Dear Sir,

I would like to thank the Dellwood family for stepping in and handling the situation with the students and the vapour pens. Tina Duke, the principal, and the teachers should be commended.

They always put our students first. Keep up the fight, Tina.

I would like the community to know that Dellwood is doing so much to help these students and that a student was asked to sell the vapours. Peer pressure is real. By no means am I making an excuse for my child or another child.

We, the parents, are angry that an adult that should know better infiltrated our school. These are our children and Mrs Duke ensured that they will get counselling so they know what they did was illegal and extremely dangerous.

It was a lot of tears this morning (April 10, 2019) from us as parents and the children.

Our children will always be our priority, but knowing that the school cared more about our children than the reputation of the school is heart-warming.

They called us in immediately. Parents shared their personal stories with the children and, as angry as we were, we hugged our children.

They could have had laced drugs in the vapour pens; it is by the grace of God that none of the 50 children were harmed.

We will overcome this together. Thank you, Ms Bailey for being there since M1. Your heart does not go unnoticed. It has not been easy but you moulded my daughter into a student leader.

She is not perfect, but you have been a positive influence.

I would like to thank Mrs Hollis and Mrs Simmons because they continue to show love daily to our children. I know that my child and others said even today that they are full of love and have been there every step of the way.

Their names are often spoken in a positive way. Through the good and bad times, they are there. Both of them are Dellwood’s “unsung heroes”.

Mrs Hollis is always there to listen to them, and Mrs Simmons feeds the children and finds community service for them to do weekends.

I can go on and on about both of them. Keep smiling and keep shining. Thank you to all the Dellwood family.

I am just disappointed in the choice my child made, but she will grow from it, I am sure.

JANIS SMITH

Hamilton