By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A BERWICK principal has said he is “absolutely shocked” after one of his year eight students was caught on camera with cannabis while a documentary was being made at the school.
The drugs were spotted during the filming of an ABC documentary about student life at the state school which has seen a dramatic improvement in academic performance over the past few years.
Kambrya College principal Michael Muscat denied there was a culture of drug use at the school.
“It was a minor incident with quite a tiny amount of marijuana,” he said.
“We were absolutely shocked because this happens to infrequently.
“We couldn’t remember the last time it had happened. It would have been at least five years ago.”
A spokesperson from the Department of Education and Training (DET) said the drug was confiscated by police and the male student did not receive further legal punishment.
“As per the department’s policy, the police were informed and they took possession of the cannabis. “Police decided to take no further action.”
The student’s parents were described as being “terribly distressed” by the finding and pulled the student out of the school and moved overseas before the school determined a “final consequence”, according to Mr Muscat.
He said the student later returned to the region where he and his family received assistance by the school.
“When the student came back six months later, we assisted him to find a placement at a TAFE,” he said.
Mr Muscat said the school takes a tailored approach when penalising students.
“We take a wellbeing approach. The student’s wellbeing is always at the forefront and then we apply rules from there.
“Of course, if there are behaviour problems associated, then it may end in expulsion,” he said.
Kambrya College has not expelled a student from its campus in more than three years.
The Berwick campus student was spotted with the drugs as the school took part in an ABC documentary which is due to be aired in the next few months.
For each day of the 2015 school year, film crews documented life at the campus to gain an understanding of a typical government-funded Victorian school.
A camera was permanently fixed in the vice-principal’s office during the year-long film period.
Mr Muscat said academic performance at the campus has soared in recent years.
In 2008, the school’s VCE results ranked among the lowest 10 per cent in the state.
Last year, the school rated in the top 30 per cent of high performers.
The Education Department said drug-related incidents are unusual at the Berwick campus.
“While these types of incidents are extremely rare, Kambrya College dealt with the situation in an appropriate manner,” the statement read.
