EXAMS have been thrown into disarray at Mount Waverley Secondary College as the school became embroiled in several muck-up day controversies last week, including one that landed one of its brightest students in hospital with head injuries.
Up to 200 students had gathered at Valley Reserve on Monday evening to celebrate the end of school when, about 11.25pm, a group of balaclava-wearing men allegedly attacked the group, leaving three boys seriously injured.
Mount Waverley SC student Tina told 3AW radio on Tuesday the attack had shaken students and left them fearing for their safety. "They had balaclavas on and they were just swinging like crazy. It was unprovoked. They just ran through. We did nothing to deserve that."
Embarrassingly for the school, its students came under the spotlight the following day after three girls from Avila College complained to Glen Waverley police that they had been dye-bombed by boys from Glen Waverley College.
Avila College Principal Liz Gleeson confirmed the attacks on her students in a statement to the Journal. "Last [Tuesday] night after school, Avila students walking to Mount Waverley station were caught up in a local school's celebration day activities. Some of the students had eggs thrown at them, others were sprayed with blue food dye."
Mount Waverley Secondary College principal Mark Kosach said the school was working with a number of authorities to find those responsible for Tuesday's incident. "It's really disappointing that a small number of students can draw a cloud over what is a good year level. We want to find who these perpetrators are and deal with them appropriately. They know we don't tolerate this behaviour and it brings the school into disrepute, and from my perspective it's an extremely serious offence."
Mr Kosach also revealed the most severely injured person in Monday night's attacks was one of the school's brightest students. He has suffered a fractured skull and severe concussion, and is being closely monitored at Monash Medical Centre.
"It's very distressing when the students have reached a significant milestone such as finishing year 12 and have exams to focus on. It's going to be a challenge for them to refocus, but we're are going to do everything we can to help them.
"I'm shocked at the brutality that these attackers have set upon our students, who were engaged in harmless celebrations."
Mount Waverley Police Senior Sergeant Peter Arnold said police had ramped-up patrolling of Mount Waverley and Glen Waverley stations as a result of the incidents.
"I just wish those engaging in year 12 celebrations would do so civilly and sensibly, and not resort to throwing eggs and the like. We treat these incidents seriously, and this is a warning to other nearby schools that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated."
He said Monday's attack had been unprovoked.
"We have serious concerns over large groups of youth drinking alcohol in public places as part of end of year 12 celebrations. If we had been made aware of it, we would have dealt with it appropriately and dispersed the crowd. It's a timely reminder. We have a close relationship with the college and we do everything humanly possible to prevent these incidents occurring."
On Tuesday evening, Glen Waverley police arrested two 18-year-old men in relation to the previous night's Valley Reserve attacks, but they were later released without charge, pending further inquiries.
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