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

[Anonymous]

DAR seats only about 3200, so families are limited in whom they can bring. Eagle bank seats 10000, so more families can come. Only 25 schools can graduate at Eagle Bank, so the others have to look elsewhere. Outdoor graduations are always risky due to weather.

[Anonymous]

I graduated from my base school

[Anonymous]

This teacher was wearing a mask
I wanted to cry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DAR seats only about 3200, so families are limited in whom they can bring. Eagle bank seats 10000, so more families can come. Only 25 schools can graduate at Eagle Bank, so the others have to look elsewhere. Outdoor graduations are always risky due to weather.

You apparently missed my earlier post a couple pages back at the bottom. There are, in fact, 25 regular high schools. All could use GMU for the next 5 yrs. FCPS has a new contract for uo to 25 graduations at GMU for the next 5 yrs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DAR seats only about 3200, so families are limited in whom they can bring. Eagle bank seats 10000, so more families can come. Only 25 schools can graduate at Eagle Bank, so the others have to look elsewhere. Outdoor graduations are always risky due to weather.

You apparently missed my earlier post a couple pages back at the bottom. There are, in fact, 25 regular high schools. All could use GMU for the next 5 yrs. FCPS has a new contract for uo to 25 graduations at GMU for the next 5 yrs.

But four of them prefer their alternative plan that has worked fine for many years, with no problems.
DP

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Marshall graduation at DAR Constitution Hall:

Beautiful. Funny, this picture makes it look smaller than it is. It's actually very spacious.

Why is it "beautiful"? Because the lights are on? It looks jam packed, and not very comfortable. Never mind having to leave one's house at 7 AM to stand any chance in line. Yikes.

Look, you're entitled to your opinion, as am I. I think DAR is beautiful and I'm happy to have my kids graduate there. You are very unhappy - so go do something about it.

Why are you pretending to know anything about a poster? Are you told to sit in the kitchen barefoot and shut up - therefor, no dissent is tolerated? Absurd.

WTAF did I just read? You have some major anger issues that clearly go well beyond graduation venues.

You are inaccurate and also projecting.

Says the poster who actually said, "Are you told to sit in the kitchen barefoot and shut up - therefor, no dissent is tolerated?" No projection there, none at all!

Actually, I'm the breadwinner in the family, so wrong again. Your narratives are quite a bit off.

And yet you’re the one who started in with the false (and bizarre) narratives in the first place. All because you’re throwing a tantrum. Very odd.

You are the one throwing a tantrum, my dear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DAR seats only about 3200, so families are limited in whom they can bring. Eagle bank seats 10000, so more families can come. Only 25 schools can graduate at Eagle Bank, so the others have to look elsewhere. Outdoor graduations are always risky due to weather.

\

This is the most reasonable post so far. Thank you for the information. Wondering why other PP's have such a hard time providing useful information instead of emotional steadfastness? It is fine to want your graduation where you want it, it is not fine to make proclamations about how is will never change, and that everyone else feels the same way - when clearly that is not true.

[Anonymous]

I’m not as emotional or partisan about this issue as some others here seem to be.

One issue is whether DAR simply becomes untenable once senior classes hit a certain size. McLean had 620 seniors this year. Madison has now been expanded to accomplish 2500 students. In the past graduating classes were closer to 500 kids and total enrollments were closer to 2100 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought all FCPS Schools graduated at DAR. Apparently not. Our school is doing their ceremony at GMU. Seriously? A horrendous venue in a mediocre part of Fairfax County. The arena is a literal box and feels like a warehouse more than a venue. Horrendous lighting and acoustics. FCPS is again cutting corners.

Because mean girls become mean moms, OP - and they want their way.

Yes and sadly we have a lot of mean moms and dads in this county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only the top high schools get DAR as their graduation venue. McLean, Langley, Madison, Marshall.

Eagle Bank is for the riffraff.

It’s because of proximity. Those four FCPS schools happen to be closest to DAR. Arlington also does DAR.

FCCPS was also at DAR until Covid. Now it's on the football field - a HUGE improvement! DAR was a pain in the ass in every way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only the top high schools get DAR as their graduation venue. McLean, Langley, Madison, Marshall.

Eagle Bank is for the riffraff.

It’s because of proximity. Those four FCPS schools happen to be closest to DAR. Arlington also does DAR.

FCCPS was also at DAR until Covid. Now it's on the football field - a HUGE improvement! DAR was a pain in the ass in every way.

I can’t see how it’s an improvement to graduate on a football field next to a busy road and a Metro station, but you do you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought all FCPS Schools graduated at DAR. Apparently not. Our school is doing their ceremony at GMU. Seriously? A horrendous venue in a mediocre part of Fairfax County. The arena is a literal box and feels like a warehouse more than a venue. Horrendous lighting and acoustics. FCPS is again cutting corners.

Because mean girls become mean moms, OP - and they want their way.

Yes and sadly we have a lot of mean moms and dads in this county.

+1

Too many, but thankfully NOT the majority!

[Anonymous]

Parents of public school seniors can hold both views at the same time:

1. DAR is a well-maintained, aesthetically-pleasing venue.

AND

2. Ease of access, free and plentiful parking, and plenty of space are more important considerations for choosing a site for public school graduations.


DAR does give a more "chic-chic" feel -- more like a private school setting. I think that really speaks to some parents more than others who are fine with the "generic big box store" feel of GMU. That's really what it boils down to. And it's not surprising which schools have historically chosen the "chic-chic" feel ... they are the schools that are considered more high-end SES (less so in regards to Marshall... but the other three needed a fourth to fill out the reservation).

I don't need the private-school-like venue to make my kids' graduations a special event. But, I can see how some would very much value the upscale setting. That said, I think it's the job of the district or principals to consider what works well for everyone since this is PUBLIC school. I repeat: no one should have to pay for parking to see their kid graduate HS... even if they can afford it. It's like attaching an extra fee to see your kid graduate. That's not "public school" in my book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents of public school seniors can hold both views at the same time:

1. DAR is a well-maintained, aesthetically-pleasing venue.

AND

2. Ease of access, free and plentiful parking, and plenty of space are more important considerations for choosing a site for public school graduations.


DAR does give a more "chic-chic" feel -- more like a private school setting. I think that really speaks to some parents more than others who are fine with the "generic big box store" feel of GMU. That's really what it boils down to. And it's not surprising which schools have historically chosen the "chic-chic" feel ... they are the schools that are considered more high-end SES (less so in regards to Marshall... but the other three needed a fourth to fill out the reservation).

I don't need the private-school-like venue to make my kids' graduations a special event. But, I can see how some would very much value the upscale setting. That said, I think it's the job of the district or principals to consider what works well for everyone since this is PUBLIC school. I repeat: no one should have to pay for parking to see their kid graduate HS... even if they can afford it. It's like attaching an extra fee to see your kid graduate. That's not "public school" in my book.

Parents have to pay to watch their kids’ athletic events. Kids have to pay for senior pictures and prom. You can pay for parking at a DAR graduation or take an Uber or bus if you’re unwilling to do so.

DAR has worked just fine for years. It’s a beautiful, historic location. Absent a more compelling reason than you’ve provided, let the schools that graduate there continue to do so.

[Anonymous]

Let them eat cake! (Or ride Uber!)