Nicolet High School students did not take part in the annual pep rally Friday afternoon after administration and Glendale police made a decision to cancel the event because of a "possible disruption."
District Administrator Rick Monroe sent this letter out to parents Friday:
Due to information we received regarding a possible disruption at this afternoon’s pep rally, and after reviewing this information with the Glendale Police Department, the decision was reached to cancel the 1:30 pm pep rally. All other school and homecoming activities will proceed as planned with an increased police presence. As always, the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff remains our utmost concern.
In an interview at the school, Monroe declined to provide more details on why the pep rally was canceled. However, he said this was the first time in his five years as administrator that the rally was dropped.
While school officials aren't talking, parents and students at Nicolet say the decision to cancel the rally is related to an incident earlier this week in which seniors circumvented a planned homecoming dress-up day with their own theme of "LAX Bros and Preppy Hoes."
Parents and students say a senior girl was suspended for two days because of her role in that incident. The student also was told she could not attend the homecoming dance, parents and students said.
Citing student privacy issues, Nicolet officials would not comment Friday on whether any disciplinary action has been taken against the student.
However, parents and students tell Patch that many students showed up for school on Friday wearing black in support of the suspended student. That apparently is caused the cancellation of the pep rally.
While the rally has been cancelled, other homecoming events — a cookout planned for Friday evening, the Friday night football game and Saturday's homecoming dance — will go on as scheduled.
Parents and students have been buzzing all week about the homecoming controversy with comments on Facebook and on Patch articles.
"The whole this is a big mess. AND blown way our of proportion," Nicolet parent Rachel Herrenbruck said in a Facebook comment.
Carol Rode-Curley added: I agree...blown way out of proportion is exactly right. The girls wear less in gym class for cryin' out loud, besides that, the photo I saw was quite appropriate. Those girls looked adorable."
One Nicolet student, commenting on the Patch article, questioned why the students were in hot water over the incident.
"Last year they did 'a walk of shame' and girls came to school in spankies and men's button-down shirts," she said in a comment. "They looked more like 'hoes' than they did this year. Nicolet administration has gotten way out of hand this year. Why didn't kids get in this much trouble last year?"
Patch will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
What a great way to set the tone for the rest of the year and can't wait to hear if prom/graduation ceremonies come off without a hitch. Then again, maybe you can cancel those as well. Are body scanners and lockdown around the corner? A rolling stone gathers no moss and hell hath no fury like a completely pissed off student class/body.