By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 6/9/05)

It’s all fun and games until graduation gets cancelled.

Across the country newspapers are reporting on pranks such as live chickens running through the halls of high schools; graffiti being painted on walls, floors and parking lots; and school mascots being stolen.

School administrators have come to expect a "senior prank." But when does the prank become more than a joke? When does it become vandalism?

On June 2, the 30 girls who planned to don white gowns and gold tassels on June 4 learned there would be no graduation ceremony at Oakcrest School in McLean. No pomp. No circumstance.

Parents received an e-mail from Oakcrest Principal Ellen Cavanaugh on Thursday morning informing them that because of the senior prank completed the night before, all graduation activities, including the graduation ceremony and the Baccalaureate Mass, were canceled.

"We were completely and totally shocked by the administration," said a student who asked not to be identified. "They did not show the value of forgiveness even after we repented."

Along with the announcement sent to parents, Cavanaugh outlined the extent of "vandalism" that students created.

According to the letter, toilets were filled with paper, dirt and dog food. Pampers and feminine hygiene products were left in various places. The glass to a fire extinguisher case was broken. A stairway exit was blocked with plastic and tape. The main hallway was strung with string and toilet paper. Sand was dumped on the entry walkway. Handicapped parking signs were moved to block entry to the parking lot and obstructed the fire lane. Shaving cream was applied to every glass surface, throughout bathrooms, on wood doors, external doors, furniture, thermostats, vending machines, toilets, sidewalks, lockers and walls. Vaseline was applied to door handles, toilets and bathroom fixtures. Furniture was moved and stacked.

In addition, the students are accused of unlawful entry and presence. Students hid in the school after the senior dinner held there Wednesday night. These students allowed others to enter the building after the staff had finished cleaning at approximately 12:15 a.m. Thursday morning.

The senior prank has been a tradition at Oakcrest School. In past years furniture has been moved to fill the lobby of the school and real estate signs have been stolen from houses in surrounding neighborhoods to fill the front lawn. But according to one of the seniors involved, "It was never a big controversy."

She said that she and nearly every one of her classmates were involved in the prank for this year’s class.

"I wouldn’t say it was any more extreme (than past years’), there were just more girls (involved)," she said. "Visually, it was more shocking."

An alternative baccalaureate Mass was organized by a parent who attends St. Mark Church. Father Gregory Maturi, chaplain at Marymount University, celebrated the Mass, which focused on reconciliation and forgiveness.

An alternative graduation ceremony was organized quickly and held at the home of one of the student’s families on Sunday morning. Of the 29 girls who were to graduate from Oakcrest, 19 attended the impromptu ceremony.

The salutatorian and senior class president delivered speeches as they had planned. Lynne Bacaj, one of the student’s mothers delivered the commencement address — a speech to the students from the parents on the struggles to raise children, and their hopes for their futures.

"We are all celebrating you and your achievements and your journey and your future," she said. "And life is very, very good."

Bacaj also touched on the "elephant in the living room."

"It’s their loss," she said about the administration being absent from the graduation ceremony. "If I worked at Oakcrest I would have walked over broken glass and beds of hot coals to share this moment with you."

Mock diplomas were handed out by one of the fathers. The students’ actual diplomas will be mailed to them. Each family chipped in and a picnic-style reception was held after the ceremony. The parents had each donated $200 to cover the original graduation reception which was cancelled.

When asked why she decided to cancel graduation, Principal Cavanaugh said, "This is an internal matter and we are handling it internally."