedly did confront her sons.
“A girl was threatened to be stabbed, then later on at lunch time my boys and another boy were threatened to be stabbed by a group of…girls,” she said.
The mother said she was contacted by the school following the incident, advised to keep her sons home the following day “for their own safety” and to report it to police.
“The police told us that they could add the information into the report but can’t really do anything because it is a school matter and the school keeps telling us that the police need to be involved – it’s just bulls**t,” the mother said.
Like other parents, who expressed their concerns via social media, the mother believes Nuriootpa High School no longer has adequate infrastructure and facilities to support the region’s population growth.
“They’re super-school sized and don’t have the resources to deal with all of this,” she said.
“As it is, my Year 8 son has missed so many days of school because he is afraid to go.
“I’m a single parent on one income, I can’t afford the fees that other schools charge (but) there’s just nothing available, we just have Nuriootpa High School or home schooling as an option.”
Nuriootpa High School Principal Mrs Gerri Walker said, “Nuriootpa High School takes a strong, zero tolerance stance against violence and bullying.”
“This includes suspending perpetrators, reporting to SAPOL and developing safety plans to give students the support they need.
“The primary concern is, and will always be, the wellbeing of students.
“As a school community, it is crucial we maintain a safe and positive learning environment for all students and staff.
“We address each case promptly and with sensitivity and work with individual students and their families to ensure we provide the appropriate support and action.
“Appropriate consequences for inappropriate behaviour are applied in line with the Department for Education’s Behaviour Code and we also work with students and their families to co-develop Student Safety Plans, if required, to address the impact of any inappropriate behaviour.
“We have significant wellbeing, support, and bullying prevention programs in place across all year levels and students are aware we do not condone this type of behaviour.
“The school continuously works with students and staff to create a respectful and supportive environment.”
The Leader also contacted Nuriootpa Police and was advised, “SAPOL are aware of several incidents involving students at Nuriootpa High School,” Barossa Local Service Area Chief Inspector Lauren Leverington said.
“Police are working with staff and students at the high school.”
She added, “No one has been charged with any offending at this time and police continue to investigate the incidents.”
