Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, almost no FCPS schools graduate at DAR - only four. The majority graduate at Eagle Bank.

Given the stories I've heard about traffic, timing, accessibility, etc. I'd actually prefer my kid wasn't going to be graduating at DAR (my older one graduated at Jiffy Lube Live due to COVID and, name aside, I thought it was a great choice). The grass is always greener, I suppose.

+1

Jiffy Lube was the only good idea FCPS has ever (EVER) had.

Except for "Jiffy Lube Live" on the graduation programs. Shudder.

My kid graduated two years ago at Jiffy Lube Live and I can promise you that I haven’t looked at the program since. I barely looked at it that day other than brief glances to see where we were in the schedule; I had better things to think about. It’s not like it says Jiffy Lube Live on DCs diploma, which is the paper that matters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, almost no FCPS schools graduate at DAR - only four. The majority graduate at Eagle Bank.

Given the stories I've heard about traffic, timing, accessibility, etc. I'd actually prefer my kid wasn't going to be graduating at DAR (my older one graduated at Jiffy Lube Live due to COVID and, name aside, I thought it was a great choice). The grass is always greener, I suppose.

+1

Jiffy Lube was the only good idea FCPS has ever (EVER) had.

Yeah, it’s AWESOME for region 3 families who have to drive an hour each way. Not that GMU is much better, but at least it’s in the same county.

Jiffy lube was the only way they could provide graduation in their Covid fear world. Remember? After they barely got kids back in school after a year? When the rest of the country was doing normal graduations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, almost no FCPS schools graduate at DAR - only four. The majority graduate at Eagle Bank.

Given the stories I've heard about traffic, timing, accessibility, etc. I'd actually prefer my kid wasn't going to be graduating at DAR (my older one graduated at Jiffy Lube Live due to COVID and, name aside, I thought it was a great choice). The grass is always greener, I suppose.

+1

Jiffy Lube was the only good idea FCPS has ever (EVER) had.

Yeah, it’s AWESOME for region 3 families who have to drive an hour each way. Not that GMU is much better, but at least it’s in the same county.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, almost no FCPS schools graduate at DAR - only four. The majority graduate at Eagle Bank.

Given the stories I've heard about traffic, timing, accessibility, etc. I'd actually prefer my kid wasn't going to be graduating at DAR (my older one graduated at Jiffy Lube Live due to COVID and, name aside, I thought it was a great choice). The grass is always greener, I suppose.

+1

Jiffy Lube was the only good idea FCPS has ever (EVER) had.

Except for "Jiffy Lube Live" on the graduation programs. Shudder.

If they do wind up changing all schools to Eagle Bank, I'm just glad my kids were able to graduate at DAR - and I was too, for that matter.

Anonymous wrote:Actually, almost no FCPS schools graduate at DAR - only four. The majority graduate at Eagle Bank.

Given the stories I've heard about traffic, timing, accessibility, etc. I'd actually prefer my kid wasn't going to be graduating at DAR (my older one graduated at Jiffy Lube Live due to COVID and, name aside, I thought it was a great choice). The grass is always greener, I suppose.

+1

Jiffy Lube was the only good idea FCPS has ever (EVER) had.

Anonymous wrote:All schools can’t graduate at one venue. There are too many in too short a time period. Tons of graduations overlap.

The contract with GMU required it to be able to host 25 graduations.


How msny high schools are there?

All schools can’t graduate at one venue. There are too many in too short a time period. Tons of graduations overlap.

Anonymous wrote:There is something to be said for uniformity accross the district. Keep everyone in Fairfax, make the decision at district level rather than principal level.

DAR is, in fact, a beautiful venue, but GMU makes more practical sense.

I’m not sure the latest contract means the schools that have been graduating at DAR won’t continue to do so. It may just ensure Eagle Bank is available for the other schools over a multi-year period.

In any case, if uniformity is so important, let’s also make sure FCPS is ensuring that the schools that kids attend before they graduate have comparable facilities. That might be more important than insisting every two-hour graduation ceremony take place at the same site.

There is something to be said for uniformity accross the district. Keep everyone in Fairfax, make the decision at district level rather than principal level.

DAR is, in fact, a beautiful venue, but GMU makes more practical sense.

EagleBank is so so much better for attendees (parking, accessibility).

Sure, DAR is a slightly nicer facility but doesn’t outweigh other stuff.

Signed, a mom who has gone to multiple ceremonies at DAR and EagleBank.

This just in - unsure if this means JMHS will still have graduation at DAR next year

The Fairfax County School Board on May 11 unanimously approved a $500,000-per-year, sole-source contract with Monumental Sports & Entertainment to rent EagleBank Arena at George Mason University’s Fairfax campus for graduation ceremonies. The contract will run for five years and have a total value of $2.5 million

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love Eagle Bank Arena. The parking is so easy and in ample supply. It’s even easy to leave after an event. The arena holds so many fond memories of shows, sports, concerts, etc. that the kids have gone to over the years, it’s a great place to have a ceremony!

Yep. We had a graduation at dar and another one for a child in our extended family at eagle bank the next day one year.

Eagle bank was so relaxing. No parking hassle, no stern reminders to gtfo the second the ceremony ended.

Eagle bank is the better experience even if DAR is the more beautiful facility.

And shopping at Walmart is so convenient!

Yet, you claim a preference for DAR isn't about snobbery or elitism.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love Eagle Bank Arena. The parking is so easy and in ample supply. It’s even easy to leave after an event. The arena holds so many fond memories of shows, sports, concerts, etc. that the kids have gone to over the years, it’s a great place to have a ceremony!

Yep. We had a graduation at dar and another one for a child in our extended family at eagle bank the next day one year.

Eagle bank was so relaxing. No parking hassle, no stern reminders to gtfo the second the ceremony ended.

Eagle bank is the better experience even if DAR is the more beautiful facility.

And shopping at Walmart is so convenient!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is DAR???

I googled it, and it's obviously not the Daughters of the Revolution.

Yes, it is. DAR Constitution Hall.

Thanks