RENO, NV - "I didn't really see anything, I just kind of saw what was left over from what they did," says Joanne Van Derson, a Hug High School sophomore. "They egged windows, they used window paints, they used real paints."

She's talking about what she saw Tuesday morning at the school. The damage at Hug High School is now cleaned up, but the consequences linger.

"I know a few of the teachers were probably a bit mad and definitely the principal," says Van Derson.

Especially because of what happened in his office.

"Well I guess apparently some students pooped on (the principal's) desk," says Megan Strohschein, a junior at the high school.

"Yes, there was some stuff that occurred that was not very moral practices," says Chief Mike Mieras, of the Washoe County School District Police Department.

One student has been arrested so far, but...

"There will be some criminal charges for some other individuals involved," says Chief Mieras.

Serious consequences for what was supposed to be a funny joke. These kinds of school pranks happen a lot this time of year, but shouldn't.

"I think a lot of these celebration activities do tend to creep up this time of year," says Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong. "They tend to begin with kids very very happy, they're enjoying their times, but they tend to take on a life of their own. And they grow and escalate such as we saw with our buses."

He's talking about what happened this week at the school bus yard in Carson City. Authorities think at least three students flattened the front tires of all Carson City school buses, leaving students on Tuesday morning without a ride. Right now, that case is being investigated as vandalism, but authorities are looking into whether it was a school prank that went too far.

"This is a great time to talk to the kids right now because some celebratory activities can really have a dramatic effect on the rest of their lives," says Sheriff Furlong.

So where is that line that separates a prank from a crime? Washoe County School Police Chief Mieras says students should stay away from acts that damage property or hurt someone. If property damage exceeds a certain amount and the vandal is a minor, the parents might have to pay and the cost could be in the thousands of dollars. If the vandal is an adult, he or she could end up with a criminal record.

Chief Mieras explains there is a way to show school spirit and still have fun. He advises that students who want to do a prank work with school administrators. He says they can always talk to the principal and get permission to do something first, that way everyone has fun but stays safe. He points out that North Valley High School students recently got permission from their principal to take apart a room and set up the furniture in another part of the school. He says the students thought it was funny and since the administrators were in on it, no one got in trouble.