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News Story 1: Senior Prank

News Story 1: Senior Prank

Abby Mathew

In response to principal Vinita Haygood’s punishment about senior pranks at school, 20 seniors
are planning to attend the next school board meeting on Tuesday.
About two weeks ago, Haygood suspended a group of 20 seniors and banned them from the
all-night senior party on May 1 because the seniors let more than 1000 balloons loose in the hallways
between first and second period on April 3.
“Students were late to class because of the chaos created in the hallway,” Haygood said. “The
janitors spent more than an hour picking up balloon pieces throughout the school. The halls were a mess.”
Some teachers, like math teacher Grace Killen, didn’t appreciate the senior prank.
“The hallways were chaotic and super loud during the balloon release,” Killen said. “Almost half
of my class was late. It took me more than 15 minutes to get my freshmen calmed down.”
Haygood warned seniors at the beginning of the school year about her intolerance of any pranks
that would disrupt school. Despite this, students involved in the senior prank this year find their
punishment unfair.
“Principal Haygood is being too harsh on us,” senior Alfred Refugio said. “We were being
seniors, having fun and making memories. I don’t regret it at all.”
The group of 20 seniors are hopeful the school board will help them reverse Haygood’s decision.
“I think the board will listen to us,” senior Ruby Kanur said. “There are so many bad pranks out
there. We didn’t vandalize anything. We didn’t hurt anyone…we were anything but mean.”
Several parents will also be at the school board meeting to support their kids.
“These kids have worked hard for 12 years,” Ruby’s mother Milly Kanur said. “They deserve a
little fun.”