Athaliah Reynolds, Staff Reporter

Close to 200 grade 11 students at the St Hugh's High School in Kingston will have to forego their annual graduation exercise this year, following a decision by the school's administration to cancel all valedictory activities.

According to a letter from the school, the graduation ceremony, which is considered a rite of passage for many high-school students, was called off due to the behaviour of some grade 11 students.

Vague reasons

When contacted yesterday afternoon, principal at the school Yvette Smith confirmed the cancellation but was vague on the reasons behind the school's decision.

"We just thought that we should cancel it because we just did not like what was happening and, it's not a one-day thing, it's something that the parents knew about from before," she said.

Smith said she was not able to immediately comment further as she was on her way out of Kingston for an appointment.

"The room C3 on the C campus was defaced extensively with threats and disparaging remarks about members of staff," read a section of the letter with Smith's name below a signature.

The principal however denied authoring that section of the letter, claiming that the original document she signed did not mention the defacing of classrooms.

athalia.reynolds@gleanerjm.com