Community Corner

Spray-Painting Streets - Back-to-School Prank, or School Spirit?

Some neighbors were surprised to find this symbol - which looks similar to the Woodson High logo - painted on streets in their neighborhoods last week.

A new school year is underway. Sometimes, start-of-the-school-year pranks are the norm.

Could this be a new one?

Some residents were surprised to find this symbol - which looks strikingly similar to the Woodson High School logo - spray-painted on street entrances to their neighborhoods last week. 

In particular, residents of the Long Branch, Truro and Olde Creek communities reported the symbol being painted near the entrances their neighborhoods.


"It's obviously a prank," said one resident. "I learned about this at a block party on my street last week, and a few of my neighbors were unhappy or surprised about it."

The resident said, as far as she knew, no one had reported the symbols to the police.

"Maybe they will wash away the next time it rains, but they are there for all to see now," the neighbor added.

A public information officer for Fairfax County Police said the department often takes graffiti reports, but they could not definitively connect any reports with start-of-the-school pranks at this time.

Woodson High School Principal Jeff Yost said in an e-mail to Patch on Monday, "The W and crossed sabers were a surprise to all of us." 

What do you think of the spray-painted symbols? Innocent school prank, or damaging vandalism? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

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