News Story 1

20 seniors are planning to speak at the school board meeting on April 14 to advocate for a

change in their principal’s decision to ban them from an all night senior party following a senior

prank.

The seniors released more than 1,000 balloons in the hallways between first and second

period on Friday, April 3. The prank did not go over well with the principal and she suspended

them from school for the rest of the day as well as banning them from a senior party that would

take place on May 1. They believe that the prank was harmless and that the principal’s decision

was too severe.

“We didn’t hurt anyone,” Senior Ruby Kanur says. “Every senior has been looking

forward to the all-night party since the first day of school.”

Principal Vinita Haygood gave the seniors warning that pranks that could disrupt school

would not be tolerated. Following the release of the balloons, Haywood took action and punished

the seniors for their actions, which caused them and their parents to be upset.

“I gave ample warnings to the senior class that I would not tolerate any sort of prank that

disrupts school,” Haygood says. “Students were late to class because of the chaos created in the

hallway.”
 Upon finding out about the results of the prank that their kids played on their school, the

parents were upset and felt that the punishment was extreme considering the severity of the

actual prank.

“Let the punishment fit the crime,” Ruby’s mother Milly Kanur said. “They were

balloons. Balloons. They could have put shaving cream in them or glitter. But they didn’t…I

thought it was a cool idea.. They deserve a little fun.”

According to Haygood, the halls were wild and the noise level was off the charts while

the balloons had been released. After being pranked by last year's senior class with Vaseline on

the doorknobs and lockers, Haygood made sure to establish a harsh punishment towards this

year's seniors in hopes of ensuring that that wouldn’t happen again.

“Our punishment is way too extreme. I think the board will listen to us,” Kanur said.

“There are so many bad senior pranks out there. We didn’t vandalize anything. We didn’t hurt

anyone. We blew up a few balloons and released them.”

After releasing more than 1,000 balloons in the hallways between first and second period,

Janitors had to spend more than an hour picking up balloon pieces throughout the school. 150

tardies were given to students trying to get to class after the balloons were released.

“The seniors didn’t mean any harm, but the prank was disruptive.” Teacher Grace Killen

said. “They should have released the balloons at the end of the day.”