Reports of Students Turned Away Over $2 ID
[Updated] This morning [Oct 6] we are receiving reports that students at Cedarbridge Academy may have been turned away because they did not have school ID.
Bernews has been told by some of the students that not all students have been issued with IDs, some of those without were asked to produce $2.00 for a temporary ID for the day. We have been made to understand some students claimed to not have money on them, and others appear to have refused to pay, instead opting to leave school for the day. Reports suggest upwards of 50 students have left the school.
We have been made to understand that today is supposed to be a “grub day” in support of Breast Cancer with the students asked to wear pink, and a handful of male students we spoke claimed that students wearing “grub day” clothes have been turned away for not wearing enough pink in their outfits.
Not all students are wearing “grub day” clothes, some are in school uniforms. We were told that the donation cost to wear grub day clothes was around $3, and also that perhaps some of the teenage boys may have opted to not participate, as they didn’t have, nor desired to, wear pink clothing to school.
We spoke with a female Cedarbridge student, who said “Everyday they let us in, usually they don’t ask for ID so early in the school year as they haven’t issued all school IDs yet. If you don’t have ID they are not letting you in.” The young lady claimed that she as of yet had not received her ID for the semester, so objected to having to pay for a temporary one.
We asked her what all the students were doing. She had been picked up by a parent, and said many other students had called their parents, and some were walking to town. We ourselves visited the school, and when leaving gave two young men a lift home, who told us the same; most students are calling their parents, or walking to town.
Above is the students version of what transpired, and we have sought an official statement on this morning’s activities, so can hopefully update with that later today.
Update 11:00am: We have contacted, via both phone and email, five individuals from the Ministry or School in an effort to present both sides of the situation. We will provide that perspective as soon as it is supplied.
Update 11:03am: Cedarbridge staffer Gina Davis, a Director of Staff Development called the Sherri J show, and says it was four children were sent home, and that all students were provided a notification last week that ID was required. She said being sent home, may have been more to so with grub day clothes. She expressed the need for ID for students safety, as there has been a few incidents of a person dressed as a student. She specifically said once a person did so and bothered a female student. She also discussed other aspects of students being sent home, saying there has been a few instances of students being sent home for wearing sneakers, and highlighted the need for rules as they are in place for the protection of the student. She has expressed that all parents who have children saying they were sent home should call the school to check, and said that not a single parent has called to check.
Update 11:15am: Just clarifying with our two staff members who attended the school this morning to clarify numbers. They both personally gave lifts to two students themselves, making four leaving, and both staffers personally saw dozens more leaving themselves.
Update 11:38pm: [Yes, caller....we do listen!] To clarify, we attempted to make contact with officials hours ago. We did contact Cedarbridge at approximately 9am this morning. We also contacted the Ministry of Education, and the Department, making five attempts, via phone calls and emails, to get official word. We also went to the scene and attempted to speak with officials, as shown by the photo obtained. We will upload screenshots to prove this in a few minutes. [Our computer timestamp is off by 3 hours, so here is a sample to show that it is 3 hours off here.] First email asking for a statement was sent approximately 3 hours ago [1] approximately one hour prior to this story going up, as the Facebook timestamp shows. A call was made shortly after that, and the individual took our number and said they would call us back. We personally saw students leaving, and drove four home ourselves, so reported what occurred. We still expect to hear from the officials and will update when we can.
Update 12:20pm: We just received an email response to our email from this morning, and have been told the ideal person to contact. We have made contact with that person and await response.
Update 12:53pm: Official statement just released via Dept of Communications and Information:
CedarBridge Academy held a fundraiser today to raise funds for breast cancer awareness day – we do this every year.
Students were informed in assembly and advisories of the expectations for the day in terms of what to wear. Students who arrive at school and who contravene the dress code do so knowing what action will be taken by the school.
I have listed in my records the names of 4 students who were asked to go home, change and return. If students other than those 4 students left the school premises they did so on their own accord and without the school being informed. Those students are truant from school.
CBA students are required to have an ID and to show it as they enter. This is part of our safety procedures.
Students were issued a written notice in the form of a postcard (given to each student) last week informing them that the formal ID checks would start this week on October 6, 2010. Students were reminded that if they did not have an ID, they would have to purchase a temporary ID at the cost of $2.00.
I was just inside the entrance to the building today and I dealt with all matters pertaining to students not having ID’s. I did not encounter any student at the entrance who refused to pay for a temporary ID. No student was refused entry or sent home. If a student left the premises because they did not have an ID or funds to pay for an ID, those students did so without informing the school or working with us to address the issue. Those students are considered to be truant from school.
I am extremely disappointed that some of our students chose not to demonstrate excellence concerning this matter. Also, it is disappointing that some parents chose to contact the media before they contacted the school and that the media chose to run stories before getting both sides.
We are committed to the success of our students and we hold them to high standards. We expect them, as I am sure the community does, to meet these standards.
Preparation and training for a successful future begins now.
K. Richards
Principal
12:54pm: A overview about school IDs has been provided:
STUDENT NOTICE FOR ID CARDS
1. All students will be required to present an ID at the main entrance upon arrival to school effective October 6, 2010.
2. Students who do not have an ID will be required to pay $2.00 for a temporary ID.
3. Students who do not have $2.00 will be required to contact a parent / guardian to have them bring $2.00 to school. You will not enter until the $2.00 is paid for the temporary ID.
4. Students who repeatedly forget an ID will be required to purchase a new ID at a cost of $10.00 and the student will be assigned three (3) Friday Detentions.
5. S2, S3, and S4 students are expected to use the ID they were provided with last school year. If you do not have an ID, you must purchase a new ID by October 4, 2010 at a cost of $10.00. ID’s can be paid for at the Main Office. You will be given a receipt.
6. Once you have paid for a new ID, your ID will be provided within 24 hours. You may collect the new ID at the main entrance upon your arrival to school.
7. If you are a S2, S3 or S4 student and you do not have an ID, you should pay for a replacement by October 1, 2010 so that you are ready for the October 6, 2010 deadline.
8. ID’s must be presented upon request; refusal to do so will result in a suspension. (This is a matter of safety and security.)
9. We will have ID checks throughout the year. During these times you will be asked to place your ID / temporary ID on the right hand corner of the desk where you are seated. If you do not have your ID, your name will be emailed to the Principal, Deputy Principals, Year Heads and security and you will be issued a Friday Detention.
10. To ensure a smooth entrance into the building each day, please keep your ID in a place that puts you in a position of being able to present it upon arrival each day.
11. I am confident that you will be able to meet our expectations on a daily basis.
Update 2:30pm: As, in a rarity for us [barring politics] we have conflicting versions from two sides, we will attempt to clarify, as in all stories we place great weight in both personally attending and speaking with people ourselves, as well as official statements from the applicable body. The points of complete agreement from both officials and what students/parents told us is;Â ID is needed and a good safety mechanism, smaller details like the grub day/temp ID costs etc, and that students were asked to leave this morning.
The point of difference is about the reason for the request for students to leave, with the reports of ID being strongly refuted officially, which obviously bears great weight. Multiple students and two parents specifically stated to us it was was due to either ID and the dress code/grub day, however the official statement specifically states students were asked to go home [to change & return] for dress conditions violations, not ID, and said that any students who may have left did so without permission. The point that is not clear is how many students may have left overall, we saw a fair amount leaving, and there was no official number or statement on how many, if any, left.
Category: All
Must be a new government scheme to raise enough funds to to pay the teachers
I wondered my I saw some students in town this morning. This reminds me of bus drivers refusing me access because I could not provide my regimental ID, which also was never issued. Might I add that I was also, in uniform.
This is very upsetting. Students at school being refused entry.
Wow! are you serious!!! shouldn’t we be glad that they showed up for school!! Just a suggestion: “Johnny if you don’t have your ID TOMORROW you will be charged $2, now go to class and enjoy the rest of your day!’ Just athought….WOW!!!!
I am so sick of all the crap that is going on at CedarBridge when it comes to everything. Why don’t you fine Ms Richards for not having her school curriculm and class schedules ready for the start of the school year, not having enough GCSE classes for ALL of the students to get into and for not having all of the student ID’s issued in a timely manner. After all, its only been ONE MONTH that school has been in!!! As Peace and Love stated: She needs to be glad that they come to school ready to learn and she needs to stop detering these kids and undermining their morale at every given opportunity!!!!
Now the other senior school did have their schedules and stuff ready at the beginnig of school and no one sad nothing to that so u cant go there and i’m and ex student of CBA and we had to do the same thing and we lived get over it and follow the rules and you will have no problems. i could see ya point it they werent told but they were so.
What a shame that so much emphasis is being placed on such trivial things. Yhis just reinforces in the minds of our youth that their education is not important. When children come to school in uniform, for goodness sake let them in to learn. Shame on the administration of Cedarbridge.
Tit for Tat – Teachers no pay – students no entry
This is just flat out unacceptable. I thought schools were a place of friggin learning, I doubt children are trying to sneak into CBA in uniform or grub day clothes. GROW UP CEDARBRIDGE! And as Irate Parent stated there always seems to be an issue at that school with class schedules and what not..SORT IT OUT!
Umm sorry but why are you blaming the school because your children left their ID home. Go back home and get it and be back by 10:30am if not you will be marked as absent, plain and simple. NO ID NO Entry, especially on grub day when anyone can say I left it at home. What would happen if someone that shouldn’t be there enters the premises and starts a big fight or now days, shoots someone in the school. I know, then you all will be blaming the school, asking why did they let them in if they didn’t have ID. Parents stop blaming others and make your children take some responsibilty, if they are supposed to have ID on them why not remind them everyday until they automatically have it shown on them where you don’t need to remind them. I’m sure you all remember to take you job access card with you being that most if not all places of employment have them.
Now if you where not issued a pass then yes you should be allowed access without having to pay but their name should be on a list and passes should be made immediately.
HELLO!!! WHAT PART OF ID’S NOT GIVEN OUT DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND??? OH I KNOW – YOU ARE PROBABLY A “FORMER STUDENT” WHO KEPT GETTING SENT HOME AND MISSED COMPREHENSION CLASSES………… So you really think that parent’s condone this foolishness? The point being made here is that trivial matters are more important that actual learning. And piggy backing off of Tit For Tat, these are the sort of things they do when the teachers are having a dispute with Department of Education. AND to further that comment made by two other people, BERNEWS needs to ask how long did it take for students to get a finalized (if at all) class schedule (without duplicate classes as same time periods etc) and also why every child is not being able to sit EVERY GCSE OFFERED because there aren’t enough spaces/classes available/offered.
LOL thank you! You know the media only gets half the story anyway though. They don’t get the info of the schools f##king up. School is about learning and getting an education but they send them home for the smallest infractions.
You are so right. People will always blame the school for things like this, BUT if a random (non student) dude shows up in class and stabs or shoots someone they’d all blame the school and security.
I don’t know about everyone else, but I’d prefer for folks to be denied entry…
It’s the responsibilities of the students to get there ID’s if a warning was giving. Parents would be the first to blame administration if an incident happened due to security reasons that could have been prevented if an ID was used. They weren’t SENT home, they had the option to pay ‘$2″ and chose not to. ALL schools have class scheduling issues even Bermuda College… Just saying… So stop bashing CedarBridge Academy… Best school EVER!!!!!!!!
I understand what the shcool is trying to do. With a school of that size with so many students, they should be required to have their I.D.if not anyone could get into the school. They should especially have their I.D. if there is a grub day. The trying times we are living in now you never know, if someone wanted to cause trouble or harm a student theywould be able to just walk right in even have on a uniform and then I’m sure eveyone would be in an uproar. I don’t however agree that a student that has not been issued an I.D. should have to pay for a temporary one it should be given to them for free until the real one is issued. I’m sure the school has advised the students of the rules and they are aware of what is expected of them.
Parents are always ready to blame the school instead of adressing the issue with their child. Just like the beginning of every school year children get sent home for improper attire, shoes etc. and there is always a parent on the radio or newspaper blaming the school. When I was in school we knew what the school rules were some chose to break simple as that but for heavens sake don’t blame the school which is only trying to keep order which is what most of these children need in their lives because they sure as heck aren’t getting it at home.
Make your children more responsible you lazy ass parents! YOUR PARENTING SKILLS ARE PATHETIC! It’s not the school’s fault. Cedarbridge is the best school on the island and the teachers try and do the best with what they have…even if the Government forgets to pay them!
This is absolutely ridiculous, its mind-boggling how Bermuda’s education system and is so out of it , it’s sad! If all of the students have obtained a student ID card at some point, it must mean their photograph is on record within the schools computer system, granted when a student arrives to school without and ID card, should they not be able to refer to the photograph taken previously to identify the child? – Instead lets turn them away, real smart Bermuda. Education is KEY, and this is an extremely poor attempt to ensure the prosperity of our youth on this island…
CASE AND POINT – My (hypothetical) child goes to school to LEARN! Yes he/she should be dressed properly and have all the necessary items. BUT if my child is sent home and ends up wondering around town, as teenagers to, I’ll be pissed at my child and the school. I understand it’s a lot of children to keep track of but they should be in class!
My child, a student who attended CedarBrigde Academy this morning in school uniform was refused entry. She has not been issued with a new school ID this year and was asked to pay for a temporary ID. My concern is the request for an ID that has yet to be issued. I completely support CedarBridge staff and policies but a mistake has been made in this case. I have contacted and await a reply from the principal. I hope the school will make a public comment to clearify the truth.
Safety of the school and all those in it comes first! With what is going on in Bermuda these days are u really surprised that CBA is requiring ID’s?!! Come on people…this is the problem ..we have to many non-right thinking parents who are quick to blame everyone but their child/children! Security no matter where u go on this island is absolutely imperative, and having an ID encompasses all of that…Kudos to CBA! Keeping are islands children safe!
All students who enroll in CBA know its is MANDATORY for the to have their school ID at hand before they enter the school in order to get if they don’t their access into the school will be denied. They MUST HAVE IT AT ALL TIMES REGARDLESS if its GRUB DAY OR NOT!!!!! They know the rules and they know better many incidents have gone down at CBA this is why this rule is put in place in which these students NEED to abide by!!!!
How are you supposed to bring an ID if it was never given to you?
thats different I am speaking generally on the issue! If the child was never given an ID she should be excused and should have spoke to the appropriate about it.
I understand the need for needing ID to enter the school, but don’t they (CBA security/staff)think they need to be more consistant?! One day the kids are allowed in with no ID and the next….. And even if some kids still do not have ID – which is nuts – give them a temporary card or something. Now if the student has left his/her ID home or lost it, that’s on them – be more responsible!! It goes both ways!!
Parents please question your children as to who sent them home. The reporters did not seem to answer that question. If your child listened to other children via word of mouth, text or messenger and then went home – they and you got played. Find who specifically said to them go home, why and where they to return to school today. Then you rectify the problem.
If a Temporary ID can be issued for a cost of $2 where is the security aspect coming in to play .. they must be able to identify the student if they can issue a temporary id !!!
Also if a temporary ID can be issued immediately, what is the delay on the permanent ID .. how different can they be ? Assume for security purposes both show the students picture… otherwise the temp id is a pointless piece of paper.
Certainly students should be responsible for having their IDs but everybody forgets things occasionally. One day’s grace could be provided to be fair and then if more than once, then fine them/ punish them. For those students who haven’t been issued a new ID, why should they pay for delays on the part of the school..that just seems like a money racket.
Btw what happens when a teacher forgets their ID ?
Same thing I said. How can they id you for a temporary one? LOL! Bermuda is another world is the truest thing I’ve heard. Everyday it’s something new.
Very well said! There are 2 main issues here that I think are getting lost with all of the opinions posted here. Cedarbridge needs to explain why:
a) Some students still have not yet received ID but are expected to pay $2 for a temporary one
b) Students can enter if they pay $2 for a temporary ID – where is the security in this?
$2 is a lot for some families, so why must these students and their families be penalized because Cedarbridge does not have everything sorted out? Tired of everybody placing blame on students and parents…administrators need to take responsibility too!!!
Sorry “I agree’ that comment was not directed toward you. Did not mean to directly reply to your comment.
Why do the students even need ID? When I went to school the teachers were able to recognize the students. Of particular stupidity is:
“If you do not have your ID, your name will be emailed to the Principal, Deputy Principals, Year Heads and security and you will be issued a Friday Detention.”
E-mailing the name of the student without the ID means you can identify them.
Cedarbridge seems to have confused itself with some North American mega-school where having an enrollment of 3,000 or more students means the staff can’t actually recognize the students. In Bermuda a teacher should know the student, the parents, the cousins and the friends.
Because schools are much like prisons. You aren’t a person or a name, you are a number. 1 of 300 or however many prisoners, I mean students they have.
22 square miles. 700 miles at sea. Population 60,000 (give or take) and students need ID to go to school that is next door to the Police Headquarters?
If there are students who don’t have ID this late in the year, more than one person is at fault:
1. The school, for not providing it.
2. The child, for taking no responsibility to go get something that is required.
That said, this story is ridiculous. Given the state of Bermuda’s education system, it’s absurd to send children away.
Ok I get it if they wasn’t given an ID they had to pay $2 for a temp one. How interested are these kids in learning or school period if they couldn’t part with $2. Half of them are walking around with LV school bags and buying $300 jeans I’m sure they had $2. I know for a fact that if my momma knew that I left school instead of paying $2 she would have cut my a$$ adn tried to send me school on Saturday for the day I missed..LOL. Come on parents this is nothing to be upset about damn the teachers didn’t get paid but they still showed up.
Well some probably did it on purpose. They had grub day today, they know that no id = sent home in my regular clothes = fun day in town with my friends instead of school. But like others who currently attend have stated they were never given id’s so why should they pay for a temporary one? $2 or not. You are really exaggerating with the LV bags and $350 jeans.
Ok my daughter and I have been reading the comments and have had a few giggles. Some of you had some great points. Others are just plain ignorant but these thoughts are being passed on to your children.
1. ID are required to enter. My problem with this is that some students have not gotten them. A temporary ID is $2. This temporary ID I might say is just a receipt paper which is good for one day. So this means it is costing $10 a week. And they do not have a picture on it just their name. Those who have not gotten there ID should not be penalized at all. They should be on a list at the front office and provided to security (with just their names).
2. The schedule has always been an issue. Now you had the ministry of education change the curriculum yet again. Each period has been changed from 45 to 55 minutes. You also have children who have not passed classes from the previous year. This messes up schedules tremendously. Not to mention they didn’t have enough substitute teachers, let alone regular teachers. There’s always something.
3. The grub day was for cancer awareness. They were told ahead of time what would and would not be acceptable. Unfortunately some chose to do what was not acceptable. Rumors are spread by the children that they are being sent home for this. The followers did just that and left instead of going to the school to find out if this was correct. When in fact they might have had to go home and change, or not.
I personally do not a problem with CBA. I have a big problem with the famous blaming game. It’s like throwing a tiny pebble in a pond the ripples get bigger and bigger. Do you ever hear about the private schools bickering. It’s not that they don’t have problems. WHY DO WE LOVE TO PULL EACH OTHER DOWN. WE NEVER TALK ABOUT THE GOOD BUT CANT COMMENT ENOUGH ABOUT THE BAD.
WE ALL HAD SCHOOL RULES. If you went Warwick Sec. Mrs. Pearman’s uniform checks were regular everyday. We didn’t have ID but we were known by name by our teachers and principal because there were so few of us compared to now. Come on you had a fight it was one on one (a rule) now they are fighting for their lives. Times have changed people but rules should remain the same.
“Also if a temporary ID can be issued immediately, what is the delay on the permanent ID”
Ding ding ding!!!
Can i just say that it is the eptiome of stupid to send children home for an ID. Here we have children that are actually showin up to school and you are going to send them home (and I know a lot of people out there are under this perception that all children attend school and its their duty and obligation well as a student let me inform you that the number of student who skip school, have parents call in sick for them and all together drop out would astound you so please, come down off this moral high horse that you have). And lets just really think about what this is saying. If your child doesnt have $2 on them (God forbid for some reason your child doesnt carry around money considering that they may bring their own lunch and not but it in, buses are free, and seriously who still uses pay phones so children without cash is a reasonable expectation) that your child will sit outside and wait for until you can get their. These IDs are checked at random times so its clearly not a security risk because if it was they would be checked everyday at the door. Better yet when they do have ID checks if you dont have one you can get a detention will you know where students tend to lose a lot of things, in school so now its quite possible for them to have to pay $10 and ge a detention because they lost their ID at recess and you decided to have your spot check after lunch. Completely ridiculous. Further more the school is open anybody wishing to get in dressed as a CBA student can do that its not hard. Also lets just remember that this was a charity day, students were coming to donate and as someone who has personally lost someone to breast cancer I can say that I find it incredibly silly that you would reject a donation because someone wasnt pink enough for you, like seriously, get real. (lets also note that this temporary ID is just a reciept so whose to say that the bearer of the reciept is the actual person. Now i am NOT completely bringing down CBA or Mrs. Richards but what I am saying is when we follow rules for the sake of following rules it makes no sense. I am sayin that if this ID was important it would be needed everyday. I am saying sending students home because they didnt have on enough pink is silly (lets face it pink is judged as a girl color and some guys simply may not have it no reason to send them home or not let them come in grub clothes and donate). I am sayin can we please stop being so silly and following petty rules and get back to teaching. As a student it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Good day All.
This is sad on all fronts. But it is a teachable moment for all parties involve. The truth is we sometimes end up majoring on the minor. This fund raising effort with careful planning would have proven a breeze. The punitive approach to sending students home back to unmonitored home environments without parents or guardian notification is careless and ego driven.
As an educator you have to realize that all you do and all that you give should be in support and towards the development of our students. Sometimes as educators we loose sight of it and get caught up in our titles, degrees, positions and neglecting our most important job of work; to teach our students.
There were so many other paths that could have been taken by the administration to ensure student entered the safety of the building and had access to there lessons for that day. Instead it took the direction of putting our kids at risk not only academically based on the classes they missed but by sending them out within a period that the parent would think they were being monitored, they were sent out to the streets to roam aimlessly.
The truth is before we seek to set others straight we should seek to straigthen ourselves and our whole perspective will change. Administrator, get a grip, refocus your energies, if you have lost sight of why you are there or how you can positively impact our students; PLEASE STEP ASIDE, stop scaring the nations future citizens.
Sincere regards,
Stefon