Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 09:57     Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:IMO cords are dumb. I went to MIT and it didn't allow anything. In a crazy rat race we don't need even more mini races that don't matter.


+1

It used to be that we made a very big deal out of post-graduate degrees, a big deal out of college graduation, and a minor deal out of high school graduation.

Now, we make a huge deal out of high school graduation (even throwing parties that cost $10K or more), and we expect promotion ceremonies and major school awards at the end of preschool, kindergarten, sixth grade, and eighth grade.

It has gotten way out of hand.


Disagree. High school graduation was historically a big deal, because most people never went beyond that (even today, most American adults don’t hold a college degree).

And we have a photo of my 80 year old dad in a little cap and gown from his preschool/K graduation. This isn’t new.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 09:13     Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Has anyone else's child come home and reported this update for all FCPS graduations next year?

I'm told that since we don't want to make some kids feel bad - no graduates will be allowed to wear honor cords showing their achievements starting with next year's graduations.

Is this what we've come to? Protecting the fragile feelings of some kids who has chosen to concentrate their achievements elsewhere (ie, could be community, sports) or just decided academic achievement wasn't a focus for them. And now no graduates are allowed to celebrate academic achievements.

So disappointed, FCPS.
Want to know if others have heard this as well.


Athletes who win a state championship should absolutely be allowed to wear their medal.
\
What medal? Don't they get rings?
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 09:10     Subject: Re:No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:Off topic. Is there an easy way to recycle or reuse the gown?


My kid’s gown was black and I use it as the basis for my Harry Potter Halloween costume. Pin a griffindor crest on it, stuffed owl (from Winnie the Pooh) on my shoulder and draw a scar on my forehead. Only takes a few minutes to put together.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 08:57     Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:OP, where is this info, I would love to see it verified.

Constant dumbing down. We worship all the athletes but academics mean nothing. Well my kid didn't make states in her sport. So I don't think we should hear about anyone who did? See how stupid that sounds.

I still don't know if I believe this


+100
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 08:56     Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:Has anyone else's child come home and reported this update for all FCPS graduations next year?

I'm told that since we don't want to make some kids feel bad - no graduates will be allowed to wear honor cords showing their achievements starting with next year's graduations.

Is this what we've come to? Protecting the fragile feelings of some kids who has chosen to concentrate their achievements elsewhere (ie, could be community, sports) or just decided academic achievement wasn't a focus for them. And now no graduates are allowed to celebrate academic achievements.

So disappointed, FCPS.
Want to know if others have heard this as well.


Athletes who win a state championship should absolutely be allowed to wear their medal.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 08:55     Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Several of the graduates at our school wore stoles that were significant to their culture. Examples are that two girls whose parents are from Ghana wore stoles with the colors of the Ghanaian flag, one boy from Hawaii had a beautiful lei.

Why would FCPS deny students and their families this nod to their heritage?
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 08:47     Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:IMO cords are dumb. I went to MIT and it didn't allow anything. In a crazy rat race we don't need even more mini races that don't matter.


+1

It used to be that we made a very big deal out of post-graduate degrees, a big deal out of college graduation, and a minor deal out of high school graduation.

Now, we make a huge deal out of high school graduation (even throwing parties that cost $10K or more), and we expect promotion ceremonies and major school awards at the end of preschool, kindergarten, sixth grade, and eighth grade.

It has gotten way out of hand.


So what? People can celebrate how they want to.


Fine, you can celebrate how you choose. But expecting the schools to host major awards and promotion ceremonies, give trophies for having a pulse, and allow for obscene displays of grandiosity at graduation is out of hand.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 08:41     Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Where's the list of cords?
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 08:40     Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why is there a Girl Scout/Boy Scout cord but no cords for sports?


Why would there be cords for sports? Also, for those with younger kids who might not know, although FCPS includes an official list of the cords in the program, most of those are purchased by the student, not FCPS. My DC received a service hours cord from FCPS, but her other cords were paid for from the dues to the activity.


Cords are for service and academics only. Not sports. Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts are about service - that’s why they get cords.


Actually, my senior received a cord for being a varsity athlete this year, which she was surprised about. 2 years ago, my son at the same school did not receive a varsity athlete cord
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 08:21     Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Troll.


I assure you I'm not. I have a rising HS Senior who came home last week and told me this news. I'm trying to corroborate this information here before I send my feedback directly to Michelle Reid!


I will ask DD, who graduates tomorrow

I am so thankful to be DONE with FCPS and the continuing decline, through mismanagement, of what was once a great school system. Reid and the SB are 100% at fault here.


And yet you will no doubt vote them all back in.


I will never vote for another FCPS school board candidate with a “D” on their endorsement.

The last two all-democrat school boards have been total disasters.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 08:17     Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why is there a Girl Scout/Boy Scout cord but no cords for sports?


Why would there be cords for sports? Also, for those with younger kids who might not know, although FCPS includes an official list of the cords in the program, most of those are purchased by the student, not FCPS. My DC received a service hours cord from FCPS, but her other cords were paid for from the dues to the activity.


Cords are for service and academics only. Not sports. Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts are about service - that’s why they get cords.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 08:17     Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Graduation is the culmination of your whole childhood chapter. Let them have one moment in time to pull it all together. If they want to wear a cord, let it be. Geez.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 08:09     Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Troll.


I assure you I'm not. I have a rising HS Senior who came home last week and told me this news. I'm trying to corroborate this information here before I send my feedback directly to Michelle Reid!


I will ask DD, who graduates tomorrow

I am so thankful to be DONE with FCPS and the continuing decline, through mismanagement, of what was once a great school system. Reid and the SB are 100% at fault here.


And yet you will no doubt vote them all back in.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 08:07     Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:Why is there a Girl Scout/Boy Scout cord but no cords for sports?


Why would there be cords for sports? Also, for those with younger kids who might not know, although FCPS includes an official list of the cords in the program, most of those are purchased by the student, not FCPS. My DC received a service hours cord from FCPS, but her other cords were paid for from the dues to the activity.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 07:38     Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:IMO cords are dumb. I went to MIT and it didn't allow anything. In a crazy rat race we don't need even more mini races that don't matter.


+1

It used to be that we made a very big deal out of post-graduate degrees, a big deal out of college graduation, and a minor deal out of high school graduation.

Now, we make a huge deal out of high school graduation (even throwing parties that cost $10K or more), and we expect promotion ceremonies and major school awards at the end of preschool, kindergarten, sixth grade, and eighth grade.

It has gotten way out of hand.


So what? People can celebrate how they want to.