Some of the 11 boys suspended from Nelson College for using and growing cannabis may not return to the school, says principal Gary O'Shea.


The boys, who are all boarders at Fell House, were sent home on Thursday night and yesterday morning.

They face disciplinary hearings in the next week before the school's board of trustees after a one-and-a-half week investigation by the school's deputy principal.

It revealed they were buying cannabis out of school and had a small cannabis plantation hidden in the Grampian Hills behind the school.

The school was spoken to yesterday about what had happened, said O'Shea.

"We talked about making good choices and understanding the consequences of their decision-making and that some of those boys may not return," he said.

The college heard a rumour a few weeks ago of cannabis use off-site at the weekends and in the afternoons, said O'Shea.

"We investigated that quietly and found it was a core of boys purchasing cannabis in the community and at some point they obtained some seeds and decided to grow cannabis."

Six or seven seedlings, a little over three weeks old, were found in the hills behind the college, he said.

"It was not a money-making venture. They are users and have made a decision to produce themselves," said O'Shea.

They now had a double suspension as they were suspended from boarding and suspended from the day school.

An option was that a student could be expelled from boarding but allowed to attend the day school with its policy of drug testing and counselling.

What would happen to the students was up to the board.

The 1020-pupil state school has 180 boarders – 60 of them in Fell House. The suspended boys came from as far away as Auckland, Dunedin, the West Coast and Golden Bay.

Drugs were freely available out of school, said O'Shea.

Nelson Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne McCoy praised the college for its anti-drug policy, and for acting responsibly and contacting the police.

The boys would be dealt with through Youth Aid.

"I believe it will be more an educational thing and to get help if they need it because cannabis becomes addictive," said McCoy.

New Zealand National Secondary Schools Championship 1-3 September 2007
The final hurdle proved too great for Nelson College. After a strenuous three weeks of finals rugby, extensive travel, intersperced with representative training and games (17 of the squad are in Nelson Bays representative teams) the tank was empty. Coming up against squads with mostly Polynesian players who were too big, too strong and too fast, it was too much for a gutsy Nelson College team.

On the first day but for some uncharacteristic lapses in tackling and some missed golden scoring opportunities, Nelson College looked like a side that could have beaten Mt Albert Grammar School. They were defeated 26-13.

On Monday, however, they were beaten by a better side. Nelson College led 3-0 at half time, but they were put under tremendous pressure by the pre-tournament favourites, Hamilton Boys' High School. Their defensive effort was outstanding but the pressure showed as the second half wore on and inevitably Hamilton started piling on the points. The South Islanders didn't flag it and were attacking to the end. The final score was 31-3 to Hamilton Boys' High School.

Gisborne Boys' High School defeated Mt Albert Grammar in the final 35-24.

Rugby


South Island Supreme Winners

The Nelson College 1st XV continued their unbeaten run on Saturday by defeating Otago Boys' High School, 31-7, in a game to decide the South Island representative at the national top four competition in Rotorua this weekend. They also retain the Trustbank Cup as the top South Island team. The Nelson College forwards paved the way for a decisive win with a dominant scrum and a competitive lineout, while 1st five-eight, James Lash, continued wth his impressive form this season with a 100% successful record kicking four conversions and a penalty goal.


Nelson College will play Mt Albert Grammar School on Saturday 1 September in Rotorua.