US students stage a fake fight to surprise their principal on his birthday

Students at a high school in the US state of Georgia staged a fake fight to draw their principal, Bobby Davis, to a room and surprise him with a birthday song. Video of the event shows the school leader responding to the surprise with joy.

How the surprise unfolded

The video shows Davis hearing noise and hurrying to a room where a scuffle appeared to be under way. He grabbed one of the students from behind in order to separate those involved in the "fight". Looking around, he noticed the room was full of teachers and students who were filming and applauding.

Once it became clear it was a joke, the principal was delighted and jumped into the arms of the two young men involved in the "fight". They lifted him into the air while the whole school sang "Happy Birthday".

The idea's originator

The prank was the idea of student Desvijon Watkins. In a comment, he shared a message to his principal. He wrote that the principal single-handedly changed his life for the better and that he would never take it for granted. Watkins added that what the principal has done during his school years are memories he will carry for the rest of his life, and that he was lucky to come up with the idea and organise it.

The principal's ties to the school

This is Davis's first year as principal, but his connection to the school is long. The father of three graduated from the same high school in 1994. He later worked there as an English teacher and sports coach, and returned in 2023 as assistant principal.