Constitution Hall graduations

[Anonymous]

My first child graduated this week and I have mixed feelings about the ceremony being at DAR Constitution Hall. The venue is so beautiful but what a hassle having to navigate DC traffic and work around the many graduations stacked right after the other. Very difficult navigating with a family member in a wheelchair, too. While there's adequate outdoor space at our school, I guess there's no alternative if it rains because the auditorium is fairly small.

How do other families feel about the Constitution Hall ceremonies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My first child graduated this week and I have mixed feelings about the ceremony being at DAR Constitution Hall. The venue is so beautiful but what a hassle having to navigate DC traffic and work around the many graduations stacked right after the other. Very difficult navigating with a family member in a wheelchair, too. While there's adequate outdoor space at our school, I guess there's no alternative if it rains because the auditorium is fairly small.

How do other families feel about the Constitution Hall ceremonies?

Yes, it is a hassle but i guess you just deal with it for the sake of your kid. It's just one afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first child graduated this week and I have mixed feelings about the ceremony being at DAR Constitution Hall. The venue is so beautiful but what a hassle having to navigate DC traffic and work around the many graduations stacked right after the other. Very difficult navigating with a family member in a wheelchair, too. While there's adequate outdoor space at our school, I guess there's no alternative if it rains because the auditorium is fairly small.

How do other families feel about the Constitution Hall ceremonies?

Yes, it is a hassle but i guess you just deal with it for the sake of your kid. It's just one afternoon.

Well, obviously. Just thinking there could be other venues (esp in MD and VA) that would also work. I know lots of schools use GMU which at least would soften the parking hassles (would have happily Metroed in but for very frail grandparents).

[Anonymous]

A few years ago Clarksburg graduated at
Mount St. Mary's. It was so easy to get there and park.0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few years ago Clarksburg graduated at
Mount St. Mary's. It was so easy to get there and park.0

Excellent example.

[Anonymous]

I love it. We took taxis with my older son and my father had mobility issues,they have a side door that is wheel c hair friendly and they had all the families with family members that were similar sit in the back behind the graduates. It was perfectly fine. We took uber back. This year we took left both ways.

[Anonymous]

My kids attended two different high schools that both had their graduations at Constitution Hall. I like the venue, even though it took a while to get home afterwards.

[Anonymous]

I find it inconvenient. I have to go as a teacher and it is a hassle for families. Staff takes busses but traffic is an issue for everyone and it is difficult waiting when there is a graduation before you. There isn't a lot of room for all of the people. Many of us feel there are better alternatives.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Ours was in our HS field in 90 degree heat.

I'll go anywhere with AC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love it. We took taxis with my older son and my father had mobility issues,they have a side door that is wheel c hair friendly and they had all the families with family members that were similar sit in the back behind the graduates. It was perfectly fine. We took uber back. This year we took left both ways.

The "accessible" entrance was the biggest fail of our experience. We knew where to go -- had scoped it out in person, in fact -- and were barked at by DAR employees who tried to get us to go around to the regular entrance after we'd been waiting. Luckily everyone revolted. It was very demeaning and poorly handled at our event, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

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.

I agree, it would be a real letdown to have to go to someone else's high school. This happened at Potomac Falls last year.

Constitution Hall is a haul though.

[Anonymous]

Just had graduation there. Found it needlessly stressful and overly complicated.

- an early morning: students boarded school buses at 8:30

- parents arrived at 10:15 when the doors opened w/semi controlled chaos, with DAR staff opening sections at a time and making hoards of guests wait as each section filled to open another. I understand it can't be a free for all

- we reserved a parking spot in a garage about four blocks away. That was about the closest you can get. Once at the garage, it's valet parking.

- 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.

- mass crowding on the front steps. School buses idling to take faculty and staff back, everyone exiting, groups taking pictures.

- terribly long waiting for car to be returned via valet. Stood in stuffy, hot parking garage for over 20 minutes for car to be retrieved.

- exhausting, too complicated and felt rushed...all for pretty background.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just had graduation there. Found it needlessly stressful and overly complicated.

- an early morning: students boarded school buses at 8:30

- parents arrived at 10:15 when the doors opened w/semi controlled chaos, with DAR staff opening sections at a time and making hoards of guests wait as each section filled to open another. I understand it can't be a free for all

- we reserved a parking spot in a garage about four blocks away. That was about the closest you can get. Once at the garage, it's valet parking.

- 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.

- mass crowding on the front steps. School buses idling to take faculty and staff back, everyone exiting, groups taking pictures.

- terribly long waiting for car to be returned via valet. Stood in stuffy, hot parking garage for over 20 minutes for car to be retrieved.

- exhausting, too complicated and felt rushed...all for pretty background.

Very similar to our experience on Wednesday. We had buses delivering students and teachers and the band, and a Uhaul for the band instruments. Our buses arriving to unload as the previous group's buses are circling waiting to reload. Very ineffective staff. I know they're trying to cram in as many ceremonies as possible but it's just a sausage factory when you're dealing with the logistics of groups coming in and out.

I think we parked at the same garage. Next time I'll hope for street parking!