Graduating high school is first big step into adulthood. From the timea student enters pre-kindergarten, to the time they take their final exams their senior year, they put forth hard work and dedication to ensure they prepare themselves for the best possible future.If we are forced to graduate at another high school, it would be a huge dishonor to La Plata and all other Charles County high schools. We have worked hard all four years in order to make our graduation an important day. This important day is now being altered. We will have to suck up our pride and graduate at a rival high school.
First of all, North Point High School is not nearly large enough to allow all of the students and their families to graduate in the same room. The way graduation is set up this year, students receive six(now eight- this is new information) tickets, but only four of those tickets will allow attendees access to the gymnasium in which the students will be graduating in. The other two(now 4- this is new information)tickets will be for attendees to watch the graduation on a television in a separate room. At the Upper Marlboro Showplace Arena, the Equestrian Center, there is no such problem. There is enough room for the average-sized family to watch their children graduate all in one place; there are plenty of tickets given to each student, to ensure that all friends and family are able to come to the graduation, and view the ceremony in the same area of the building. There is also enough room for parking as well. North Point High School is not even large enough for cheerleading competitions, so why would it be large enough for a graduation? For some students, this will be the only time they graduate. It is understandable that the students of Charles County Public Schools would want to graduate in a venue where their families and friends will be able to see them in the same room.
Another reason students are unhappy is because 85% of them do not attend North Point high school. There are six other high schools in the county, so it does not make sense for them to graduate at North Point. If the graduation is to be held at a high school, it should be held at the respective high school. At least then, the students would be surrounded by their school colors in a place they worked hard for four years. It is somewhat of a mockery to be surrounded by red, yellow, and black, with a giant eagle emblem staring at the students at their graduation. Calvert County Public Schools have their students graduate at the Arena, and St. Mary's County Public Schools graduate at St. Mary's College of Maryland. This makes sense, because they are both unbiased venues. Charles County Public Schools should continue practicing this.
Lastly, the senior dues are in question. Senior dues are $50 for each student. Assuming those go towards graduation expenses, it is not believable that it would cost that much money to graduate at North Point. The buses would not have to travel nearly as far, and it is possible that the cost of renting the venue is eliminated. This raises the question: What are senior dues going towards? No one seems to have an answer.
The county claims that, as juniors, the class of 2015 students, and parents wereasked where they would like graduation to be held. Many students, including myself, don't recall being asked last year what we would like to do. There was an online poll that many people in the school did not know about. Even though some did answer the poll online, it feels as if their opinions were not considered. It is highly unlikely that 6 different high schools in the county; students and parents, have collectively chosenNorthPoint-a high school that the students do not attend- rather than a more neutral area.
It is most likely too late to change the venue in which graduation is held. However, it is still important that the students of Charles County Public Schools voice their opinion so future generations do not have to feel disappointed and uncomfortable at their graduation.
"Participating in your high school graduation is supposed to be a high honor, something you would never question being a part of.The seniors inCharles Countynow have to make the decision if they want to participate in their owngraduation ceremony or not. It is a real shame that the seniors are being put in such an unfair position."
Updates
March 9, 2015
We have reached the 500 signature mark which provides the necessary leverage for the formal presentation I am finalizing for the school board. I have requested a meeting with the superintendent to review these capacity concerns and discuss the seating limitations at North Point. Expect a report on the outcome of that outreach once I receive a definitive response.
Reached 500 supporters
March 7, 2015
Reached 100 supporters
February 27, 2015
361 Comments
Not looking forward to standing in line two hours before the ceremony to get a seat based on first come first serve status. Show Place arena had plenty of seats and bathroom facilities. There was no bad seat there or extremely early arrival. It was a pleasant experience.
No way should the children have to graduate at North Point. The senior dues are suppose to pay for graduation. As a former graduate if they would have ever suggested this to us we would said no to walking also. Do not let them get away with this.
they should graduate from the school that they have attended for four years. Instead of graduating from other places build a big enough building for all of the county schools graduation. I thought the stadium was going to be used for graduations. What gives Charles County?
Poor choice on behalf of CCPS. Now we have the uncomfortable decision of choosing which set of grandparents deserves to be inside while voting the other "off the island". Make a better choice CCPS, our families derseve better.
i graduated in the equestrian center and that was packed as it is. how do you expect to have graduations at northpoint? the space is so small a graduate should be able to have their family to support them in person on their big day not through a television.
At this point it doesn't matter, however let me correct you on some things: 1) North Point is large enough to hold graduations for every school in the county and majority of schools in the surrounding counties. North Point's gym/Convocation Center (CC) was designed and constructed specifically to host graduations for the schools in the county, which is why it has an overall capacity of 5,000. It may have looked small during other events/games but that's because all of the bleachers weren't lowered. There are two additional sets of bleacher that are usually blocked by the two adjacent yellow dividers that are behind the bleachers that surround the gym floor. As an alum of North Point ('13) I can understand why having a graduation in our gym could cause an issue with students at other schools. Heck some students in my class didn't want to graduate there. However my class ('13) was the largest class in the history of the school and possibly the county with reportedly 551 (actually 564) graduates as compared to your class of only 156 graduates and majority of the other schools that have classes ranging around 200-400 students. With that being said, it is clear that there is ample space for you family to attend, however, you only need your immediate family and grandparents to attend. Your friends can wait at home or sit in the cafeteria/auditorium if it comes to that. My cousin graduated from the University of South Carolina earlier this month in the Colonial Life Arena and there wasn't enough seating for everyone. Most people sat in the arena while some had to sit in rooms away from the ceremony and rooms facing the black curtain behind the stage and had to watch the ceremony on a TV. As long as you graduate and they can see you get your diploma, whether its in person or on TV, thats all that matters. 2) School colors are black, red, yellow, and white (colors of MD flag) 3) Senior dues go to graduation attire, senior picnic, sometimes senior trip, yearbook
I don't think having all high schools in Charles County graduate at North Point is not in the best interest of students and families, who have looked forward to this day for 13 years. It sounds like it is just the cheapest alternative for the county. I was told that handicap seating will be based on a first come first serve basis. We have to tell numerous elderly grandparents that they need to arrive at the school two hours before the event even begins to increase their changes of being accommodated and this will not even guarantee a spot. How many people aren't able to sit in bleachers for hours??? How many family members are going to drive numerous hours to see their loved ones graduate, just to be cramped in crowded bleachers or worse not even get seat? I guess the folks planning this year's graduations didn't really give hoot about people with disabilities or the elderly...shame on you!!! I sure hope the county moves next year's ceremonies to a larger, move accommodating location next year.
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Graduating high school is first big step into adulthood. From the timea student enters pre-kindergarten, to the time they take their final exams their senior year, they put forth hard work and dedication to ensure they prepare themselves for the best possible future.If we are forced to graduate at another high school, it would be a huge dishonor to La Plata and all other Charles County high schools. We have worked hard all four years in order to make our graduation an important day. This important day is now being altered. We will have to suck up our pride and graduate at a rival high school.
First of all, North Point High School is not nearly large enough to allow all of the students and their families to graduate in the same room. The way graduation is set up this year, students receive six(now eight- this is new information) tickets, but only four of those tickets will allow attendees access to the gymnasium in which the students will be graduating in. The other two(now 4- this is new information)tickets will be for attendees to watch the graduation on a television in a separate room. At the Upper Marlboro Showplace Arena, the Equestrian Center, there is no such problem. There is enough room for the average-sized family to watch their children graduate all in one place; there are plenty of tickets given to each student, to ensure that all friends and family are able to come to the graduation, and view the ceremony in the same area of the building. There is also enough room for parking as well. North Point High School is not even large enough for cheerleading competitions, so why would it be large enough for a graduation? For some students, this will be the only time they graduate. It is understandable that the students of Charles County Public Schools would want to graduate in a venue where their families and friends will be able to see them in the same room.
Another reason students are unhappy is because 85% of them do not attend North Point high school. There are six other high schools in the county, so it does not make sense for them to graduate at North Point. If the graduation is to be held at a high school, it should be held at the respective high school. At least then, the students would be surrounded by their school colors in a place they worked hard for four years. It is somewhat of a mockery to be surrounded by red, yellow, and black, with a giant eagle emblem staring at the students at their graduation. Calvert County Public Schools have their students graduate at the Arena, and St. Mary's County Public Schools graduate at St. Mary's College of Maryland. This makes sense, because they are both unbiased venues. Charles County Public Schools should continue practicing this.
Lastly, the senior dues are in question. Senior dues are $50 for each student. Assuming those go towards graduation expenses, it is not believable that it would cost that much money to graduate at North Point. The buses would not have to travel nearly as far, and it is possible that the cost of renting the venue is eliminated. This raises the question: What are senior dues going towards? No one seems to have an answer.
The county claims that, as juniors, the class of 2015 students, and parents wereasked where they would like graduation to be held. Many students, including myself, don't recall being asked last year what we would like to do. There was an online poll that many people in the school did not know about. Even though some did answer the poll online, it feels as if their opinions were not considered. It is highly unlikely that 6 different high schools in the county; students and parents, have collectively chosenNorthPoint-a high school that the students do not attend- rather than a more neutral area.
It is most likely too late to change the venue in which graduation is held. However, it is still important that the students of Charles County Public Schools voice their opinion so future generations do not have to feel disappointed and uncomfortable at their graduation.
"Participating in your high school graduation is supposed to be a high honor, something you would never question being a part of.The seniors inCharles Countynow have to make the decision if they want to participate in their owngraduation ceremony or not. It is a real shame that the seniors are being put in such an unfair position."
Updates
March 9, 2015
We have reached the 500 signature mark which provides the necessary leverage for the formal presentation I am finalizing for the school board. I have requested a meeting with the superintendent to review these capacity concerns and discuss the seating limitations at North Point. Expect a report on the outcome of that outreach once I receive a definitive response.
Reached 500 supporters
March 7, 2015
Reached 100 supporters
February 27, 2015
361 Comments
Graduating at another school in Charles County is just complete and udder disregard for the seniors and their families as a sibling of a student in the graduating class and a LPHS Almuni I feel just as cheated as the current seniors do. This needs to be resolved
Not looking forward to standing in line two hours before the ceremony to get a seat based on first come first serve status. Show Place arena had plenty of seats and bathroom facilities. There was no bad seat there or extremely early arrival. It was a pleasant experience.
No way should the children have to graduate at North Point. The senior dues are suppose to pay for graduation. As a former graduate if they would have ever suggested this to us we would said no to walking also. Do not let them get away with this.
they should graduate from the school that they have attended for four years. Instead of graduating from other places build a big enough building for all of the county schools graduation. I thought the stadium was going to be used for graduations. What gives Charles County?
Poor choice on behalf of CCPS. Now we have the uncomfortable decision of choosing which set of grandparents deserves to be inside while voting the other "off the island". Make a better choice CCPS, our families derseve better.
i graduated in the equestrian center and that was packed as it is. how do you expect to have graduations at northpoint? the space is so small a graduate should be able to have their family to support them in person on their big day not through a television.
At this point it doesn't matter, however let me correct you on some things: 1) North Point is large enough to hold graduations for every school in the county and majority of schools in the surrounding counties. North Point's gym/Convocation Center (CC) was designed and constructed specifically to host graduations for the schools in the county, which is why it has an overall capacity of 5,000. It may have looked small during other events/games but that's because all of the bleachers weren't lowered. There are two additional sets of bleacher that are usually blocked by the two adjacent yellow dividers that are behind the bleachers that surround the gym floor. As an alum of North Point ('13) I can understand why having a graduation in our gym could cause an issue with students at other schools. Heck some students in my class didn't want to graduate there. However my class ('13) was the largest class in the history of the school and possibly the county with reportedly 551 (actually 564) graduates as compared to your class of only 156 graduates and majority of the other schools that have classes ranging around 200-400 students. With that being said, it is clear that there is ample space for you family to attend, however, you only need your immediate family and grandparents to attend. Your friends can wait at home or sit in the cafeteria/auditorium if it comes to that. My cousin graduated from the University of South Carolina earlier this month in the Colonial Life Arena and there wasn't enough seating for everyone. Most people sat in the arena while some had to sit in rooms away from the ceremony and rooms facing the black curtain behind the stage and had to watch the ceremony on a TV. As long as you graduate and they can see you get your diploma, whether its in person or on TV, thats all that matters. 2) School colors are black, red, yellow, and white (colors of MD flag) 3) Senior dues go to graduation attire, senior picnic, sometimes senior trip, yearbook
I don't think having all high schools in Charles County graduate at North Point is not in the best interest of students and families, who have looked forward to this day for 13 years. It sounds like it is just the cheapest alternative for the county. I was told that handicap seating will be based on a first come first serve basis. We have to tell numerous elderly grandparents that they need to arrive at the school two hours before the event even begins to increase their changes of being accommodated and this will not even guarantee a spot. How many people aren't able to sit in bleachers for hours??? How many family members are going to drive numerous hours to see their loved ones graduate, just to be cramped in crowded bleachers or worse not even get seat? I guess the folks planning this year's graduations didn't really give hoot about people with disabilities or the elderly...shame on you!!! I sure hope the county moves next year's ceremonies to a larger, move accommodating location next year.
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Graduating at another school in Charles County is just complete and udder disregard for the seniors and their families as a sibling of a student in the graduating class and a LPHS Almuni I feel just as cheated as the current seniors do. This needs to be resolved