It was the mention of one word that landed a schoolboy in trouble and led to him being suspended - "sigma" - and he wasn't talking about the '70s Chrysler car.
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The Catholic College Wodonga student, who has not been named, says his teacher overheard him uttering the word, which is internet slang for "lone wolf" or introvert, in conversation with other students.
What happened next shocked his parents - both Border professionals - who were telephoned by the college and told to pick up their son who had been suspended from school for a day.
Since the incident on May 7, The Border Mail has been told 15 other children have been suspended from the college for saying the word.
According to Wikipedia, sigma, from the Greek alphabet, is also a "pseudoscientific term used most to describe ... someone who is introverted and seeks to dominate themselves".
Some social workers, however, warned the term could sometimes be used in an "inappropriate sexual nature" and was linked to misogyny.
The 13-year-old boy's stepfather, Steve, said he and his partner were astonished their son was "punished for using a seemingly innocuous word".
"It's a term that students are not allowed to use, according to the school's year co-ordinator that rang my partner," he said.
"We were both shocked - it's bizarre. He didn't call anyone a 'sigma' he just used the word in conversation apparently out too loud and people, including his teacher, heard him say it."
The Border Mail put a series of questions to Catholic College Wodonga, including whether other children had been suspended for saying "sigma", what college regulation was being broken in using the term and whether students had received warnings over use of the word.
In response, Catholic College Wodonga principal Lorraine Willis told The Border Mail it was made clear to students that language that humiliates, defames or vilifies an individual was unacceptable.
"This includes language that targets an individual for their race, sexuality, gender or disability among other things," Mrs Willis said.
"When we have incidents of students engaging in language that does target individuals for these reasons, we respond in line with our policies.
"That was the case this week when we clearly stated our position to students around the standard expected with regard to language used at school."
"I believe that word can be used sometimes in an inappropriate sexual nature," he said. "It could potentially be more relative to male genitalia, if that makes sense.
"I don't know the context of what this boy said at the school but I can understand why the school would have a policy on this."
Another youth organisation worker said the term was linked to British-American influencer Andrew Tate, a self-proclaimed misogynist who has millions of followers on social media.
Steve said if his stepson had used offensive or racist language he would encourage any punishment.
"What are we turning our kids into? How confused are they going to be when they leave school? They send our kid home from school for using this word, a place that encourages children to identify as cats and dogs," he said.
"I could understand if he dropped the F-bomb or the C-word or called someone the N-word - but sigma? It's a '70s car, but it's also an internet slang word."
Mrs Willis said students who use language to target an individual with the intent to cause harm or humiliate someone "were responded to consistently".
"At the moment, as we know, there is significant discourse in society around language that is gender-based and is used to assert power," Mrs Willis said.
"Our role is to educate young people around the meaning and context associated with language, particularly when the origins or associations of the language may not be understood, and about the impact language can have on others.
"Our commitment is to providing an environment where all students and staff are safe and where learning can take place without interruption being caused by the use of disruptive language to derail that opportunity."
Laws introduced to Queensland parliament in March look to overhaul the disciplinary system used in schools following calls from experts that suspension should be used as a last resort.
School embroiled in 'vile' Snapchat scandal
Catholic College Wodonga has been embroiled in a Snapchat scandal after social media posts emerged from Year 12 males on the attractiveness of their female peers.
It is the second school in one week to be engulfed by similar behaviour.
One parent told ACM that their daughter was left "pretty devastated" after the comments by her peers at the Wodonga school.
The parent said the behaviour was being "swept under the carpet" and described it as "vile".
ACM understands none of the boys involved received individual punishment and the female students named were not offered counselling.
Catholic College Wodonga principal Lorraine Willis said the school had become aware of "potential comments made by students on social media about the appearance of peers".
"The college immediately investigated," she said.
"It was found that comments had been made within a private Snapchat group and that those comments had related to the physical appearance of other students.
"The college enacted the relevant policies and procedures."
Ms Willis said the college reiterated the "expectations of respectful relationships to Year 12 male students".
It comes after two students from Yarra Valley Grammar in Melbourne were expelled after creating a spreadsheet assessing their female classmates' attractiveness.
The list by the boys at the elite private school in Ringwood in Melbourne on the platform Discord featured photos of the female students and ranked them from best to worst using a number of highly derogatory terms including 'wifeys', 'cuties', 'mid', 'object', 'get out' and 'unrapeable'.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan described that incident as "misogynistic, disgraceful and disgusting and utterly unacceptable", adding her thoughts were with the victims.
"This is no joke," she said.
