Constitution Hall graduations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:boy people complaint about EVERYTHING. damn spoiled americans.

You know, a discussion about options seems reasonable. Constitution Hall is hardly simple for VA graduations. It's a beautiful venue but if you're trying to accommodate hundreds if not thousands of folks coming in from the suburbs -- and sometimes the far suburbs, as Fairfax to DC isn't an easy stretch, there are going to be kinks and maybe there are options our schools haven't considered out of pure inertia.

We just did it last week for the second time. It is not that hard. People commute every day to nearly the same location, in traffic, with parking issues. It is a lovely location for a graduation and worth any perceived hassle. It is one day out of the thousands that your DC attended school.

Let's see how the perceived hassle strikes you when you're wrangling 2 wheelchairs and a rush-hour arrival time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:boy people complaint about EVERYTHING. damn spoiled americans.

You know, a discussion about options seems reasonable. Constitution Hall is hardly simple for VA graduations. It's a beautiful venue but if you're trying to accommodate hundreds if not thousands of folks coming in from the suburbs -- and sometimes the far suburbs, as Fairfax to DC isn't an easy stretch, there are going to be kinks and maybe there are options our schools haven't considered out of pure inertia.

We just did it last week for the second time. It is not that hard. People commute every day to nearly the same location, in traffic, with parking issues. It is a lovely location for a graduation and worth any perceived hassle. It is one day out of the thousands that your DC attended school.

Let's see how the perceived hassle strikes you when you're wrangling 2 wheelchairs and a rush-hour arrival time.

Your assumption is incorrect.
With the first one we had a wheelchair for my father and with the second one my DH had a broken leg. It still was not as much of a hassle as other things we have done with the wheelchair. While we did not start at rush hour, we ended at rush hour. So I have an idea. Planning to arrive early is the way to beat rush hour. The side accessible entrance worked perfectly fine with the wheelchair and for my DH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:boy people complaint about EVERYTHING. damn spoiled americans.

You know, a discussion about options seems reasonable. Constitution Hall is hardly simple for VA graduations. It's a beautiful venue but if you're trying to accommodate hundreds if not thousands of folks coming in from the suburbs -- and sometimes the far suburbs, as Fairfax to DC isn't an easy stretch, there are going to be kinks and maybe there are options our schools haven't considered out of pure inertia.

We just did it last week for the second time. It is not that hard. People commute every day to nearly the same location, in traffic, with parking issues. It is a lovely location for a graduation and worth any perceived hassle. It is one day out of the thousands that your DC attended school.

Let's see how the perceived hassle strikes you when you're wrangling 2 wheelchairs and a rush-hour arrival time.

Your assumption is incorrect.
With the first one we had a wheelchair for my father and with the second one my DH had a broken leg. It still was not as much of a hassle as other things we have done with the wheelchair. While we did not start at rush hour, we ended at rush hour. So I have an idea. Planning to arrive early is the way to beat rush hour. The side accessible entrance worked perfectly fine with the wheelchair and for my DH.

I'm glad it worked out for you. We arrived an hour ahead of time to unload at the wheelchair-accessible area. We were yelled at when we briefly parked in order to have one person unload the wheelchair and user. A school vehicle behind us honked for the few minutes it took for this procedure. When unloaded, the staff member wouldn't allow us to remain in that accessible area because the previous school was about to come out. And when it was time for our school's ceremony to begin, all persons with needs and their maximum 2 family members assembled as directed at this entrance, only to be told 10 minutes before the ceremony began that we would not be permitted to enter and had to use 18th street instead. Everyone there rebelled until someone finally told us we could enter. And once in, there were so few wheelchair accessible seating areas that we had to split up our party.

I think Constitution Hall would have been an incredible venue if only able-bodied family members were attending. We would have happily Metroed in and taken our time with photos outside the hall and on the Mall. Then we would have Ubered or Metroed home at our own pace. The reality is grandparents and others with needs just can't access this venue. And because it's graduation, there are going to be a lot more people with needs than at a typical event there. Constitution Hall is from a different era and it simply can't accommodate these kinds of crowds every 2 hours.

[Anonymous]

And, to the PP who asked about ticket SALES, my senior was *issued* five tickets. If you needed more, HS staff helped acquire. Still, you are limited as DAR can only accommodate so many. In a graduating class of 500, space has to be made for the faculty, honored guests AND families. There were no vacant seats at DAR.

We could not invite our three local grandparents.

I vote to stay in VA. Yes, it was a lovely ceremony, but it's a high school graduation after all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:boy people complaint about EVERYTHING. damn spoiled americans.

You know, a discussion about options seems reasonable. Constitution Hall is hardly simple for VA graduations. It's a beautiful venue but if you're trying to accommodate hundreds if not thousands of folks coming in from the suburbs -- and sometimes the far suburbs, as Fairfax to DC isn't an easy stretch, there are going to be kinks and maybe there are options our schools haven't considered out of pure inertia.

We just did it last week for the second time. It is not that hard. People commute every day to nearly the same location, in traffic, with parking issues. It is a lovely location for a graduation and worth any perceived hassle. It is one day out of the thousands that your DC attended school.

Let's see how the perceived hassle strikes you when you're wrangling 2 wheelchairs and a rush-hour arrival time.

Your assumption is incorrect.
With the first one we had a wheelchair for my father and with the second one my DH had a broken leg. It still was not as much of a hassle as other things we have done with the wheelchair. While we did not start at rush hour, we ended at rush hour. So I have an idea. Planning to arrive early is the way to beat rush hour. The side accessible entrance worked perfectly fine with the wheelchair and for my DH.

I'm glad it worked out for you. We arrived an hour ahead of time to unload at the wheelchair-accessible area. We were yelled at when we briefly parked in order to have one person unload the wheelchair and user. A school vehicle behind us honked for the few minutes it took for this procedure. When unloaded, the staff member wouldn't allow us to remain in that accessible area because the previous school was about to come out. And when it was time for our school's ceremony to begin, all persons with needs and their maximum 2 family members assembled as directed at this entrance, only to be told 10 minutes before the ceremony began that we would not be permitted to enter and had to use 18th street instead. Everyone there rebelled until someone finally told us we could enter. And once in, there were so few wheelchair accessible seating areas that we had to split up our party.

I think Constitution Hall would have been an incredible venue if only able-bodied family members were attending. We would have happily Metroed in and taken our time with photos outside the hall and on the Mall. Then we would have Ubered or Metroed home at our own pace. The reality is grandparents and others with needs just can't access this venue. And because it's graduation, there are going to be a lot more people with needs than at a typical event there. Constitution Hall is from a different era and it simply can't accommodate these kinds of crowds every 2 hours.

I am sorry that was your experience, and it sounds frustrating. However, it is not universal. We had no trouble accessing the side entrance and were seated in a timely manner. For us, the graduations were every three hours. For example, Langely's graduation got out at 1:30, they opened the doors for McLean at 2:00, graduation started at 2:30 and we were leaving at 4:30.

[Anonymous]

DH and I were talking about how we would love Wolftrap as a high school graduation venue-- especially for an evening graduation. No AC, but it's a beautiful venue, with 3,800 covered seats, and never seems to be that hot, except in August. More seats, BTW, than Constitution Hall (3,702). ADA accessible, although wheelchairs could still be a hassle. We're TJ (graduates 450) so each kid could get 6 or 7 tickets. Overflow could sit on the lawn. More than enough parking. The smaller HSs should consider this.

Although, it is a national park, and

[Anonymous]

Hit submit too soon.

I'm sure Wolftrap has been considered. But it being a National Park, and having evening concerts in June could make it tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH and I were talking about how we would love Wolftrap as a high school graduation venue-- especially for an evening graduation. No AC, but it's a beautiful venue, with 3,800 covered seats, and never seems to be that hot, except in August. More seats, BTW, than Constitution Hall (3,702). ADA accessible, although wheelchairs could still be a hassle. We're TJ (graduates 450) so each kid could get 6 or 7 tickets. Overflow could sit on the lawn. More than enough parking. The smaller HSs should consider this.

Although, it is a national park, and

Brilliant thought!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH and I were talking about how we would love Wolftrap as a high school graduation venue-- especially for an evening graduation. No AC, but it's a beautiful venue, with 3,800 covered seats, and never seems to be that hot, except in August. More seats, BTW, than Constitution Hall (3,702). ADA accessible, although wheelchairs could still be a hassle. We're TJ (graduates 450) so each kid could get 6 or 7 tickets. Overflow could sit on the lawn. More than enough parking. The smaller HSs should consider this.

Although, it is a national park, and

98 more seats would not add any more tickets per student than are now given for DAR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I were talking about how we would love Wolftrap as a high school graduation venue-- especially for an evening graduation. No AC, but it's a beautiful venue, with 3,800 covered seats, and never seems to be that hot, except in August. More seats, BTW, than Constitution Hall (3,702). ADA accessible, although wheelchairs could still be a hassle. We're TJ (graduates 450) so each kid could get 6 or 7 tickets. Overflow could sit on the lawn. More than enough parking. The smaller HSs should consider this.

Although, it is a national park, and

Brilliant thought!

Great idea- it would be a beautiful venue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I were talking about how we would love Wolftrap as a high school graduation venue-- especially for an evening graduation. No AC, but it's a beautiful venue, with 3,800 covered seats, and never seems to be that hot, except in August. More seats, BTW, than Constitution Hall (3,702). ADA accessible, although wheelchairs could still be a hassle. We're TJ (graduates 450) so each kid could get 6 or 7 tickets. Overflow could sit on the lawn. More than enough parking. The smaller HSs should consider this.

Although, it is a national park, and

98 more seats would not add any more tickets per student than are now given for DAR.

Except that there is overflow lawn seating-- which is especially great for people who bring little kids, who can't sit still for 2 hours. So, people who "need" to bring 12 guests have an option. And some of the lawn seating has a good view. Unlike DAR, you don't have to drive into D.C. Wolftrap is much closer for most of FCPS, and there is plenty of parking.

Lots of people pay a lot of money for Wolftrap in June--- even lawn seats. And IMO it is one of the nicest venues in the DMV.


And let's get real-- nothing is going to please everyone. But, I oils love it if my kid graduated from Wolftrap, instead of GMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH and I were talking about how we would love Wolftrap as a high school graduation venue-- especially for an evening graduation. No AC, but it's a beautiful venue, with 3,800 covered seats, and never seems to be that hot, except in August. More seats, BTW, than Constitution Hall (3,702). ADA accessible, although wheelchairs could still be a hassle. We're TJ (graduates 450) so each kid could get 6 or 7 tickets. Overflow could sit on the lawn. More than enough parking. The smaller HSs should consider this.

Although, it is a national park, and

My older sister graduated from FCPS in the early 70s and they graduated from Wolf Trap. It was indeed a nice site. Was before both the fire and Wolf Trap expanding its summer schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I were talking about how we would love Wolftrap as a high school graduation venue-- especially for an evening graduation. No AC, but it's a beautiful venue, with 3,800 covered seats, and never seems to be that hot, except in August. More seats, BTW, than Constitution Hall (3,702). ADA accessible, although wheelchairs could still be a hassle. We're TJ (graduates 450) so each kid could get 6 or 7 tickets. Overflow could sit on the lawn. More than enough parking. The smaller HSs should consider this.

Although, it is a national park, and

98 more seats would not add any more tickets per student than are now given for DAR.

\

But the lawn seating for overflow would be great. Especially for squirmy little kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:- once grad is over DAR staff wanted everyone to leave immediately. There was literally no room for all to congregate in the lobby, so understable, but ushers just kept yelling "move along people" and "exit, please". Lovely backdrop for photos but this wasn't and couldn't be allowed.

This is because Constitution Hall's time window for each school's graduation is very short. I assume it's because they pack in the graduations back to back. Schools are aware of this and some of them are good about advance warnings to families. I get the idea that schools don't have much leverage on extending the time window.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is a beautiful venue. Our HS used to have their graduation at another FCPS HS--Robinson. It was disappointing to walk into a sea of blue and gold when these were not our school's colors, and older visitors were expected to sit in the bleachers!

For one day, I think the students deserve a beautiful location for their graduation.

Agreed. I would hate to have graduations at the Patriot Center or, even worse, another high school.

+100
It's very special that we're able to hold graduations at Constitution Hall. My in-laws couldn't believe it wasn't held on the football field at school, as it is in their hometown. Yes, it's a hassle to get there - but we went in with a group of other parents and rented a bus to take us down and back. Worked out so beautifully - door to door service.

I feel fortunate that we go to such an historic and beautiful venue for our kids' graduations. What an incredible memory.