WALNUT GROVE HAS ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY

Editor: An article in the May 27 Times titled "Parent's pleas don't pan
out" includes comments against Walnut Grove Secondary that are false. This
needs to be pointed out to the public.

I am a Walnut Grove Secondary student. I've been attending here for almost
a year as an 8th grader. All of the accusations towards my school need to
be addressed to parents who want to enroll their children into Walnut Grove
Secondary.

Before I first came to Walnut Grove Secondary, I had heard rumours from
other kids saying that it was a "drug school" and that "people got into
fights everywhere". Heck, our school had been given the nickname "the
druggie school".

This downright scared me, and many other students. Now that I have been an
active student, I have come to realize that these rumours are just rumours.

I have not seen a single gang at Walnut Grove, ever.

The closest thing to a "gang" is the student council, track and field team,
and the multiple other sports teams, which are all actively involved in the
school. Nor have I been approached by a single person selling drugs.

Sure, there are a few people who do have a problem with drugs, but if any
teacher sees them using or selling drugs, they are immediately expelled.

Many students have learned that our school has zero tolerance for drugs or
fighting.

Parents, please do not be frightened by these rumours. This is coming from
a student who might not be in the "in" group, and has yet to be pushed by
peers into drugs or has witnessed violence in our school.

I am acting on the behalf of the whole school, and many of the teachers.
Please take this into consideration.

Leah K., Walnut Grove