From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Senior pranks

By Katie Evans
Pembroke Pines Charter

May 8 2008

Putting glue into the locks at school, rearranging teachers' cars into a maze, placing animals in the school to roam and filling the fountain with bubbles are just a few of the senior pranks that have been played for decades. Such pranks are simply part of high school.

"The senior prank is definitely one of the most exciting events of the year," said Josh Oommen, a senior at Pembroke Pines Charter High.

He said it's integral to the high school order. "We have to make it great because it shows the underclassmen who's boss,"

Of course, not everyone believes that the senior prank is an important part of a student's last year. Some schools don't have pranks at all.

"We're still having a prom and going to Grad Nite, so it doesn't bother me that we probably won't have a senior prank like normal high schools," said Julia Brillante, a senior at College Academy @ BCC.

But, she said, "I'm sure kids will do stupid, funny things just because it's the end of the year,"

Seniors often put time and effort into coming up with an original idea:

But seniors aren't the only ones thinking of pranks. Often underclassmen start brainstorming years ahead.

"Nothing is better than a good senior prank to end the year," said Nathan Shammay, a Cooper City High sophomore who is looking ahead. "My school's senior prank last year sucked."

However creative your senior prank is, students need to know where to draw the line between fun and felony.

"Senior pranks are a longstanding tradition that is supposed to be about creating fun and memories of high school," Pines Charter guidance counselor Tracy Greenbaum said. "However, they need to be done in good taste—no property damage, no injuries and no broken laws."