Why is our graduation at Eagle Bank???!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This just in - unsure if this means JMHS will still have graduation at DAR next year

The Fairfax County School Board on May 11 unanimously approved a $500,000-per-year, sole-source contract with Monumental Sports & Entertainment to rent EagleBank Arena at George Mason University’s Fairfax campus for graduation ceremonies. The contract will run for five years and have a total value of $2.5 million

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 My kid will graduate from JMHS next year and I’m praying for GMU! So much more convenient for my whole family!

Don't count on it.

I totally agree that GMU is more convenient and makes more sense. But, you should accept that it will likely be at DAR... and it's not as hard to get there as I expected. It was a lovely venue for the ceremony. It was frustrating and difficult getting out of the garage. But, really, going to DAR (as out of the way as it is), worked out. Don't make it more dramatic than it has to be. This whole thread is silly. For those going to GMU -- yay!-- enjoy. For those going to DAR --- yay! --- enjoy.

Either option will work out.

+1
And the easiest option for DAR is simply parking at your school or at Tysons and taking an Uber there and back. This really is a stupid thread.

Marshall offers ride for friends/family on shuttle buses. School buses, so not fancy, but it takes you from the school to the venue and back again.

+2
I think all the schools offer this, which is great. We used Uber because the school buses aren't air conditioned and we had elderly grandparents, but a lot of families rode the school buses. Easy and free.

I wish Madison did this.

[Anonymous]

Is TJ graduation always on a Saturday night?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who tf brings their entire family to a high school graduation?

I have been to all my nieces and nephews graduation. Our family enjoys celebrating educational achievements and graduation is part of that.

PP doesn’t understand that some people have strong families who love each other and like to celebrate every milestone they can together.

It’s sad for them.

[Anonymous]

OP have you had graduation yet? Please report back on whether you survived.

[Anonymous]

Maybe they’d rather be at one of today’s outdoor graduations, breathing in all that fresh clean air.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they’d rather be at one of today’s outdoor graduations, breathing in all that fresh clean air.

[Anonymous]

OP, be grateful. It took many parents two hours to get in, get parking, and get into the building - these are people who live 20 minutes away.

There is mad construction at every turn, and one important fact to note: DAR Constitution Hall does NOT admit you if you are late! You have to wait until well after Pomp and Circumstance (you will miss your graduate/s entering the venue), and after the Pledge of Allegiance, etc. If you are late.

The doors are literally locked and staff will not let you in until well into the ceremony. Plan accordingly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, almost no FCPS schools graduate at DAR - only four. The majority graduate at Eagle Bank.

Given the stories I've heard about traffic, timing, accessibility, etc. I'd actually prefer my kid wasn't going to be graduating at DAR (my older one graduated at Jiffy Lube Live due to COVID and, name aside, I thought it was a great choice). The grass is always greener, I suppose.

+1

Jiffy Lube was the only good idea FCPS has ever (EVER) had.

Except for "Jiffy Lube Live" on the graduation programs. Shudder.

My kid graduated two years ago at Jiffy Lube Live and I can promise you that I haven’t looked at the program since. I barely looked at it that day other than brief glances to see where we were in the schedule; I had better things to think about. It’s not like it says Jiffy Lube Live on DCs diploma, which is the paper that matters.

But still.

JLL was ten times better than DAR Constitution Hall, for the record. Not one person in my party was impressed by having the ceremony at DAR Constitution Hall - yet, people STILL talk about how EASY JLL was - to get in and out, to get seats, how great it was to be in a big, wide open venue. JLL is just a better idea, all around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This just in - unsure if this means JMHS will still have graduation at DAR next year

The Fairfax County School Board on May 11 unanimously approved a $500,000-per-year, sole-source contract with Monumental Sports & Entertainment to rent EagleBank Arena at George Mason University’s Fairfax campus for graduation ceremonies. The contract will run for five years and have a total value of $2.5 million

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 My kid will graduate from JMHS next year and I’m praying for GMU! So much more convenient for my whole family!

x1000000

DAR Constitution hall is a nightmare, and no one cares where the venue is, unless it is made easy for the families - that is what people remember. DAR Constitution Hall is not that, and whose hairbrained idea was that, anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This just in - unsure if this means JMHS will still have graduation at DAR next year

The Fairfax County School Board on May 11 unanimously approved a $500,000-per-year, sole-source contract with Monumental Sports & Entertainment to rent EagleBank Arena at George Mason University’s Fairfax campus for graduation ceremonies. The contract will run for five years and have a total value of $2.5 million

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 My kid will graduate from JMHS next year and I’m praying for GMU! So much more convenient for my whole family!

x1000000

DAR Constitution hall is a nightmare, and no one cares where the venue is, unless it is made easy for the families - that is what people remember. DAR Constitution Hall is not that, and whose hairbrained idea was that, anyway.

PP and same w/ jmhs grad next year. Ugh. Is there a way we could lobby for GMU?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This just in - unsure if this means JMHS will still have graduation at DAR next year

The Fairfax County School Board on May 11 unanimously approved a $500,000-per-year, sole-source contract with Monumental Sports & Entertainment to rent EagleBank Arena at George Mason University’s Fairfax campus for graduation ceremonies. The contract will run for five years and have a total value of $2.5 million

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 My kid will graduate from JMHS next year and I’m praying for GMU! So much more convenient for my whole family!

x1000000

DAR Constitution hall is a nightmare, and no one cares where the venue is, unless it is made easy for the families - that is what people remember. DAR Constitution Hall is not that, and whose hairbrained idea was that, anyway.

PP and same w/ jmhs grad next year. Ugh. Is there a way we could lobby for GMU?

Yes, how can we stop using DAR? It's such a PITA, esp the morning graduations.

[Anonymous]

I guarantee that Madison’s (and Marshall, Langley and McLean) graduation will be at DAR next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, almost no FCPS schools graduate at DAR - only four. The majority graduate at Eagle Bank.

Given the stories I've heard about traffic, timing, accessibility, etc. I'd actually prefer my kid wasn't going to be graduating at DAR (my older one graduated at Jiffy Lube Live due to COVID and, name aside, I thought it was a great choice). The grass is always greener, I suppose.

+1

Jiffy Lube was the only good idea FCPS has ever (EVER) had.

Except for "Jiffy Lube Live" on the graduation programs. Shudder.

My kid graduated two years ago at Jiffy Lube Live and I can promise you that I haven’t looked at the program since. I barely looked at it that day other than brief glances to see where we were in the schedule; I had better things to think about. It’s not like it says Jiffy Lube Live on DCs diploma, which is the paper that matters.

But still.

JLL was ten times better than DAR Constitution Hall, for the record. Not one person in my party was impressed by having the ceremony at DAR Constitution Hall - yet, people STILL talk about how EASY JLL was - to get in and out, to get seats, how great it was to be in a big, wide open venue. JLL is just a better idea, all around.

Yeah us Region 3 folks REALLY love the idea of driving an hour to another county for graduation.

I guess I forgot that western Fairfax is all that matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, almost no FCPS schools graduate at DAR - only four. The majority graduate at Eagle Bank.

Given the stories I've heard about traffic, timing, accessibility, etc. I'd actually prefer my kid wasn't going to be graduating at DAR (my older one graduated at Jiffy Lube Live due to COVID and, name aside, I thought it was a great choice). The grass is always greener, I suppose.

+1

Jiffy Lube was the only good idea FCPS has ever (EVER) had.

Except for "Jiffy Lube Live" on the graduation programs. Shudder.

My kid graduated two years ago at Jiffy Lube Live and I can promise you that I haven’t looked at the program since. I barely looked at it that day other than brief glances to see where we were in the schedule; I had better things to think about. It’s not like it says Jiffy Lube Live on DCs diploma, which is the paper that matters.

But still.

JLL was ten times better than DAR Constitution Hall, for the record. Not one person in my party was impressed by having the ceremony at DAR Constitution Hall - yet, people STILL talk about how EASY JLL was - to get in and out, to get seats, how great it was to be in a big, wide open venue. JLL is just a better idea, all around.

Yeah us Region 3 folks REALLY love the idea of driving an hour to another county for graduation.

I guess I forgot that western Fairfax is all that matters.

To be fair, these are the parents of kids that graduate at DAR (so Marshall, Madison, McLean and Langley) that is saying JLL is better, not all FCPS parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guarantee that Madison’s (and Marshall, Langley and McLean) graduation will be at DAR next year.

I suspect someone is getting a kickback or at least wined and dined to ensure this happens.