Dozens of students at a high school in Saint-Jerôme, Quebec, faced suspensions after engaging in disruptive activities and vandalism last Friday. The Centre de services scolaire de la Rivière-du-Nord (CSSRDN) suspended 78 students from École polyvalente Saint-Jérôme for the remainder of the week. René Brisson, the director of CSSRDN, mentioned that further disciplinary actions might be taken against the involved students based on the severity of their actions and parental cooperation.
The incidents occurred during a lunch break when seventh and eighth-grade students caused chaos by running, throwing garbage cans, and congregating in groups, culminating in the activation of the fire alarm by the end of the day. Principal Nathalie Flamand addressed the parents of the 3,400 students through a letter, condemning the disorderly conduct, vandalism, and disruptive behavior displayed by the students.
As a response to the situation, the school temporarily suspended classes on Monday to investigate the students’ actions thoroughly. Special security measures were implemented on Tuesday, including heightened police presence and security officers within the school premises. Flamand reassured parents that staff schedules would be adjusted to ensure increased adult supervision during breaks and transitions.
Following the incidents, Nancy Chartrand, a concerned parent near the school, mentioned that her children felt uneasy due to the police presence on Tuesday, leading her to collect them from school early. She expressed worry about the rumored repeat incident and the need for caution as a parent.
Regarding the possible connection to French school protests, Brisson noted the presence of calls for blockades on students’ social media, resembling the protests in France. However, he emphasized the challenge of establishing a direct link between the two events, citing the spontaneous nature of the disruptions at the high school without clear demands or spokespersons.