UPDATE: Principal canceling “fun” parts of graduation at Paramus school after food fight
THE RECORD
STAFF WRITERS
PARAMUS — In a tear-filled meeting with parents this morning, the West Brook Middle School principal raised his soiled shirt and said he was taking all the fun out of eighth grade graduation because of an end-of-the-year food fight that left him covered in chow.
Principal Oscar Diaz told parents he was disgusted by the food fight in a meeting with the eighth graders’ parents that followed the Thursday lunch-time melee.
“You need to talk to your children about what appropriate behavior is,” he said. “The children thought this was a fun activity, and I think that their view is warped.”
Diaz showed up to the planned food fight to try and stop it, but students took aim at him instead. One student said a couple of kids yelled “food fight” and almost the whole eighth grade class threw small cups of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise at each other.
The splatter of condiments lasted not even 10 seconds, according to Brian Polsky, an eighth grader who said he was hit by mustard, tried to wipe it off and ran to take cover.
“As soon as I got hit, I ran,” he said. “It was hectic…it was a crazy ten seconds.”
The principal and lunchroom staff took the eighth graders outside and then to the school auditorium. Afterward, he took some children back to the cafeteria to clean it up, and they treated the punishment as a joke, Diaz said.
Hours after the food fight, two students posted to a Facebook page titled “West Brook 8th Grade food fight.” One student exclaimed she got ketchup in her hair, while another said she hid behind someone.
Though many students did not participate in the food war, Diaz said he was
TARIQ ZEHAWI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Buy this photoParents leave West Brook Middle School after a meeting with the principal about consequences of a food fight during school.
“You need to talk to your children about what appropriate behavior is,” he said. “The children thought this was a fun activity, and I think that their view is warped.”
Diaz showed up to the planned food fight to try and stop it, but students took aim at him instead. One student said a couple of kids yelled “food fight” and almost the whole eighth grade class threw small cups of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise at each other.
The splatter of condiments lasted not even 10 seconds, according to Brian Polsky, an eighth grader who said he was hit by mustard, tried to wipe it off and ran to take cover.
“As soon as I got hit, I ran,” he said. “It was hectic…it was a crazy ten seconds.”
The principal and lunchroom staff took the eighth graders outside and then to the school auditorium. Afterward, he took some children back to the cafeteria to clean it up, and they treated the punishment as a joke, Diaz said.
Hours after the food fight, two students posted to a Facebook page titled “West Brook 8th Grade food fight.” One student exclaimed she got ketchup in her hair, while another said she hid behind someone.
Though many students did not participate in the food war, Diaz said he was