Senior (high school) pranks

Keep it harmless

As the school year comes to an end for Wellington County high school students (no more teachers and no more books), it’s also time for seniors to leave their mark on the school they will be leaving behind. Some may take that more literally than others. Pranks that are innocent in nature and have no lasting effects on the school usually call for a good chuckle.

In the Erin District High School (EDHS) Class of 2017’s case, they stole the Pam Am horse statue from McMillan Park in Erin and hoisted it to the roof of the school.

However, pranks can take a turn to the dark side. Three such pranks have made the news in Canada this month. Students from a Catholic high school in Simcoe County thought it a good idea to storm their cafeteria with water guns while wearing “Purge” masks.

Students from another school in British Columbia pulled the fire alarm (which can land you with a fine) then set off smoke bombs inside and outside the school.

A North York school had to send kids home after the graduation prank – cooking oil and peanut butter smeared all over the school – was deemed a safety hazard.

While the EDHS prank was relatively harmless, I just hope other grads remember their actions can leave permanent damage they may not want hanging over their heads as they start life’s next chapter.

Congratulations to the classes of 2017. Go forth and make good choices.

– Olivia


VS.


Just horsing around

Oh, to be a high school senior again.

On Tuesday morning the Erin District High School community welcomed a special guest.

The Pan Am horse, normally on display in McMillan Park, was prominently placed on the school’s roof.

 And as if that wasn’t enough, the culprits – school seniors, it is suspected – also removed the first two letters in “District,” changing a portion of school’s name to “Strict,” which could not be further from the truth.

An early morning tweet from the school’s principal read, “Class of 2017 has some explaining to do. Our apologies to the town of Erin. The horse will be returned.”

A picture of the horse in question was also included.

Now if that isn’t a principal who understands the ritual behind senior pranks, I don’t know who is.

Yes, the stereotypical senior class pranks can get out of hand and may be dangerous. However, when students take what they’ve learned throughout their academic careers and apply it to a good clean prank with no injuries and lots of laughs they should be commended not punished. They were leaving their mark on the school. So what?

By applauding good, clean, fun jokes, hopefully it will put the kibosh on any future senior’s rogue plans to tarnish the good reputation of the senior prank.

There’s really only one remaining question: how in the heck did they get that horse up on the roof?

– Jaime

Olivia Rutt and Jaime Myslik

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