Stamford Teens Say No To School Pranks After New Jersey Arrests

STAMFORD, Conn. -- The senior class prank at a New Jersey school early Thursday that resulted in the arrest of more than five-dozen students drew a thumbs down from many Stamford students.

Christian Class, 16, left, and Carly Holding, 15, students at Stamford High School, said they disagreed with school pranks like one in New Jersey where 63 students were charged after breaking into their school early Thursday and causing mayhem.
Photo Credit: *Frank MacEachern*

Christina Hlebogiannis, left, and Jamie Compolattaro, both 13 years old, said they disagreed with school pranks like one in New Jersey where 63 students were charged after breaking into their school early Thursday and causing mayhem.
Photo Credit: *Frank MacEachern*

Frank MacEachern

05/03/2014 5:00 a.m.

The “prank” left chairs and desks broken, urination on the floors, petroleum jelly on doorknobs and graffiti scrawled inside Teaneck High School.

Christina Hlebogiannis, 13, a student at Rippowam Middle School and her friend and classmate Jamie Compolattaro, 13, were surprised at the news and equally surprised that high school seniors were involved.

“I think it is childish and inappropriate,” Hlebogiannis said.

“It is immature, and it can hurt people,” Compolattaro added, as they both agreed that pulling pranks at schools shouldn’t be allowed.

In the case at Teaneck High School, prosecutors are weighing whether to hit the students with more serious charges such as burglary and criminal mischief or lesser charges such as trespassing.

Students ages 18 and over could be saddled with a criminal record while minors’ records will be sealed and released only for review in a few careers such as law enforcement.

Carly Holding, 15, a 10th grade Stamford High School student, “In general, it is just a school prank but that is going a little far," she said.

Christian Class, 16, an 11th grade student at Stamford High and a friend of Holding, said he hasn’t heard of pranks at his school and has a poor opinion of pranks.

“It’s childish; school is for education,” he said.

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