Six incidents of fighting amongst students have been addressed at South Brunswick High School (SBHS).
Principal Peter Varela posted a letter to parents on the district website on May 2 to address rumors about violence in the high school last week.
“This is atypical behavior for SBHS students, as 99 percent of our student body, on a daily basis, attends school to learn and engage in activities that are positive and that contribute to the great reputation we have across Middlesex [County], New Jersey and the country,” he said.
Varela dispelled rumors that there were 17 fights in two days, 16 police cars present on any day, and more than 35 students suspended each day.
However, Varela said any students found to be engaging in inappropriate behavior would be disciplined with logical and possibly legal consequences.
“Fighting is not tolerated at SBHS, and we will continue to educate students in effective decision-making so their choices impact their futures positively,” he said. “We offer mediation to students when conflicts arise and educate our students that fighting is not the solution to resolving problems. We also bring parents in to do the same if we feel the students themselves cannot resolve differences.”
Varela also cited the inappropriate behavior of bystanders.
“There is a natural tendency for some high-school-aged students to want to watch others get into trouble or crowd around a fight to observe,” he said. “This behavior empowers those that have decided to partake in the inappropriate behavior.”
He said some students carrying cellphones record the incidents and go so far as to post them online.
“This is not acceptable, and this behavior will not be tolerated. We have observed enough students doing this that I ask you to have a conversation with your children about these behaviors,” Varela implored of the parents. Varela said that despite the incidents — for which a cause has not yet been determined — the majority of students have continued their normal academic and extracurricular activities.
He said students finished taking the PARCC Assessment, Advanced Placement teachers prepared students for their exams, theater students prepared for the upcoming musical, and athletes competed in their respective sports.
“Your children, unless involved in inappropriate behaviors, engaged in the kind of learning activities we value and expect of our students,” Varela said.
“We have worked too hard — students, teachers, staff, administration, parents and the community — to have the acts of a few tarnish the excellent reputation we have as a school.”