“The Grinch That Stole Christmas for Parents & Children of St Patrick’s High School” : Thunderbay IMC

“The Grinch That Stole Christmas for Parents & Children of St Patrick’s High School”
Francis Veneruz, Principal 621 S. Selkirk Street, Thunder Bay,ON P7E 1T9 Phone: (807) 623-5218 FAX:(807)622-0164 Jan Bazaluk, Vice Principal Don Grant, Vice Principal
“Principal Francis Veneruz today actively held his own brand of Christmas campaign by suspending approximately 120 students over newly introduced uniform guidelines!
Students & Parent`s today got the Xmas Grinch instead of seasonal compassion!
While other Catholic High Schools have taken into consideration the needs of parents and students. This seems very extreme manner to get across new rules!
It stands out especially with regards to the holidays being tough enough for those families that are living on little income.
“This is very bold & cold move in progress!”
The students and parents alike are now been forced if too purchase again new uniforms for there children in spite of fact they did so in September or if they refuse there students stay home, missing valuable education so that Mr. Veneruz can make a point that he supports only obedience from students and parents!
It is entirely one thing for rules to be enforced it is however another for our kids that are in this educational environment to be placed at risk of losing education time, poor families actually are being punished for that! “Yes at Christmas!”
Call me dense here, but has this uniform issue gotten completely out of hand?
Are we giving our children education or some type of military training?
Not to mention that parents already support this in September by buying uniforms having only one location to shop at.
“Now new rules midway school season right at what is for many toughest time of year between winter heating costs and Christmas shopping pressures have further stress to deal with ,through threat to harm our budgets and children’s education.”
I believe at this point Parents, Students & Catholic Board of Education should be taking good hard look over how far is too far in enforcement efforts!
Students expressed to me that such problems exist with sizes of uniforms that do not allow for heavy individuals to wear assigned outfits comfortably and so therefore sweatpants or loose fitting uniforms are “necessity” as well as some of the requirements such as non hooded with strings are becoming something we certainly need to put our foot down on.
Its understandable regulations involving proper attire, however banning string hoods that is something which were pre approved for proper uniform in September 2006 now might result in students choking one another?
These are not toddlers here and actually what is to stop someone with intentions such as that from carrying something in a purse or pocket to commit same act?
The principal has this time I believe gone way too far and this should be over turned so that our educational system can get back to teaching and not being enforcement agents! If there is agreed uniforms for future in our schools then let this begin next September having consideration for parents needs as well as giving plenty of notice should our students and parents decide they have had enough now?
Also would it be too much to ask that parents and students be given strong say in the changes and at least more than one shopping location for maybe price breaks?
I have had children in this school system and have watch it progress in a very negative direction this year to the point whether popular or polite this has gone too far. I really do not believe we would have to look too far to find those who strongly agree with this opinion! Wendy Solomon