In Term 4, 2023, I informed the community that we were starting to use drug detection dogs to screen the school site in order to try and eliminate drugs at Te Aroha College. In 2024 we will continue to have random screening throughout the year.

Maintaining a drug free environment is an absolute priority for us and we take our commitment to provide a safe physical and emotional environment very seriously. As society changes and at times becomes more complicated, this becomes harder and harder. However, I am a firm believer that we can control the culture of our school and have high expectations for our students.

I have included our procedures again for those new parents and students to the school. The use of the Drug Detection team is covered by our Alcohol, Drugs and other harmful substances policy (2024) and the Education and Training Act (2020)

The process for the drug detection team;

• The drug dog team would arrive on site on a random school day

• The principal would discuss the areas of the school to be screened

• The drug dog team would be escorted around the school by principal and/or the deputy principals to screen the classrooms, storage rooms, amenities and outdoor areas

• If a classroom were occupied by students, they would be asked to vacate the room briefly so the drug dog team is able to screen the room

• The students will exit the classroom and line up outside the classroom - students themselves will not be screened

• Once all students are out of the classroom, the drug dog team will quickly screen the room

• If the dogs should show interest or give a positive indication in any area or item, then the drug team would point that out to the principal/deputy principal and we would take the appropriate action to follow up in accordance with school policy.