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More than 100 students at Loreto Kirribilli were sent home from school on Tuesday after an informal end of year 12 celebration left school property damaged and “placed students and staff at risk”.
In a letter to parents, principal of the top private girls school, Nicole Archard, said a large number of senior students were dismissed “due to behaviour that was unsafe and disrespectful”, and that all year 12 classes would be cancelled on Wednesday.
“Collectively, their actions placed students and staff at risk, caused damage to property and disrupted the learning environment,” Archard wrote.
Private girls school Loreto Kirribilli has cancelled all year 12 classes on Wednesday.Credit: Fairfax Media
Parents described the long-running end of year 12 tradition as a “spontaneous rave” that is usually held in the student common room, but that the event is not officially authorised by the school.
It is understood about 130 pupils were sent home, and about 20 students who did not participate remained at school. Students have been asked to study at home on Wednesday, Archard said, and will return for a staff appreciation breakfast on Thursday. A graduation ceremony for year 12 students is set to go ahead on Friday.
“Such behaviour is taken very seriously, as it undermines the respectful, safe and caring culture we strive to maintain at Loreto Kirribilli,” Archard said.
The school has also told parents it has cancelled an alumni union lunch scheduled to be held with year 12 students this week.
One parent, who spoke anonymously to talk freely, said the year 12 “rave” tradition started on Tuesday morning in the school common room after regular classes, but it moved to the toilets after teachers told students the event was unauthorised.
“It has been running for years, and even though it perhaps went too far and there was some unintentional damage, the students have never been punished before,” they said.
