High school principal placed on leave after doing 'weird' dance with mascot that was a 'red flag'

A principal from a high school in California has been placed on leave for 'weird' behavior with school mascot.

On Friday (August 16), a back-to-school rally was held at Buhach Colony High School in Atwater, California with students, parents, teachers and other members of staff congregating in the gym to celebrate.

However, one father took to social media to share a video from the event showing the principal of the school engaging in some questionable antics.

The back-to-school rally was at Buhach and Colony High School (Facebook/ Buhach Colony High School)

Ryan Attebery - whose 14-year-old son attends the school - took to Facebook on the day to share a clip of principal Robert Nunes at the rally.

In the video, Nunes can be spotted sat on an office chair in the middle of the gym with someone dressed up as the school mascot, Thor, in front of him, spinning him round, wiggling their bum at him and the principal setting off a handheld confetti canon.

The pair then swap places, the principal pushing the mascot down onto the chair before leaning down over them and then running off, before eventually pushing the chair along through a tunnel of students.

Oh, and during all of this he also grabs a mic and shouts: "What happens at Buhach, stays at Buhach."

Attebery's caption reads: "Am I a square or was this weird af for a principal to do?"

The video shows the principal with the school's mascot (Facebook/ Ryan Attebery)

Students have since confirmed the rally had a theme of Las Vegas, however, principal Nunes has ultimately had to face the music with the Merced Union High School District (MUHSD), which decided to place him on leave.

MUHSD district spokesperson Viviana Fuentes said in a statement, as quoted by People: "This decision comes as part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment.

"The District is conducting a comprehensive review of the situation. While the investigation is ongoing, Mr. Nunes will not be participating in any school-related responsibilities or activities."

Attebery told People lots of students are 'sticking up' for Nunes and 'everybody's saying he is a [good guy]' and 'it's probably just a bad joke'.

However, he added: "They're like, ‘Oh, the students, that was all the students idea.’ And I’m like, ‘I know, but the fact that there wasn't a red flag, is a red flag in itself'. I’d rather just make sure these kids are cool. It was all weird, nonetheless."

MUHSD Executive Director Torrin Johnson and Buhach Colony associate principal David Rogers are reported as standing in as principal while the investigation is being conducted.

UNILAD has contacted Buhach Colony High School for comment.