No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So will FCPS employee also then not wear their stoles for masters or phd? Just writing that makes this is all just silly now- the ceremony is for the pomp and circumstance so if not doing that, just email the diplomas in a .pdf file. If took vote, many would likely vote for that.

💯

[Anonymous]

So 8 pages in - anyone actually see proof that they are not going to be allowed going forward?

[Anonymous]

What about NHS??????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The cords and stoles are completely out of control. It is ridiculous.

+1

One of my friends posted her DD's grad photo and she had TEN cords. It was ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cords and stoles are completely out of control. It is ridiculous.

FCPS has a very short list of cords and tassels.

Honor grad stole
National Honor Society cape
AP Scholar national medal
Department award medal

State level recognition medals for things like All Virginia choir or 1st place state champions in a sport, National History Day, etc

Academic national honor societies cords (math, german, music, theater, history, etc)

Eagle Scout/Girl Scout Gold Award cord

Military Service cord (enlistment, ROTC scholarship, Service Academy appointment)

Purple cord for military dependents

Service cord (for volunteer service diploma)

National EMT cord given to students who professionally certify as EMTs with the county

There might be one or two others.

There are enough that every kid who works hard can earn something. For example, every srident in FCPS can earn the service cord, regardless of grades, if they just put in a little bit of work to earn one.

It is absurd that fcps would get rid of the cords over parent complaints and equity, although it would not surprise me.

Has there been anything published that says FCPS is getting rid of these for equity purposes?

To me, the multiple cords actually takes away from achievement because, well, EVERYBODY has some sort of cord or another. I wouldn't be surprised if FCPS simply limits the cords to academics.

[Anonymous]

That is a lie. The cords are still happening next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good. The cords are expensive and mean nothing.

Why does it mean nothing to get good grades in multiple AP classes, get over a 4.0 GPA, complete service hours, be in National Honor Society, etc.?

I haven't been to a FCPS graduation, but do they actually announce all these things or print them in the program? Is there a program? If not, they are at least a visible way to acknowledge hard work and success.
I think it's crazy to do away with all of that.

We already don't have valedictorians or class rank, which is a real problem on college applications.

So you just want to be able to show off that you have a smart kid who joined a lot of clubs? Shouldn't the knowledge that your child achieved all of this be enough?

You're way off. My kid is a sophomore and not on track for any of the cords I mentioned, himself. He is a varsity athlete, but I doubt they get cords. I still think that academic acheivement should be celebrated, and what better place than at graduation?
Now, as I said in my PP, if they are being acknowledge in some other way (announced at graduation or in the graduation program or at a separate awards dinner) then that is great and I love not participating in buying expensive cords. But if this is a backhanded way to NOT honor academic acheivement - like not having class rank or valedictorians, then I think it's the wrong decision.

Our school has a “class day” before graduation where lots of kids with special achievements are recognized. And I’d be surprised if graduation programs don’t continue to recognize kids in NHS, AP Scholars, IB diploma-track kids, etc.

This mostly sounds like discouraging a lot of expensive, extraneous, and sometimes controversial bling at graduation so, if it’s true, kudos to Reid.

The graduation programs in FCPS are no linger allowed to recognize honor grads or any honor societies in the graduation programs.

That was banned starting with class of 2025 after a class of 2024 parent pitched a huge fit up to Dr. Reid over honor grad recognition at graduation.

The honor stoles are the only recognition remaining in fcps for honor grads, national honor society, and other honor societies.

The FCPS graduation I was at last week noted the honors graduates (those with a 4.0 or higher weighted GPA).

Ours lists both 4.0+ and IB diploma candidates with asterisks or whatever symbols.

There are literally dozens of honor societies, I can’t imagine listing them all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good. The cords are expensive and mean nothing.

Why does it mean nothing to get good grades in multiple AP classes, get over a 4.0 GPA, complete service hours, be in National Honor Society, etc.?

I haven't been to a FCPS graduation, but do they actually announce all these things or print them in the program? Is there a program? If not, they are at least a visible way to acknowledge hard work and success.
I think it's crazy to do away with all of that.

We already don't have valedictorians or class rank, which is a real problem on college applications.

So you just want to be able to show off that you have a smart kid who joined a lot of clubs? Shouldn't the knowledge that your child achieved all of this be enough?

You're way off. My kid is a sophomore and not on track for any of the cords I mentioned, himself. He is a varsity athlete, but I doubt they get cords. I still think that academic acheivement should be celebrated, and what better place than at graduation?
Now, as I said in my PP, if they are being acknowledge in some other way (announced at graduation or in the graduation program or at a separate awards dinner) then that is great and I love not participating in buying expensive cords. But if this is a backhanded way to NOT honor academic acheivement - like not having class rank or valedictorians, then I think it's the wrong decision.

Our school has a “class day” before graduation where lots of kids with special achievements are recognized. And I’d be surprised if graduation programs don’t continue to recognize kids in NHS, AP Scholars, IB diploma-track kids, etc.

This mostly sounds like discouraging a lot of expensive, extraneous, and sometimes controversial bling at graduation so, if it’s true, kudos to Reid.

The graduation programs in FCPS are no linger allowed to recognize honor grads or any honor societies in the graduation programs.

That was banned starting with class of 2025 after a class of 2024 parent pitched a huge fit up to Dr. Reid over honor grad recognition at graduation.

The honor stoles are the only recognition remaining in fcps for honor grads, national honor society, and other honor societies.

The FCPS graduation I was at last week noted the honors graduates (those with a 4.0 or higher weighted GPA).

Ours lists both 4.0+ and IB diploma candidates with asterisks or whatever symbols.

There are literally dozens of honor societies, I can’t imagine listing them all.

FCPS allows for 10 national/international honor society cords, not "dozens" and 10 special recognition cords

This is addition to the honor grad stole, national honor society cape, and medals (AP scholar, state level recognition and department award for the top student in each acdemic subject, ie English, languages, History, science, arts and math)

10 approved/allowed honor society cords are:

ALS Honor Society (sign language)
International Thespian Society (theater)
Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society (math)
National Art Honor Society (visual arts)
National English Honor Society
National French Honor Society
National German Honor Society
National History Honor Society
National Science Honor Society
International TriM Honor Society (music)


The 10 special recognition cords allowed are:

Civics Seal
College Partnership
DECA (business honor society)
Eagle Scout
Gold Scout
Military Service (enlistment, academy, ROTC scholarship)
Military Connected (dependents)
SEALS
Service Learning
National EMT cord

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So 8 pages in - anyone actually see proof that they are not going to be allowed going forward?

+1
Not that I have seen.

[Anonymous]

My kid had 4 cords last year for the honor societies she was in and a medal she got at convocation. We didn't have to pay for any of them. I actually think that getting rid of the recognitions is annoying. The kids worked hard for them. The snowflakes can survive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cords and stoles are completely out of control. It is ridiculous.

FCPS has a very short list of cords and tassels.

Honor grad stole
National Honor Society cape
AP Scholar national medal
Department award medal

State level recognition medals for things like All Virginia choir or 1st place state champions in a sport, National History Day, etc

Academic national honor societies cords (math, german, music, theater, history, etc)

Eagle Scout/Girl Scout Gold Award cord

Military Service cord (enlistment, ROTC scholarship, Service Academy appointment)

Purple cord for military dependents

Service cord (for volunteer service diploma)

National EMT cord given to students who professionally certify as EMTs with the county

There might be one or two others.

There are enough that every kid who works hard can earn something. For example, every srident in FCPS can earn the service cord, regardless of grades, if they just put in a little bit of work to earn one.

It is absurd that fcps would get rid of the cords over parent complaints and equity, although it would not surprise me.

Has there been anything published that says FCPS is getting rid of these for equity purposes?

To me, the multiple cords actually takes away from achievement because, well, EVERYBODY has some sort of cord or another. I wouldn't be surprised if FCPS simply limits the cords to academics.

What a douchey comment. You want your kid’s achievements celebrated but are worried that they won’t stand out as much if another kid’s different accomplishments are highlighted.

[Anonymous]

My kid is years from this but at this point…does it really matter? The service academy kids are going to the service academies, the Eagle Scouts put it on their college applications, the honor society kids got good grades and in theory into good colleges…isn’t graduation a day late and a dollar short to recognize these things?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Troll.

I assure you I'm not. I have a rising HS Senior who came home last week and told me this news. I'm trying to corroborate this information here before I send my feedback directly to Michelle Reid!

Sure. That’s why you ended your OP with “So disappointed, FCPS”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So will FCPS employee also then not wear their stoles for masters or phd? Just writing that makes this is all just silly now- the ceremony is for the pomp and circumstance so if not doing that, just email the diplomas in a .pdf file. If took vote, many would likely vote for that.

Are you for real? You think HS honor cords and an entire post-graduate degree are equivalent and therefore belong in the same category of restriction? Do you know how ignorant you sound when you write things like that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So will FCPS employee also then not wear their stoles for masters or phd? Just writing that makes this is all just silly now- the ceremony is for the pomp and circumstance so if not doing that, just email the diplomas in a .pdf file. If took vote, many would likely vote for that.

Are you for real? You think HS honor cords and an entire post-graduate degree are equivalent and therefore belong in the same category of restriction? Do you know how ignorant you sound when you write things like that?

Someone hit a nerve with you! JFC. Dial it down a notch.