Warning after copy-cat incident

Woy Woy Public School principal Ms Ona Buckley has issued a warning to parents about monitoring what their children watch at the movies and on DVD.

Ms Buckley said she issued the warning after the school had to deal with student misbehavior copied from the movie Mean Girls.

"The school does not allow our students to be exposed to movies of such a nature at school but we are often faced with dealing with alarming problems which result from children being exposed to these movies at home," Ms Buckley said.

"Children around 10, 11 and 12 are extremely vulnerable and easily influenced by media about proposed or perceived teenage culture which is so often depicted in these movies.

"Some children then copy what they hear and see on these fantasy flicks and this then can cause great angst and hurt for others.

"Intimidation and hostile behaviour towards other students of verbal or written abuse either by hand or electronically will incur a short suspension under the guidelines of the Department of Education and Training, Suspension and Expulsion of School Students Procedures."

Newsletter, 29 April, 2010 Ona Buckley, Woy Woy Public School