Toilet paper tradition rolls on at Marietta High School

As back-to-school traditions go, Marietta High School’s has to be the most absorbent.

For more than 60 years, the first day of school has involved miles of toilet paper and the class of 2020 didn’t disappoint. If you drive by today you might wonder for a second, “Did it snow last night?”

What started out as a prank in the past is now sanctioned.

“The seniors have the full support of me, my administrative team and of course, Dr. Rivera,” Marietta High School principal Keith Ball, referring to superintendent Grant Rivera, said in an email to parents. “In fact, the School Board and alumni understand how much this night means as many of them have fond memories of their experience as a student. Enjoy this tradition with your senior knowing the entire Blue Devil nation is behind you!”

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Ball said between 400 and 500 seniors showed up for Wednesday’s rolling, which accounts for almost all of the students in the class. Ball said oral and written history indicates Marietta’s tradition originally was done the night before the last day of school, but students rescheduled the rolling to occur the night before the first day of classes.

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The official thumbs-up came with several safety-minded regulations. Trees close to Whitlock Avenue were off-limits, lest a wayward roll cause a traffic distraction, for example. The school’s Senior Courtyard and Military Veterans Courtyard were no-fly zones, and the only allowed item was bathroom tissue.

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“No other items, substances, objects, etc. are permitted that would damage the building and possibly hurt someone,” warned Ball, shown here wearing some fashionable three-ply couture:

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Seniors decorated their parking spaces on Back To School Eve, too:

Northcutt Stadium next to Marietta Middle School also got the TP treatment:

A drive through the current high school’s parking lot at about 4:30 a.m. today found the kids operated within the authorized boundaries. At the school, anyway.

Rivera’s home was supposed to remain TP-free. He and his wife, Star 94.1 anchor Jenn Hobby, enlisted their adorable daughters in hopes of prevailing upon the angels of the Blue Devils’ nature.

Cute as the signs were, they didn’t work.

“They still got us!” Hobby reported.

It was June - two months ago - before she was able to rid her yard and trees entirely of the Class of 2019’s handiwork. Her girls were on cleanup detail this morning. Forks and flamingos were part of the decor this year:

At least it’s not raining. And, as in years past, students’ freedom to festoon the trees comes with a pledge to clean up the mess later.

Ball told the AJC that it took about 3 and a half hours for the students to do their damage. However, it will take about three days for officials to clean up the toilet paper. Even still, Ball said pieces of paper will be seen attached to various items around the campus months down the road.

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The principal went on to say that the toilet paper rolling allows Marietta students to participate in a tradition that’s part of the school’s culture.

“It really has nothing to do with toilet paper,” he said. “It really has everything to do with bonding.”