Excelsior High anti-drug and crime parade

Last week the Association of Secondary Schools met to discuss and propose a way forward to mitigate crime and violence. This comes on the heels of an uncontrollable crime wave in which more schools and students are falling victims. Today the Excelsior High School took to the streets to kick off a week of activities advocating against drugs and crime. Joining them in the parade were the students of Saint John Vianney and Muslim Community Primary Schools whose call was for a drug free society. News Five caught up with the parade and spoke with organizer and Principal of Excelsior, Gayle Thompson, who says that there are no boundaries in age for usage of drugs and that for the rest of the week; the institution will be focusing on alternatives to drugs.

Gayle Thompson, Principal, Excelsior High School
“We are having a week of activities, which will include competitions in the different areas such as song, drama dance poetry and all of this is in an effort to continue to create the awareness in the students for not using drugs.”

Duane Moody
“I noticed you teamed up with St. John Vianney, how did that come about?”

Gayle Thompson
“We invited St. John Vianney and the Sister Clara Mohammed Primary Schools because we realize that it is in primary schools and maybe even before that—that students are exposed to drugs so we invited them to be a part of our activities to help create that awareness and maintain that drugs are harmful to them. We let them know that there are alternatives, different activities that they can engage in rather than to be engaged in nonproductive activity.”

Shane Pascasio, Student, Excelsior High School
“Representing no weed, no cigarettes, and no drugs or alcohol.”

Duane Moody
“Has this been affecting you personally?”

Shane Pascasio
“Yes sir, throughout my neighbourhood lots of those things.”

Duane Moody
“So you are against it?”

Shane Pascasio
“Against it, against it because we wahn be drug free.”

Gayle Thompson
“It is always timely, there is a season for creating awareness in young people about the negative behaviors that they can become engaged in. It is just that at this time, we are using this week to emphasize that awareness.”