A Melbourne Girls Grammar student has been expelled and two others suspended from the exclusive school after they were caught with drugs, reportedly including ecstasy, at a year 12 formal.
The trio was kicked out of the event at Albert Park on Friday night after venue security found students with “illicit substances” and notified school staff, the school’s principal Catherine Mission said.The school formal was held at The Park, a function venue located on the banks of Albert Park Lake.
Ms Mission confirmed one student had been expelled and two others suspended, after the school investigated the incident.
The two suspended students will be subjected to special conditions upon returning to school.
“The school will be actively supporting these girls once they are back at school,” Ms Mission said in a statement.Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said Melbourne Girls Grammar had not notified police about the incident and local officers would “be in touch” with the school.
“We’ve encouraged the school to come have a chat to us,” Mr Ashton told radio ABC 774 on Wednesday morning, adding that it was not mandatory for schools to contact police when drugs were found.”One of the benefits is we do have diversion programs for low-level drug possession, which are non-conviction based referrals.
“It’s a case of us trying to be there to assist in these sorts of cases where young people are experimenting with drugs … The more support that schools can put around the students the better.”Mr Ashton cautioned against being too quick to suspend students caught with drugs, when often the best thing for those students was to be in the supportive environment of their schools.Ms Misson said the school educated students about the risks of drugs and alcohol.