Even teachers buy into college prank

GOOD BUY?: A real estate sign advertising Kuranui College for sale - or is it?PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

Picturesque grounds, prime Greytown location, and 500 students - and it can all be yours, according to a fancy real estate sign.

Teachers and students arriving at Kuranui College yesterday morning were startled to discover a "For Sale - Kuranui College" advertising sign at the school's entrance, inviting offers for the decile 5 college.

The Times-Age understands several teachers, who skim-read the sign, momentarily wondered about their employment next year, but those who read it properly weren't fooled for long.

The sign is a prank, in keeping with the annual tradition of Year-13 students playing jokes on their last day of school before heading off on exam leave.

Principal Geoff Shepherd said the end-of-year prank is usually fun and this one, involving a professionally-made sign "had obviously been planned for a while".

"We always have some fun on this day, and there's prizegiving tonight."

Mr Shepherd recalls other pranks, including one year when a teacher's car was boxed in with cardboard boxes.

"We have some ground rules, such as not hurting anyone's feelings, or [damage to] property."

A Year-13 student, speaking anonymously to the Times-Age, said she was not involved but thought the sign was "really funny".

The "sale", advertised as a means to buy a school van, was a nice touch as the school was genuinely fundraising for a van, she said.

A member of staff, who tipped off the Times-Age on the promise of anonymity, said the sign did confuse some students.

"'Don't we come back next year?', some asked.

"People told them, look at it, it's a joke."

She said people thought it was "brilliant".

In previous years students have covered cars with cling film, filled up teachers' offices with balloons, and on one occasion, placed every school clock into a classroom used by a teacher who didn't like clocks.

Mr Shepherd said the day had a tinge of sadness in farewelling students after five years.

"It's their last formal day, and they spend the day doing pranks, and dress the auditorium up. It's a nice feeling."