Breaking News
SMS SOS: Skip school, the cross is falling
Vanessa Massey
Tuesday 8 April, 2008 12:01am
IT was like a message from above when Castle Hill's Gilroy College students were advised late Thursday afternoon that school had been cancelled.
Gilroy College principal Brad Campbell said the main school building was built in 1920 and on Thursday some of the concrete from a stone cross had fallen off due to the heavy winds in the area that week.
It wasn't until the afternoon that it was decided drastic action needed to be taken to remove the damaged cross and the only way that was going to happen was for a crane to be brought into the school grounds.
"By that time it was 3.30pm and only a handful of students were still at school, so I advised them that school would be cancelled on Friday and if they could contact their friends about it," Mr Campbell said.
"We posted the information on the school's website and through the use of text messaging, only 1 per cent of the student population, besides Year 12 who were doing exams, turned up for school on Friday."
By 2pm on Friday with some help from a crane, the cross was safely removed. The school will decide whether to replace or repair it.
"The ironic thing was, right underneath the cross was the religious teachers' staff room," Mr Campbell said.
