Extra security added to Lake View High School after rash of flash mobs

Administrators at Lake View High School are calling on parents to keep their kids in check in the waning days of the school year after a recent spate of boisterous flash mobs during passing periods at the North Side school.

In a letter to parents on Thursday, Principal Paul Karafiol said the situation “is becoming more disruptive than fun,” with teens causing chaos in hallways by blasting music, chanting, yelling and jumping up and down.

”These events have grown noisier, have resulted in some students getting pushed or knocked around, and frankly disrupt passing and the ordinary start of class. In short, they need to stop,” Karafiol wrote.

”Students found to be participating in these ‘fefes’ or ‘flash mobs’ will be detained for the rest of the day and required to return to school with a parent the following day.”

It was the second letter from the principal in as many days, following the arrest of an 18-year-old student on Wednesday after he allegedly shared a Snapchat video threatening to commit a shooting at the school.

Karafiol asked parents to speak to their children and for their “help in focusing our students’ attention on learning these last three weeks.”

Bluetooth speakers have been banned from campus, and extra security was being added for the end of the school year.

Read the full letter from Principal Paul Karafiol:

Dear Wildcat Families -

We’re always looking for ways to make school more exciting, but I wanted to alert you to a situation that is becoming more disruptive than fun, and ask your help in focusing our students’ attention on learning these last three weeks. For the past few days, students have been forming “flash mobs” or “fefes” in the halls during passing periods--chanting, yelling, and jumping up and down. These events have grown noisier, have resulted in some students getting pushed or knocked around, and frankly disrupt passing and the ordinary start of class. In short, they need to stop.

Please speak with your children and let them know of the following:

Students may not bring bluetooth speakers to school, through the end of the year. Speakers found at entry will be confiscated and returned to students at the end of the day.

Students found to be participating in these “fefes” or “flash mobs” will be detained for the rest of the day and required to return to school with a parent the following day.

To ensure every student’s safety, we will be adding extra security to entry. To accommodate these measures, students should plan on arriving to school ten minutes before the bell to get to their first class on time.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Paul J. Karafiol

Principal