Kelvin students shaken, but sticking together

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This article was published 03/06/2015 (4014 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Kelvin High School community is grieving today and will be for some time, students said today.

On their lunch hour Wednesday, about a dozen students clad in black gathered near the southeast doors of the school where their former classmate, Brett Bourne, 17, was fatally stabbed Tuesday.

They hugged and laid bouquets of flowers and handwritten cards where Bourne fell after an altercation that also involved a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old.

Winnipeg police have a 17-year-old suspect in custody and plan to lay charges against the teen, Const. Jason Michalyshen said in this morning’s press conference.

Kelvin classes resumed as normally scheduled today, while student council elections were postponed. The group of students who stood by Bourne’s memorial said most of their peers were at school, grieving together.

Ten grief counsellors are on hand at Kelvin, ready to talk with students in need, according to the Winnipeg School Division.

One female Grade 11 student, who spoke on behalf of a group of friends under condition of anonymity, said the Kelvin students feel as though they’ve lost a family member.

“Everyone is super shook by it. Everyone is kind of hurt, but we’re all sticking together and we’re all being a family,” the Grade 11 girl said.

“Our school is great,” she continued. “Just because this happens doesn’t mean it changes how our school is. We have a great academic program, we have great students. Everyone here, when in need, comes together and is super awesome.”

Some students also came together to chase away a TV camera crew just before lunch. They said they are tired of seeing their faces on the news during a time of tragedy.

The group of students wanted the public to know theirs is a school where they feel safe and where violent incidents rarely occur.

“This situation does not reflect on how we are. It was a bad situation, it shouldn’t have happened,” the Grade 11 girl said. “I chose Kelvin because (it’s) safe… I had a bullying problem in Grade 9 from (someone in) an older grade. That was an issue, but I talked with the staff and they dealt with it right away. They dealt with it in a proper, respectful kind of manner and that’s what kind of school Kelvin is.”

“Kelvin is a safe school. It’s just stupid things happen from stupid people,” another female student chimed in. “This could happen at any other school, at any other centre or down the street at Peanut Park.”

Students said another memorial for Bourne is located inside the school — a large poster with photos of him, filled with signatures from students and staff and well wishes. An assembly or vigil for Bourne hasn’t been planned yet, the students said.

Kelvin staff haven’t planned any type of assembly yet either and won’t until they have more information about the incident from police, said Winnipeg School Division board chair Mark Wasyliw.

Bourne was no longer a student at Kelvin, but was still going to school within the division, Wasyliw said.

The school will also be conducting an internal investigation to determine what staff could have done differently in such a tragic case, said the chair. He praised the quick thinking and actions of the administration, which kept students in a “hold and secure” drill where no one was allowed in or out of the building for about two hours Tuesday.

“We’re always critical of ourselves during these incidents and (want) to improve school safety,” he said. “The only way you stop violence in school is through prevention and through creating a climate that’s safe and respectful. And we’re going to continue to do that.”

Currently, the Winnipeg School Division has nine safety resource officers who work out of 77 schools. Their jobs are to act as a liaison and build trusting relationships with the student body. Teachers also mediate problems with students all the time, Wasyliw said.

“We want to get to the root of these things, so it doesn’t become tragic,” he said. “This is heart-wrenching.”

“Our heart goes out to all the family and staff and students that have been affected by this,” Wasyliw said on behalf of the divison.

Kelvin is the second-largest high school in Winnipeg with 1350 students.