Bathroom paper strewn throughout, the hallways blocked with tables and desks, chairs bunched along with plastic wrap. It is what officers at a New Jersey highschool opened the doorways to the constructing to see Thursday morning.
All of the remnants of a joke gone fallacious — or taken too far, relying on who’s requested.
College students at South River Excessive College mentioned it was a part of a senior prank, an annual occasion on the faculty, identical to at many others. All of the injury and vandalism first pressured faculty officers to announce a delayed opening, however quickly all college students have been despatched residence and police have been introduced in, with the varsity closed for the remainder of the day.
“When I was walking to school, I saw a bunch of kids outside the police…and I just saw a strand of toilet paper and a bunch of stuff on the ground,” mentioned Kyle Web page, a freshman on the faculty.
The vice principal’s workplace was a goal for the children who left his desk coated with bathroom paper. The varsity district seemingly is aware of who the culprits are, after they have been seen on safety digital camera video.
South River Mayor Peter Guindi mentioned he didn’t understand how the children bought inside the varsity, and there was no signal of pressured entry. The district superintendent didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark, so it wasn’t clear whether or not the scholars would face penalties.
“Nothing was broken, stolen, but obviously tables and desks were moved out of classrooms, equipment thrown in the gym,” mentioned Guindi. “As a result of the acute quantity of vandalism, the varsity had no alternative however to shut for the day.”
The mayor urged youngsters to learn, write and rethink.
“We were all kids at one time for our share of mischief. This went too far,” Guindi mentioned.
Whereas the prank was meant to be enjoyable, faculty officers thought it was no laughing matter. However different college students downplayed the seriousness of all of it.
“I think if they kind of, like, asked people to clean up and it would’ve been fine. I don’t think it should have escalated like this much,” mentioned freshman Kevin Tran.
“i think it was harmless to. To be honest, i don’t think there was the, like, necessity for all the cops and stuff like that,” mentioned fellow freshman Vini Cassiano, who added that his class might choose to do “something more harmless” when it comes time for his or her prank.
Courses are set to renew Friday.
