Tony Stack, principal of St. Peter's Junior High School in Mount Pearl, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., he e-mailed parents and teachers after he was tipped off about the prank.

One episode of the irreverent animated show designated Nov. 20 as "Kick a Ginger Day," when children should kick any redheads they see.

Since 1997, the show's cast of foul-mouthed schoolchildren living in a fictional Colorado town has satirized numerous touchy social issues. However, Stack said he was concerned about the potential for children to take the issue seriously.

"These types of things can occur in a school-age population," he said.

Constable Kevin Foley of the province's Royal Newfoundland Constabulary police force said officers wouldn't hesitate to investigate schoolyard bullying incidents, including targeted kicking.