Anonymous
06/09/2026 21:57
Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, could you please articulate why this is important to you/your kid?
(To be clear, I ask this question as the parent of kids who do very well academically, and their graduation accessories are not something that matters to me, so I'm trying to understand where you're coming from.)
The reasoning the kids were given is to protect the feelings of those who don't have honor cords -- who (whether voluntarily or involuntarily) decided not to join the honor societies or organizations that the honor cords denote. So, some kids are not being allowed to celebrate their hard won success to protect the fragility of others.
This is the same thing as the "participation trophy" in kindergarten soccer - -except now we are talking about adults about to enter the real world.
That fits with the “equity” portion of FCPS’ overarching mission statement, known as the One Fairfax policy.
Essentially One Fairfax = DEI comes first in FCPS.
Exactly. All DEI and Woke, but what FCPS doesn't understand is that the tide has turned - look what happened to TJ by trying it (dropped to 14th in the nation, etc.). Every institution is dropping it, if not loudly, quietly. FCPS is going the wrong way.
Anonymous
06/09/2026 20:17
Subject: Re:No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Well when the kids line up to graduate, they should take off all the Amazon s*it and any non official awards, as that should be tracked.
Anonymous
06/09/2026 20:08
Subject: Re:No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:Kids are ordering them from Amazon now. It's a joke.
It’s become a competition!
Anonymous
06/09/2026 20:01
Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Robinson doesn’t take anything away. It explicitly says on their website no flowers or leis, but there are always one or two kids with them. Same with non school sanctioned cords and medals.
Anonymous
06/09/2026 19:21
Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
there was lots of Amazon cords at Woodson. The kids seems to like them. I did laugh about the scouts cords because it seems so random.
Anonymous
06/09/2026 19:07
Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
So now an NHS stole and a service cord are “obscene displays of grandiosity”? You sound insane.
Of course those two alone are not obscene, but a kid wearing 12-20 cords plus 4-6 medals, which they purchased online, is obscene.
You must be from Maryland or Loudoyn, or perhaps California.
FCPS (Fairfax County, Virginia) does not allow cords that students purchase on Amazon. Those get thrown in the trash or taken back to the high schools when the admin checks in the students for graduation.
FCPS (again, Fairfax County Virginia, NOT maryland or Loudoun or whatever state where you are from) is very strict about only allowing cords on the approved list.
No student will be able to get 20 cords. It just is not possible.
Those of you from other districts should not be commenting here.
I'm from FCPS. No one checked cords at any of my kids' graduations, and there were definitely kids with 12+ cords.
My neighbor bragged about buying cords and medals on Amazon for both of her kids. No one checked any of their cords and medals.
What achool?
I am highly skeptical of your post
I teach at an FCPS school. No one takes away fake/amazon cords. Kids wear whatever they want.
The adult and alternative high schools graduating at the end of the week? Of course. Let them buy cords on Amazon. Who cares.
Who else is left after today?
Lake Braddock, Robinson, Herndon and Madison?
I am pretty sure Lake Braddock and Robinson limit cords to the approved. I would imagine that Madison does as well.
I can't speak to Herndon as I don't know any kids from there.
Anonymous
06/09/2026 18:43
Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:This wouldn’t bother me at all. Things have gotten to the point where no one knows what many of the cords mean anyway.
Have at it, ridiculous OP.
+1
Anonymous
06/09/2026 18:40
Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
So now an NHS stole and a service cord are “obscene displays of grandiosity”? You sound insane.
Of course those two alone are not obscene, but a kid wearing 12-20 cords plus 4-6 medals, which they purchased online, is obscene.
You must be from Maryland or Loudoyn, or perhaps California.
FCPS (Fairfax County, Virginia) does not allow cords that students purchase on Amazon. Those get thrown in the trash or taken back to the high schools when the admin checks in the students for graduation.
FCPS (again, Fairfax County Virginia, NOT maryland or Loudoun or whatever state where you are from) is very strict about only allowing cords on the approved list.
No student will be able to get 20 cords. It just is not possible.
Those of you from other districts should not be commenting here.
+1
I am an FCPS parent, and I have been following this thread because my youngest graduates in 2 years.
There seems to one or more trolls posting on this thread. Several posters seem to k ow nothing at all about FCPS, let alone HS graduation here.
The troll posting about “buying cords on Amazon” appears to have fabricated that just to stir up trouble here. Go away trolls!
Anonymous
06/09/2026 18:17
Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
So now an NHS stole and a service cord are “obscene displays of grandiosity”? You sound insane.
Of course those two alone are not obscene, but a kid wearing 12-20 cords plus 4-6 medals, which they purchased online, is obscene.
You must be from Maryland or Loudoyn, or perhaps California.
FCPS (Fairfax County, Virginia) does not allow cords that students purchase on Amazon. Those get thrown in the trash or taken back to the high schools when the admin checks in the students for graduation.
FCPS (again, Fairfax County Virginia, NOT maryland or Loudoun or whatever state where you are from) is very strict about only allowing cords on the approved list.
No student will be able to get 20 cords. It just is not possible.
Those of you from other districts should not be commenting here.
I'm from FCPS. No one checked cords at any of my kids' graduations, and there were definitely kids with 12+ cords.
My neighbor bragged about buying cords and medals on Amazon for both of her kids. No one checked any of their cords and medals.
What achool?
I am highly skeptical of your post
I teach at an FCPS school. No one takes away fake/amazon cords. Kids wear whatever they want.
Since you are a teacher, presumably HS, have you heard about this change?
No.
That said, we have not even completed this year’s graduation yet. I would imagine policy for next year will come out next year.
Anonymous
06/09/2026 18:10
Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
So now an NHS stole and a service cord are “obscene displays of grandiosity”? You sound insane.
Of course those two alone are not obscene, but a kid wearing 12-20 cords plus 4-6 medals, which they purchased online, is obscene.
You must be from Maryland or Loudoyn, or perhaps California.
FCPS (Fairfax County, Virginia) does not allow cords that students purchase on Amazon. Those get thrown in the trash or taken back to the high schools when the admin checks in the students for graduation.
FCPS (again, Fairfax County Virginia, NOT maryland or Loudoun or whatever state where you are from) is very strict about only allowing cords on the approved list.
No student will be able to get 20 cords. It just is not possible.
Those of you from other districts should not be commenting here.
I'm from FCPS. No one checked cords at any of my kids' graduations, and there were definitely kids with 12+ cords.
My neighbor bragged about buying cords and medals on Amazon for both of her kids. No one checked any of their cords and medals.
What achool?
I am highly skeptical of your post
I teach at an FCPS school. No one takes away fake/amazon cords. Kids wear whatever they want.
Since you are a teacher, presumably HS, have you heard about this change?
Anonymous
06/09/2026 17:31
Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
So now an NHS stole and a service cord are “obscene displays of grandiosity”? You sound insane.
Of course those two alone are not obscene, but a kid wearing 12-20 cords plus 4-6 medals, which they purchased online, is obscene.
You must be from Maryland or Loudoyn, or perhaps California.
FCPS (Fairfax County, Virginia) does not allow cords that students purchase on Amazon. Those get thrown in the trash or taken back to the high schools when the admin checks in the students for graduation.
FCPS (again, Fairfax County Virginia, NOT maryland or Loudoun or whatever state where you are from) is very strict about only allowing cords on the approved list.
No student will be able to get 20 cords. It just is not possible.
Those of you from other districts should not be commenting here.
I'm from FCPS. No one checked cords at any of my kids' graduations, and there were definitely kids with 12+ cords.
My neighbor bragged about buying cords and medals on Amazon for both of her kids. No one checked any of their cords and medals.
What achool?
I am highly skeptical of your post
I teach at an FCPS school. No one takes away fake/amazon cords. Kids wear whatever they want.
Anonymous
06/09/2026 17:00
Subject: Re:No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:OP, which school does your child attend? I have a rising senior and have not heard of this change. It seems like something that would be communicated division-wide and not on an individual school basis.
OP here - I am not a troll. I'm a real parent who is questioning this new proposed policy. It has not yet been widely circulated -- but teachers at my child's school (and perhaps FCPS wide, not sure) received emails about this.
Given how there are some uber-sleuths on this thread who have decided to pick apart my posts, examine purported "inconsistencies," and then declare I am a troll, I'm going to limit my responses here on out. I posted as a genuine question to see if others had heard this (and yes, inserted my own opinion *horror* if it turns out to be true).
Anonymous
06/09/2026 16:27
Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
So now an NHS stole and a service cord are “obscene displays of grandiosity”? You sound insane.
Of course those two alone are not obscene, but a kid wearing 12-20 cords plus 4-6 medals, which they purchased online, is obscene.
You must be from Maryland or Loudoyn, or perhaps California.
FCPS (Fairfax County, Virginia) does not allow cords that students purchase on Amazon. Those get thrown in the trash or taken back to the high schools when the admin checks in the students for graduation.
FCPS (again, Fairfax County Virginia, NOT maryland or Loudoun or whatever state where you are from) is very strict about only allowing cords on the approved list.
No student will be able to get 20 cords. It just is not possible.
Those of you from other districts should not be commenting here.
I'm from FCPS. No one checked cords at any of my kids' graduations, and there were definitely kids with 12+ cords.
My neighbor bragged about buying cords and medals on Amazon for both of her kids. No one checked any of their cords and medals.
What achool?
I am highly skeptical of your post
Anonymous
06/09/2026 15:49
Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
So now an NHS stole and a service cord are “obscene displays of grandiosity”? You sound insane.
Of course those two alone are not obscene, but a kid wearing 12-20 cords plus 4-6 medals, which they purchased online, is obscene.
You must be from Maryland or Loudoyn, or perhaps California.
FCPS (Fairfax County, Virginia) does not allow cords that students purchase on Amazon. Those get thrown in the trash or taken back to the high schools when the admin checks in the students for graduation.
FCPS (again, Fairfax County Virginia, NOT maryland or Loudoun or whatever state where you are from) is very strict about only allowing cords on the approved list.
No student will be able to get 20 cords. It just is not possible.
Those of you from other districts should not be commenting here.
I'm from FCPS. No one checked cords at any of my kids' graduations, and there were definitely kids with 12+ cords.
My neighbor bragged about buying cords and medals on Amazon for both of her kids. No one checked any of their cords and medals.
Anonymous
06/09/2026 15:44
Subject: No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
So now an NHS stole and a service cord are “obscene displays of grandiosity”? You sound insane.
Of course those two alone are not obscene, but a kid wearing 12-20 cords plus 4-6 medals, which they purchased online, is obscene.
You must be from Maryland or Loudoyn, or perhaps California.
FCPS (Fairfax County, Virginia) does not allow cords that students purchase on Amazon. Those get thrown in the trash or taken back to the high schools when the admin checks in the students for graduation.
FCPS (again, Fairfax County Virginia, NOT maryland or Loudoun or whatever state where you are from) is very strict about only allowing cords on the approved list.
No student will be able to get 20 cords. It just is not possible.
Those of you from other districts should not be commenting here.