Why doesn't FCPS HAVE REAL 8TH GRADE GRADUATIONS?

[Anonymous]

I’ve seen “moving up” ceremonies at other schools (mostly privates) and they are significant for the kids. It celebrates the milestone for all the grades in the school. But privates are better at building community. This just isn’t a core value in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

I partially agree with OP. My 8th grader didn’t have a graduation ceremony but he did have a night party at school. The cafeteria was over capacity that night thanks (sarcastically) to the organizers following FCPS strict rules.
8th graders need a graduation ceremony (I don’t think they need caps and gowns), NOT an overcrowded night party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I partially agree with OP. My 8th grader didn’t have a graduation ceremony but he did have a night party at school. The cafeteria was over capacity that night thanks (sarcastically) to the organizers following FCPS strict rules.
8th graders need a graduation ceremony (I don’t think they need caps and gowns), NOT an overcrowded night party.

I disagree about the ceremony. Kids don't care about sitting for a long period of time, listening to speeches, then walking on stage, shaking hands, to receive a piece of paper. No 8th grader wants a graduation ceremony. The 12th grade one is incredibly boring, we attended last year for my oldest. You want as few graduation ceremonies as humanly possible, people!

But I agree about the evening party. My oldest's middle school had an evening party that was pretty awkward. A lot of girls came looking like adults, in very low cut and very short skin tight dresses, sky high heels. The boys came in casual clothes and looked like the boys they were. It underlined the extreme developmental range that exists at this age.

My second's 8th grade event, in a different MCPS school, will be at a party/gaming place during the day. Much better: the kids are allowed to be kids, don't need to dress up, there is no pressure to look or behave a certain way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Graduations are the world’s most boring ceremonies that parents feel obligated to attend. Thank goodness there are no MS ones. Get off TikTok, OP.

I’m just getting off this sites. Tons of people on TikTok agree with me. We are all taking about how 2019 was the last normal school year. This mother kid is now in 4th grade and only went back to “normal” and it’s not normal like 2018-2019 school year. We need to go back to everything paper and pencils . We need real normal and no more laptops or chomebokks or iPad. I’m just glad I was found an app where people agree with me. Good bye

LOL, this is such a great troll post.

[Anonymous]

8th grade graduations are dumb, that's why.

who wants more stupid meaningless ceremonies?

[Anonymous]

Moving from 8th grade to 9th grade is expected and not something that needs recognition. But Op, have a party for any reason you like. Nothing stopping you.

I was actually shocked by this area and all the extra activities surrounding high school graduation, beyond the HS ceremony. I mean imo, they d*mn well better graduate from high school! No surprise here. But I suppose my privilege is showing. I was helped by friends pointing out it's about celebrating the end of an era and it can be just about that.

Again Op, go have a party for any reason you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just imagine the insane asylum those Board email inboxes must resemble.

“I am trying not to overreact and take this personally but whY IS MY DAUGHTER’S KINDERGARTEN ROOM PAINTED YELLOW?!?! WHY DO YOU HATE CHILDREN SO MUCH?!?!”

“I was just on TikTok and a lot of really good get ready with me videos. WHY ISNT FCPS TEACHER OUR KIDS HOW TO DO THAt?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve seen “moving up” ceremonies at other schools (mostly privates) and they are significant for the kids. It celebrates the milestone for all the grades in the school. But privates are better at handing out medals to all kids since that’s what the helicopter parents pay for. This just isn’t a core value in FCPS.

FIFY

[Anonymous]

They do moving up ceremonies for 6th and 8th. That is plenty.

[Anonymous]

My how things have changed. When I went to school we had two graduation ceremonies. The first was kindergarten, where I was the valedictorian speaker and high graduation where I did not have a speaking role.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My how things have changed. When I went to school we had two graduation ceremonies. The first was kindergarten, where I was the valedictorian speaker and high graduation where I did not have a speaking role.

what did you say as valedictorian speaker for Kindergarten? ABC as easy 123?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP is a Beverly Hillbillies fan and wants their kid to be like Jethro Bodine an 8th grade graduate.

Ha! Granny in response to Jethro going to college: He already knows how to read and write...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah chill out.

Why is finishing 8th grade a milestone?? I don’t get 8th grade graduations unless it is like a k-8 private school and the kids scatter to other schools.

This. They are only in that school for two years. It is just transitional time. And who in FCPS would consider finishing 8th grade an accomplishment.

[Anonymous]

I am a foreigner but my understanding is that the US education system consists of three stages: primary (k-6), secondary (7-12), and post secondary (college).

Finishing a middile school (8th) does not mean finishing a seconday education. If anything, finishing an elementary school may be more meaningful than finishing a middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah chill out.

Why is finishing 8th grade a milestone?? I don’t get 8th grade graduations unless it is like a k-8 private school and the kids scatter to other schools.

This. They are only in that school for two years. It is just transitional time. And who in FCPS would consider finishing 8th grade an accomplishment.

Yes, only reason NYC has a 8th grade graduation, is because all the kids are attending different high schools and they will mostly not see each other again.