Police called on Melbourne year 12s after major damaged caused to school grounds

Box Hill Senior Secondary College is the latest school to call police over muck-up day antics, following over-the-top incidents at Camberwell High and Melbourne Girls’ College.

A small group of Melbourne Girls’ College students caused damage inside the school on muck-up day.

More schools are calling in police and locking out year 12 students as the bills for muck-up mayhem reach tens of thousands of dollars.

Box Hill Senior Secondary College is the latest school to call in police after the destructive actions of year 12 students.

Principal Warren Dawson said a “range of mess and damage” caused between midnight and 5am led to the cancellation of year 12 Celebration Day.

Mr Dawson said he is reviewing the Valedictory Dinner “based on the amount of things that need to be cleaned up”.

One parent said it was “sad for those who did the right thing”.

Box Hill Senior Secondary College is the latest school to call in police after muck up day damage.

Box Hill principal Warren Dawson has also cancelled the Year 12 Celebration Day.

The Herald Sun previously reported police were called to Camberwell High School on Thursday after a group of year 12s in balaclavas broke into the school after-hours and trashed the year 12 centre, spreading sardines, bleach, varnish, rotten milk and vinegar.

One irate teacher told the Herald Sun the students also ripped up turf on the oval, with the overall damage bill reaching many thousands of dollars.

“On Thursday they were also egging and flouring students and staff. They were told to leave but came back. Three female staff were hit with eggs and the police were called,” she said.

Some of the damage at Camberwell High after muck-up day celebrations.

The teacher said there was no incident report made and the school allowed the students back on campus by Monday.

“Teachers were told to clean it up before the students arrived. We had to throw out all the couches and I don’t know what they are going to do about the carpet. It was really malicious

“Teachers spent the afternoon phoning parents and alerting them that those students would no longer be attending an excursion, or go to valedictory, something they have since redacted,” the teacher said.

A Department of Education spokesperson said: “Camberwell High School is deeply disappointed with the behaviour of some of its year 12 students and has taken appropriate disciplinary action.

“Camberwell High School has clear policies around the expected behaviour of its students and acted immediately to stop the disruptive behaviour and support students and staff affected.”

One of the pranks at Melbourne Girls’ College.

At Melbourne Girls’ College, students were locked out of the school grounds and the final assembly and guard of honour was cancelled after a small group of students caused damage inside the school on Monday morning.

In a statement, a Department of Education spokesman said: “Melbourne Girls College cancelled a final assembly for its year 12 students on Monday after some students in the year level breached the school’s clearly defined standards of behaviour.”

“The school is investigating the incident and will be following up with students.”

While most girls confined their pranks to streamers, crime scene tape and cling wrap, a group went inside and damaged the dance room.

A letter sent to parents from principal Tamy Stubley said the girls’ behaviour “did not uphold our college values”.

The students’ behaviour at Melbourne Girls’ College did not uphold the college values, principal Tamy Stubley said.

A parent told the Herald Sun she was disappointed that all year 12s, and not just the perpetrators, were locked out of the school, and that parents weren’t told until at least three hours later.

“A lot of the girls were in tears. They couldn’t get their bags, which were thrown over the fence.

“We sent them to school thinking they would be safe but they had been kicked out by staff,” she said.

At Oakleigh Grammar, furniture was strewn about the school, bean bag beans were scattered on floors, bathroom mirrors were defaced and hallways blocked.

Principal Mark Robertson said the damage was “not harmful or malicious but it was quite messy”.

“Those responsible were sent home and came back the next day for final assembly.”

@alexwzng

We were absolutely robbed #muckupday#melbourne#year12#classof2023

♬ Make your own kind of music I Mama Cass - Alex Nayquor

Mr Robertson said the students did the cleaning up themselves. “Some other students came in early too to help, which says a lot about our students, and it was all cleaned up before other students arrived.

At Tintern Grammar, students up-ended furniture and scattered streamers and flyers but it was all cleaned up before other students arrived. A clip of the mayhem has been viewed 500,000 times and received 78,000 likes. A student who posted it said he was “absolutely robbed” due to the clean-up.

There were similar scenes at Sirius College where students bragged about “leaving our mark”

@leilacivic

leaving our mark 😇 #muckup#muckupday#fyp#year12#melbourne

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Another Victorian principal said the clean-up after muck-up day was “frustrating”.

“Most of our students behaved really well, but there were a small number that took it too far and damaged school property,” he said

“Teachers took extra time out of their day to help with the clean-up.

“We are all about having fun and celebrating school coming to an end, but it should be done tastefully and responsibly without damaging toilets, walls and other parts of the school.”