2 SJC Students Die in 2 Weeks: Counseling Being Provided to Classmates
Kassman Gill is the second third form student from Saint John’s College to have been killed as a result of recent gun violence. Dwayne Gabourel, who was also fifteen years old, was gunned down inside a shop near his home. Both minors were innocently murdered in the wave of violence that has been plaguing the city. SJC Principal Fidel Pol spoke this afternoon about how the tragedies have affected the institution.
Fidel Pol, Principal, St. John’s College
“It feels like we are starting over with the situation. I think this is something that is difficult to assimilate because both students were wonderful students, they were excellent students. They were very dedicated, studious, disciplined in their education so it has been difficult for students, for the teachers, for even the wider SJC community. As a school, we are preparing the necessary framework to ensure that we cater for the emotional well-being for our students. We are providing counselling sessions. Just this morning, we had a small group session with Kassman’s homeroom to ensure that students are well and able to cope with the situation. Likewise, we had one with teachers and tomorrow we are having another prayer session and counselling session with the teachers. So we are combining both prayer and counselling with the teachers and the students as well.”