Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Kennedy Center? That could be prestigious, and maybe it's bigger and could accommodate more family members.

That's actually a great idea. Our school graduates at DAR, which we love, but the Kennedy Center would be another great option.

Kennedy Center doesn't work b/c they won't reserve their spaces as far in advance as FCPS needs to book their venues. We already went through this exercise in 2022. It also has the same problems as DAR in that it is far from most FCPS high schools, and parking costs $$. And then there is the smaller size vs. Eagle Bank.

My older child graduated at DAR -- it IS lovely -- but I still think it makes no sense other than snootiness -- to have it at DAR. This is a PUBLIC HS graduation. Give people a close venue, free parking, and lots of tickets if they need them. Forcing families to drive into DC on a rush-hour time on a weekday, and reserve paid parking spaces in DC months in advance -- just doesn't make sense for a PUBLIC school. The priority should be easy access and low or no cost. But, instead, the froo-froo parents at these four schools have convinced the administrations that their snowflake children must have the most picturesque venue.

You're full of crap. The parents don't decide where the kids graduate. FCPS makes that decision based on the location of schools and the number of expected graduates.

If the other four schools were graduating at Eagle Bank, you'd have yet another random parent complaining about the time and date of their Eagle Bank ceremony. The Madison ceremony at DAR overlaps with the Lewis ceremony at Eagle Bank. The Langley ceremony overlaps with Centreville. The McLean ceremony overlaps with Edison. The Marshall ceremony overlaps with West Potomac.

Obviously the DAR schools would not graduate at Eagle Arena at the same time as another school. The DAR schools would be worked into the Eagle arena schedule from the outset.

Anonymous wrote:

My older child graduated at DAR -- it IS lovely -- but I still think it makes no sense other than snootiness -- to have it at DAR. This is a PUBLIC HS graduation. Give people a close venue, free parking, and lots of tickets if they need them. Forcing families to drive into DC on a rush-hour time on a weekday, and reserve paid parking spaces in DC months in advance -- just doesn't make sense for a PUBLIC school. The priority should be easy access and low or no cost. But, instead, the froo-froo parents at these four schools have convinced the administrations that their snowflake children must have the most picturesque venue.

This. Even at Eagle Bank, DD had a morning graduation and the traffic was awful. Combine that with going into the district at rush hour--remember I66 has a toll in the mornings.
Honestly, I guess I'm not a fan of graduations. I'd rather have it in the stadium--but then, look at the weather today.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Kennedy Center? That could be prestigious, and maybe it's bigger and could accommodate more family members.

That's actually a great idea. Our school graduates at DAR, which we love, but the Kennedy Center would be another great option.

Kennedy Center doesn't work b/c they won't reserve their spaces as far in advance as FCPS needs to book their venues. We already went through this exercise in 2022. It also has the same problems as DAR in that it is far from most FCPS high schools, and parking costs $$. And then there is the smaller size vs. Eagle Bank.

My older child graduated at DAR -- it IS lovely -- but I still think it makes no sense other than snootiness -- to have it at DAR. This is a PUBLIC HS graduation. Give people a close venue, free parking, and lots of tickets if they need them. Forcing families to drive into DC on a rush-hour time on a weekday, and reserve paid parking spaces in DC months in advance -- just doesn't make sense for a PUBLIC school. The priority should be easy access and low or no cost. But, instead, the froo-froo parents at these four schools have convinced the administrations that their snowflake children must have the most picturesque venue.

You're full of crap. The parents don't decide where the kids graduate. FCPS makes that decision based on the location of schools and the number of expected graduates.

If the other four schools were graduating at Eagle Bank, you'd have yet another random parent complaining about the time and date of their Eagle Bank ceremony. The Madison ceremony at DAR overlaps with the Lewis ceremony at Eagle Bank. The Langley ceremony overlaps with Centreville. The McLean ceremony overlaps with Edison. The Marshall ceremony overlaps with West Potomac.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Kennedy Center? That could be prestigious, and maybe it's bigger and could accommodate more family members.

That's actually a great idea. Our school graduates at DAR, which we love, but the Kennedy Center would be another great option.

Kennedy Center doesn't work b/c they won't reserve their spaces as far in advance as FCPS needs to book their venues. We already went through this exercise in 2022. It also has the same problems as DAR in that it is far from most FCPS high schools, and parking costs $$. And then there is the smaller size vs. Eagle Bank.

My older child graduated at DAR -- it IS lovely -- but I still think it makes no sense other than snootiness -- to have it at DAR. This is a PUBLIC HS graduation. Give people a close venue, free parking, and lots of tickets if they need them. Forcing families to drive into DC on a rush-hour time on a weekday, and reserve paid parking spaces in DC months in advance -- just doesn't make sense for a PUBLIC school. The priority should be easy access and low or no cost. But, instead, the froo-froo parents at these four schools have convinced the administrations that their snowflake children must have the most picturesque venue.

My older child graduated at DAR -- it IS lovely -- but I still think it makes no sense other than snootiness -- to have it at DAR. This is a PUBLIC HS graduation. Give people a close venue, free parking, and lots of tickets if they need them. Forcing families to drive into DC on a rush-hour time on a weekday, and reserve paid parking spaces in DC months in advance -- just doesn't make sense for a PUBLIC school. The priority should be easy access and low or no cost. But, instead, the froo-froo parents at these four schools have convinced the administrations that their snowflake children must have the most picturesque venue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Kennedy Center? That could be prestigious, and maybe it's bigger and could accommodate more family members.

That's actually a great idea. Our school graduates at DAR, which we love, but the Kennedy Center would be another great option.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Kennedy Center? That could be prestigious, and maybe it's bigger and could accommodate more family members.

This would be far superior to DAR. Lots of parking and plenty of space.

Anonymous wrote:How about Kennedy Center? That could be prestigious, and maybe it's bigger and could accommodate more family members.

Anonymous wrote:How about Kennedy Center? That could be prestigious, and maybe it's bigger and could accommodate more family members.

DAR is also a gorgeous building, making the ceremony "grander" and makes for some beautiful pictures inside and out. The ushers will hustle you out of there so getting a shot inside is hard but not impossible if you are very quick and snap just a few. From there it is easy to take some shots at other historic buildings in D.C.

Anonymous wrote:Oh my god, you're idiots. It's about size, everyone complains about DAR.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dar is a gigantic pain in the azz and you can only have a few family members whereas at Eagle Bank every grandparent uncle aunt best friend and little cousin can attend.

DAR is also a gorgeous building, making the ceremony "grander" and makes for some beautiful pictures inside and out. The ushers will hustle you out of there so getting a shot inside is hard but not impossible if you are very quick and snap just a few. From there it is easy to take some shots at other historic buildings in D.C.

I have been to both, although all my children were Langley grads and all did DAR. Even if it is a gigantic pain in the azz it is only one morning out of your life and you enjoy it more if you focus on all the good things about it.

If you are driving in reserve your parking space now if you haven't already.

My favorite part about this post is that you resurrected a thread from two YEARS ago to make a case for why you are totally okay with the Eagle Bank venue. Okaaaaay.
Why dig up this complaint thread only to disagree with the complaint?

This is the perfect example of
Everyone: [silence]
You: …but I’m happy we’re not at DAR

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only the top high schools get DAR as their graduation venue. McLean, Langley, Madison, Marshall.

Eagle Bank is for the riffraff.

...? Oakton has graduation at Eagle Bank and it's better than Marshall, Mclean and Madison.

+1