Walnut Creek Intermediate deals with another drug possession issue

A seventh grader at Walnut Creek Intermediate was caught this week in possession of a small amount of marijuana, suspended by the school for five days, and issued a citation by the Walnut Creek police.

This information came in the form of a notice e-mailed out to parents by Principal Kevin Collins. This notice appears to be another example of the school's "conscious decision to inform the community if there were any incidents or threats to our students, either on campus or to and from school," according to Walnut Creek School District Superintendent Patricia Wool.

She explained this effort to keep the community informed about safety issues in an e-mail she sent out earlier this week. Her e-mail went out, no doubt, in response to concerns being raised recently that the loss next year of one of two vice principal's positions, due to budget cuts, would compromise the safety and well-being of the more than 1,100 students on the downtown campus. "We are committed to providing a safe environment regardless of WCI administrative staffing levels," Wool said.

She also said that since the beginning of the 2009-10 school year, there have been two incidents of students being caught in possession of marijuana. There was also a student caught with alcohol and two students who brought knives to school.

Here is a note from Principal Collins about the latest marijuana-possession incident at WCI:

I want to advise our community about a student discipline issue that occurred at WCI during seventh period today.

A seventh grade student was found in possession of a small amount of marijuana. I suspended the student for five days and called the Walnut Creek Police Department. The student received a juvenile citation and was released to the custody of a parent.

We are asking that parents again take this opportunity to speak with their children about drugs and about making good decisions. The safety and security of our students and campus remains our top priority.

Second knife possession incident at Walnut Creek Intermediate, and another reminder to parents

While investigating reports of smoke bombs on campus Friday morning, school officials found a second student in two days in possession of a knife. This was a “locking blade knife,” according to the Walnut Creek police daily bulletin.

The student was released to the custody of parents, and school officials say the student is no longer enrolled at WCI.

School officials say no one was threatened or even shown the knife at school. “While this was the second knife that was found at WCI in two days, an event like this remains a very rare occurrence.”

They add that “students found in possession of a weapon on campus are issued a five-day suspension and the police are called. The student may face criminal charges and be recommended for expulsion.”

The 7th grade student in Thursday’s incident was arrested, according to the Walnut Creek police daily bulletin. The day before, that student had apparently been seen exhibiting the weapon on the trail next to the school.

Reminder to parents after student found with knife at Walnut Creek Intermediate

This is a note from Kevin Collins, the principal of Walnut Creek Intermediate, reminding parents (and their kids) of what's not okay for kids to bring onto campus.

I am writing to let the community know that one of our students was found to be in possession of a knife on campus today. While the mere possession of a knife is serious, the knife was not brandished or used to threaten anyone on campus. We are following our disciplinary guidelines for an infraction like this which includes a suspension from school and police contact.

I am asking all families to review the following article that we have run several times in the past year in eNews regarding items that should not be brought to school:

Backpacks and Inappropriate Items--Over the years we have encountered students who have brought inappropriate items to school with little forethought for consequences or how these items may be viewed by others. These items have included things such as fireworks, lighters, handcuffs, pepper spray, and pocket knives.

Students who brought these items may have had the most innocent of intentions, but as a school we are required to work to keep the campus free of such dangerous items. While we inform students of our expectations and consequences at school, we ask that families reinforce this message at home. One suggestion we offer is to and to review the WCI discipline code in the student planner or and directory. Another is to go through your student's backpack with him or her to see what is being carried around on a daily basis. A positive side effect of this may be greater organization and a reduced load being carried around daily.

We all need to do our part to keep WCI safe. Student safety remains our top priority.