DRUG DISAPPROVAL ADDED

Langley school trustees have tightened the rules governing the use of
alcohol and drugs at graduation ceremonies.

As opposed to "safe grad" events, in which parents supervise
after-graduation parties where their children may consume alcohol,
"dry grad" events allow no alcohol consumption whatsoever.

Most graduating students are aged 17 or 18. The legal age for drinking
alcohol is 19.

On Tuesday, trustees added illicit drugs to their official Graduation
Celebration Statement which spells out the board's disapproval of any
graduation-related activity that involves alcohol.

The board has outlawed the use of the name Langley School District,
and the names of individual schools associated with organizing an
event that involves alcohol.

Trustees ruled that no school district facility can be used to
organize any activities involving drugs and alcohol.

The statement also encourages schools to celebrate their students'
graduation with formal ceremonies.

Trustee Joan Bech, who suggested adding illegal substances to the
statement, said that drugs and alcohol "can certainly turn a
celebration into a tragedy."

Trustee Alison McVeigh told trustees that her son graduated in June
and, while organizing his school's dry grad ceremony took a lot of
work, "they all had a good time."