Princess Margaret's Regal Calm

If one were to zero in on any streetside newsstand, close their eyes and choose one version of the day's tidings, what would they find? Chances are the front cover would include a bold-printed call to arms, whose headline is so distressing that it goads the reader to disgustedly throw his or her arms in the air, and curse the harrowing conditions of Canadian society. No visceral topic is safe from the hate-mongering newsmakers, whether it be the environment, the government or most recently, the perils deep within the recesses of a typical high school.
Often spearheading this most current anti-bullying movement is an undoubtedly tragic story of a student, whose experience as a high school outcast drove them take fatal measures. Nearly every media outlet pitch in their two-cents on the issue of teen bullying by blowing the original story out of proportion, and unloading the blame onto any facet of the high school experience. Some urge that the teachers aren't doing enough. Others say that the administration's at fault, or that the schools are too cramped. Heck, it won't be long until the schools' color schemes receive some flak. In the midst of the scare tacticians' ploy to inflame the helicopter parent's ire for $3.29 per issue, is there at least one school that triumphantly shakes off the notion that all Canadian high schools are god-forsaken grottoes riddled with heavy-handed grunts?

Meanwhile, in sleepy Penticton, British Columbia, a grey-bricked building of modest size opens its doors for the upcoming day. The Okanagan sun pierces through both panes of the westerly windows, blanketing the quaint common area with an ethereal glow, much akin to the sanguine atmosphere that the school already posesses. Granted, Princess Margaret Secondary School isn't perfect. Its sport teams aren't the best in the area, certain wings of the aging building are certainly due for some sprucing up, and with approximately 750 students, it isn't an institution of high prestige. However, this high school is unique because of its sense of community. Even though Maggie caters to any budding athlete, scholar, thespian or artist, it is largely bereft of social cliques and hostility.
Bullying and school violence is seldom at the forefront of students' minds here. A smaller population allows for a more lax social atmosphere and burgeoning school spirit, both of which make Princess Margaret more inclusive. A supportive counselling center coupled with two dedicated, action-ready pricipals make up the one-two punch against potential rabble-rousers. Even when student discipline becomes an issue,the staff at Princess Margaret refuse to hurl mea culpas at one another, simply because it is inefficient and irresponsible. Frankly, this finely-tuned balance of staff involvement and student leadership seems to be working, as Maggie's community is as tightly-knit as Grandma's woolen socks.