This brings back some memories of my own childhood. While we didn't call them Rommel Pieten, they did the same sort of shenanigans at our school. We'd also see them run by the windows of our classrooms and make funny faces while the teacher wasn't watching.
We really looked forward to Sinterklaas all year. I can say that we usually didn't learn much in school on the day before Sinterklaas came. :P
Haha... I think the Pieten were there today, on the 5th of December. Definitely, nothing done except for eating a ton of pepernoten! I'm still finding them in various pockets and gloves and bags...