MBMS principal warns families after students caught vaping

IMG_6236-1 — MBMS students are supervised by campus adults during lunch and nutrition. Multiple MBMS students were reported smoking essential oils during school hours.

By Kyra Williams

Staff Writer

Manhattan Beach Middle School students reported fellow classmates vaping essential oils today during school hours, according to an email that MBMS principal Kim Linz sent out to MBMS families at 2:53 p.m.

Students reported the incident of vaping, which is the inhaling and exhaling of vapor produced by an electronic cigarette, to a teacher, who supposedly confiscated the substance immediately. In addition, the Manhattan Beach Police Department became involved, Linz stated in the email.

“I think that it was very ignorant in the first place for students to vape on campus,” MBMS eighth grader Romea Ward said. “I think it’s stupid [students] would even vape at all.”

There are legal consequences when minors possess or use any kind of vaping products, despite that many students may believe that vaping a non-nicotine substance like essential oils is legal and safe, Linz said.

“The safety and security of our students is a priority at MBMS,” Linz said in her email. “Our focus in this situation is both to make sure everyone involved is safe, and that students involved are given the right supports for prevention in the future.”