By Kirsty Ross
YEAR 12 students across the West have celebrated the end of more than a decade of education in mostly sensible ways.
Dressed as they pleased, flaunting some secret fetishes for crossdressing, some students went on picnics, threw eggs and flour, and sprayed shaving cream.
More refined breakfast barbecues, valedictory dinners and tearful speeches followed the crazy antics.
Security guards were also hired for peace of mind.
Laverton Secondary College principal Henry Skutza said students were up at dawn to decorate the school with plastic wrap and toilet paper before the other students arrived on campus.
“It wasn’t out of control; it was enjoyable,” he said.
Hoppers Crossing Secondary year 12 cocaptain Aaron Stobie said the school’s ‘Independence Day’ was both a fun and emotional ride. “We don’t say muckup day because it has a negative connotation.”
Aaron said many of the nearly 100 graduates had tears while sitting on stage facing the whole school for the last time.
Williamstown High principal Silvana Sena said her year 12s celebrated Carnival Day, complete with a jumping castle, horizontal sling shot and sumo wrestling.
Werribee Secondary College principal Steve Butyn said he wasn’t concerned about the year 12 students causing trouble as much as “hangers ons” who befriended the graduates.
“Our policy is the same as it has been the last three to four years – we don’t have a muckup,” he said.
Instead 100 students celebrated the end of 13 years of school with a picnic in Geelong supervised by six teachers.
“The emphasis is on group activities, being social and looking after one another,” said Mr Butyn.
On the down side to celebrations, Galvin Park Secondary was targeted by a spate of graffiti attacks last Wednesday, the night before the festivities. Werribee Police estimated the damage to 15 buildings would cost at least $4000 to repair.
Principal Peter Newland said staff suspected a small group of “grumpy” exstudents were responsible for the damage, and police would investigate further.
Unfortunately for the students, Mr Newland said, a trip to Wallington Adventure Park in Geelong was cancelled due to the necessity to rearrange staffing and classrooms.
