VCE students told not to jeopardise their study with pranks
‘Muck-up day’ is traditionally the last hurrah for year 12 students before the final stretch of VCE exams, but schools are cracking down on festivities.
Education
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Waterslides, dress ups, mystery tours, barbecues and bubble soccer are planned for Year 12s as schools trade in traditional muck up days for celebrations that won’t cause havoc.
Many Year 12s will finish from Friday before students transition to SwotVac for two weeks before VCE exams start late in October.
While students are keen for a day away from the books, schools are studiously rewriting the messaging around the last day of school to provide alternative fun and dissuade students from behaving in a way that could see them banned from sitting exams, damage school property or end up in trouble with police.
Many schools have sent out notes to families via closed school communication platforms outlining expectations about behaviour.
In the past, pranks have seen cruelty to animals, illegal landing of a helicopter at a Geelong school, egging of cars, spraying of messages on ovals using weed killer and other seemingly innocuous conduct which has cost schools thousands of dollars to repair.
The Education Department and Victoria Police cautioned school leavers to behave responsibly.
“Police know that finishing school is an important milestone for many young people and a popular time for celebrations,” a police spokesperson said.
“We encourage everyone to celebrate safely and responsibly.
“Nobody wants the police to be called to attend because someone has taken the fun a step too far.”
Police cautioned students to think through how their end of year celebrations might be remembered.
“While the tradition of having a bit of fun after a long year of hard work encourages a range of celebrations, remember that disrespectful behaviour and disregard for others or their property can lead to serious consequences,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
“You could face a fine or court appearance for anti-social behaviour, such as being drunk, disorderly, violent or criminal damage offences.
“Our message to parents, friends and loved ones of a school leaver is to have open and frank conversations about their plans, decisions and possible consequences.”
A Department of Education spokesperson said it was left up to individual schools to make decisions around the nature of end of year celebrations.
“We encourage school leavers to be responsible and appropriate in their end of school celebrations,” an education spokesperson said.
While some pranks in the past have hit the headlines and resulted in hefty clean up bills, others involved cling wrap, water bombs and shaving cream.
A number of schools have organised excursions for younger year levels so they are not in the firing line or planned celebration events off campus for the year 12s. Some employ security guards to ensure things don’t get out of hand.
At Carey Grammar, in Kew, they will have a waterslide to create a party atmosphere. Girls and boys swap uniforms for the day.
Camberwell High School is staging a celebration day themed Childhood Heroes in which students are encouraged to dress as a favourite character.
The morning will include breakfast, a waterslide and bubble soccer.
Students, who may usually drive to school, have been banned from driving on the day.
Kurunjang Secondary College, in Melton, is staging its Year 12 celebration day on October 25 with breakfast with staff followed by an excursion to the Docklands for ice skating.
A Facebook VCE discussion page has been lamenting the toning down of the day.
Some of the suggestions, meant in jest but posted to a page followed by 62,000 people, could raise concerns.
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They include taking animals to schools, taping year 7 students to posts and jokes about killing people.
Most schools have a separate valedictory celebrations, often at an outside venue, exhibitions of VCE artwork and other activities.