Oh Southern High..... again.....

So, here is an article that ran this week in the Guam paper:

The changing face of Southern High: Santa Rita school makes effort to better its image

It's no secret that Southern High has been known for student violence and drug abuse. But with James Petitte as Southern High's principal, the high school is undergoing a huge change.

The school's once deteriorating, graffiti-covered buildings were sharp and clean for the start of the new school year last month. Petitte also instituted random drug searches and has more staff on hand to monitor the halls during breaks. Several students also were expelled for their role in an Aug. 19 riot, Petitte says.

"The students need to know that we have a standard of zero tolerance for violence here at Southern High," says Petitte.

"Southern High has good students here. There are a lot of people that want to learn. We're here to create an environment where students can and are able to learn -- students aren't able to learn if they're high, drunk, or being bullied."

In line with the zero tolerance standard, the school already has removed 16 students because of violent behavior, the principal says.

Better Than Its Rep

The news of fights is the main reason freshmen are scared to come to the school, students say. Entering high school for the first time is always going to be scary, but for Southern students there's a fear of fights and being bullied. Natasha Crisostomo is one of many freshmen who feared her entry into Southern High. After a couple of days, she says the school isn't as bad as its reputation and she enjoys attending Southern High.

"I like it here," she says. "In a way, I was scared to come to Southern but now that I'm here, I don't feel scared anymore."

Crisostomo says she also believes that the drug searches are better for the school.

"Southern is actually a good school no matter what people say about it," the freshman says. "You would really have to come here to understand it."

"I seriously don't think anything changed," says sophomore Jason Miller. "The random drug searches scare the freshmen."

He says he's not in favor of the school's decision to put all the benches together, forcing students from different villages to sit together. Miller feels that much of the conflict between students comes from "bringing the villages together, (because) there's always going to be village rivalry."

Sophomore Gerian Toves says he thinks people still bring drugs to school but "they're just more careful about it."

Repairing Its Image

While students are adjusting, administration officials have seen the new rules bring positive changes. To help ease the problems with violence, Petitte has instituted a peer mediation club to solve problems through compromise instead of violent acts.

The riot may have passed, but the students are still working for their privileges. In response to student wrongdoing, Petitte says he takes away a privilege, such as break. Earning the privilege of dressing down on Fridays is the biggest project for Southern High as a whole.

All Southern High students needs to work as one to take this step on the path of improving their school.

They have to reach 30 consecutive violence-free days to regain their Friday freedom.

As of this morning, it's been 11 day

So the funny part of this- I was reading this article at my desk. Feeling a little proud of our 11 violence free days! As I finished, I heard a familiar sound..... it always sounds to me like a huge crowd cheering after someone scores. Fight broke out, right outside my hall. Man! - Even better, as the fight is ongoing, I get a text on my phone....my friend texting me to congratulate Southern on their violence free days...... cause really....

Back to day zero.