Jokes On Us

By Lucas Keppler, Reporter

May 9, 2026

Dear Upper School,

In the coming years you’ll have a lot of firsts. At some point, it’ll be your first time as seniors, your first time going to college, and first time being the leaders for an entire school. One of the firsts that you are going to be entrusted with is the responsibility of planning the senior prank. You’ll need to come up with something exciting and hilarious, but also practicable and organized. All you’ll have to get the administration to sign off on your idea. It’s a tall order. And unfortunately, it’s one that past graduating classes haven’t been able to deliver. So I’m writing this Op-Ed to tell you this: Don’t screw it up.

It’s a sad story, but the underwhelming senior prank has a strong precedent at this school. Last year’s seniors planned an elaborate scavenger hunt, which on the day before execution imploded under the weight of the senior planners not wanting to put in the work. Before that we had a bouncy house. And I love a good bouncy house. But that’s not a prank. Right now, the only joke is pretending we have a senior prank.

I used to think that the explanation for the sorry series of senior pranks was an uptight and authoritarian administration. But after an interview with Ms. AJ, I’ve come to understand just how much latitude UPrep is willing to give a well-conceived pitch. Over a decade ago, at the request of the senior class the facilities team covered the door to the teacher’s lounge in drywall. Another time, the IT department helped alter schoology links to various classes so that anyone who clicked on a certain page would get rickrolled. According to Ms. AJ, the biggest factor in a good senior prank isn’t what the administration will permit, but how much effort the current seniors are willing to provide. Even though there are limitations on the latitude of what you can plan, there is no one stopping you from organizing something awesome.

Unfortunately, our class has repeated the tradition of a lame senior prank. I apologize that this year won’t end with a bang. But that’s all the more reason for your classes to orchestrate something spectacular. You have the opportunity to roll up your sleeves and plan something that people won’t forget until long after graduation. You have the power. What are you going to do with it?

Prank Pitches

Unfortunately, we’re unlikely to see any of these pranks come fruition. But that doesn’t mean they’re not good ideas. The following are a list of pranks I would recommend.

The Lobster Gambit;
- Assemble five lobsters and then apply a numbered sticker to each of the lobsters, with the numerals 1,2,3,4, and 6.
- Release the Lobsters at various points throughout the school.
- Sit back and watch
Squishies
- Grab a handful of ketchup and mustard packets.
- Find a toilet and put a folded ketchup or mustard packet between the knobs on the top and bottom of the seat.
- Wait outside of the bathroom until you hear someone yell in rage and confusion
- Ask them how their bathroom break was
Baby Shark
- Go into the office and prepare to play Baby shark (or any other suitably irritating soundtrack,) over the loudspeaker.
- Once five or six repetitions of the song have been played, pause the music, and apologize to the school for the disturbance, promising that the pranker has been caught and the school day can continue.
- Exactly 6 minutes later, continue to play three or four renditions of your chosen song. Then stop the music mid-song, don’t inform the school of what happened a second time.
- At various points throughout the day, play 1-2 reptations of the song, leaving at least 15 minutes between plays.
- Cackle with glee.

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About the Contributor

Lucas Keppler, Reporter

Lucas Keppler is a Reporter writing for the Puma Press. He is a Senior enjoying his second year on staff. He enjoys writing news stories about local issues in Seattle, such as elections, transportation, and local politics. Displaying an overwrought and stereotypical cynicism towards authority, Keppler chooses to report on topics that will provide transparency into those who hold power. Outside of the paper, he enjoys cross country, video games, spending time with friends, and being outside in the PNW.