An alleged hazing incident on the opening day of school has led to criminal charges against two Burlington high school students. The students, who cannot be named under the terms of Youth Criminal Justice Act, are charged with assault with a weapon, and are scheduled to appear in court early next month.

The incident that led to their arrest took place on Tuesday, near Burlington’s M.M. Robinson High School. Police say six Grade Nine students were confronted by a group of older students as they walked home from school along Upper Middle Road. The older students pulled up in two cars, then forced the younger ones into a wooded area, police said.

The Grade Nine students were subjected to a hazing ritual that included verbal abuse and beatings with long wooden paddles. The paddles were compared to “goalie sticks without a blade.” The young students also had “inappropriate” drawings written on their faces with markers.

None of the students required medical attention.

Detective Jeff Hill of Halton Regional Police described the incident as a clear example of academic hazing: “The older students picked them for an initiation,” he said. “They were chosen at random.”

Det. Hill said the students who carried out the hazing are in Grade 11 and 12 at M.M. Robinson, and are 17 to 18 years old. None had prior criminal records, he said.

The young students and their parents were deeply angered, Det. Hill said. “It was very disturbing,” he said. “The kids are hurt and embarrassed, and their parents have some serious concerns. Obviously, this wasn’t the way they wanted the first day of school to go.”