Senior Clearance

There will be mandatory Senior Clearance on Thursday, May 28, at 7:45-8:15 a.m. in Commons II. 

Graduation Practices

There will be mandatory graduation rehearsal practice following Senior Clearance on Thursday, May 28 starting at 8:15 a.m.

Practice generally runs for two to two and a half hours (until 10:45 a.m.) and students should have their own transportation home immediately following practice as they are not allowed to remain in the building. Graduation practice will include a cap and gown class picture, so students should bring their navy caps and gowns to practice! Please note that for rehearsal practice, you can wear comfortable, everyday clothes.

Graduation Decorum

All students are required to wear their navy cap and gown ordered through Jostens. 

• PWCS Code of Behavior must be followed.
• No images or messages that are inappropriate, reference obscenities or profanity, gangs, drugs, alcohol, weapons, political, or of sexual nature. 
• Avoid divisive messages and language, no offensive or derogatory language.
• No lights. Nothing that makes sound.  
• Must be two-dimensional and no 3-D objects, items must be pressed down. 
• The decorations must stay flat on the cap with nothing hanging over, only on the cap parameter. 
• You may put a cardboard cover on the cap to decorate the cardboard rather than the actual cap.

All students should wear dress clothes (dresses, skirts, or dress slacks are acceptable). Dress shoes should also be worn. Keep in mind that you will be walking up a ramp and downstairs when choosing your shoes. Ties/Bow Ties are recommended.

Please do not bring purses, as they are not allowed by EagleBank Arena, or anything "extra" as you will not be able to carry them across the stage with you, and we will not have staff on hand to collect and keep the items during the ceremony.

Student Arrival and Departure

Student Arrival at Ceremony:
Mandatory arrival time for students is 8:30 a.m., but no later than 8:45 a.m., at the Loading Dock of EagleBank Arena. Students who are late will not be able to participate in the ceremony.

Student Departure Following Ceremony:
EagleBank Arena ushers and security will help direct the recessional of graduates to the outside North entry. This is where you can meet your graduate following the ceremony.

Family Members & Guest Arrival Time

Family members and guests may enter the arena beginning at 8:30 a.m. EagleBank staff will assist with entry and staff will be around the arena passing out programs.

For any assistance with handicapped seating, the arena staff will be on hand to assist.

No Balloons, Noisemakers, Selfie Sticks/Tripods, and Signs/Flags larger than 18”x18” are allowed inside EagleBank Arena.  

Cheering for your graduate is encouraged and expected. Please do respect the student who is walking immediately after your own. Their families would like to hear their student’s name called and so please limit cheering noise accordingly.

EAGLEBANK ARENA SECURITY POLICY

ENTRY INSPECTIONS

• All guests and their belongings are subject to search prior to entry
• Staff will visually conduct bag and metal detection inspections to detect prohibited items to ensure the safety of all guests
• Any guest who declines to be searched or is in possession of prohibited items may be denied entry
• EagleBank Arena also recommends the following tips to help expedite entry into the venue: Guests are encouraged to arrive early
• Please follow staff directions of our event staff on which items need to be removed or divested prior to passing through magnetometers
• Guest who have health conditions which prohibit them from passing through magnetometers may flag an event supervisor for a manual screening

EagleBank Arena is encouraging guests to not bring a bag, in order to help enhance the contactless experience. If you require a bag for your personal belongings, EagleBank Arena has adopted a clear bag policy and must adhere to the following:

Clear Bag:

• Bag must be clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC with no obscured inside pockets
• Bag must not exceed 12”x12”x6”
• Bag may be 1-gallon plastic zip lock style bag Clutch Style Bag or Purse:
• Non-clear clutch style bag or purse must not exceed 5”x7”

Small Medical and/or Parenting Bags

• Will be permitted on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to increased security screening.

Prohibited items at EagleBank Arena include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Weapons (guns, knives, chains, spiked bracelets, brass knuckles, tasers, mace/pepper spray)
• Balloons
• Fireworks
• Cans, bottles, or coolers
• Glass or ceramic containers of any kind
• Outside food and beverages
• Metal or glass reusable water bottles
• Illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia
• Laser pointers/pens
• Monopods, tripods, selfie sticks or poles
• Noisemakers such as air horns, sirens, kazoos, whistles, drums, etc.
• Animals (Except service animals. Emotional support animals will not be permitted entry.)
• Luggage
• Silly string
• Wrapped gifts or packages
• Non-collapsible umbrellas
• Drones
• Skateboards, Rollerblades, and Hoverboards
• Un-approved pamphlets, handouts, ads, etc.

Unless otherwise specified by EagleBank Arena Management, guests are welcome to bring small signs, posters, and flags for events. Large banners are not permitted. The following guidelines apply:

• Sign, banner, poster or flag may not exceed 18”x18”
• Item must be related to the event
• Item may not be attached to a stick/pole
• Item may not obstruct any sponsor/building signage
• Item may not be attached, hung, taped, or draped over any part of the building
• Item may not contain or display obscene/offensive language and/or pictures, as determined by EagleBank Arena Management
• Item may not be constructed or displayed in a manner that may obstruct the view of other guests, interrupt the experience of other guests, or create a safety hazard
• Signs must be constructed of paper, fabric, or poster board materials
• Signs may NOT be constructed of or contain plastic, wood, metal, glass, or any material that can be used as a weapon
• Item may not be commercial or political in nature

Parking

Parking at EagleBank Arena can at times be very limited. Please ask your graduates to carpool when at all possible.

Any special parking needs or requests (bus parking, VIP’s, etc.) must be discussed in advance with EagleBank Arena management. Parking lot availability is constantly changing and may vary from school to school based on other events on campus, traffic patterns, road closures, construction, etc.

George Mason University Police and EagleBank Arena parking attendants will be on campus and in parking lots to help direct patrons to the closest available parking at the time of the ceremony.

Accessible Seating

If a family member comes into the building in a wheelchair (that they brought with them), and they need to remain in the wheelchair for the event, EagleBank Arena has available wheelchair seating in each corner of the concourse (Portal 4, 8, 13, and 17). This space is extremely limited and as such we ask that no more than one family member sit with them in the wheelchair area. It is available on a first come, first serve basis.

EagleBank Arena provides accessible seating for patrons who may have difficulty with steps. Approximately 400 accessible seats are reserved via signage for each graduation, and are available on a first-come, first-seated basis. When entering the building, patrons are level with row F, which is 12 rows from the floor. This row has no stairs to climb. All other seating in the building is up or down the stairs from this level, with railings in most locations. EagleBank Arena staff will place signs on rows E, F, and G, as a means of reserving them for those patrons who cannot negotiate stairs. We ask that only one family member sit with this person, as this seating is limited. The rest of the family can then usually find seating nearby in the section, a few rows above or below these concourse level rows.

EagleBank Arena does not rent out wheelchairs. There are a limited number of wheelchairs in-house which can be used to help transport patrons from the entrance to a seat but cannot be used by someone for the entire event. The main entries are wheelchair accessible; there are no steps or elevators to navigate. Accessible parking is available outside the South entry.

Tickets are not required for the ceremony, and there is no guest limit.

If a guest requires the use of an ASL interpreter, please reach out by May 1st to Armenta Perry at [email protected].

Various languages will be available through KUDO, and guests on-site can scan a QR code on their own device to access language interpretation.

Kudo Flyer

Patriot QR Code

KUDO Introduction

We are excited to announce that interpretation services will be offered during the graduation ceremonies in Spanish, Arabic, and Urdu.

What is KUDO?

KUDO is a tool that allows live language interpretation during large events such as graduations onsite or remotely.

How Does it Work?

You can access the interpretation on your mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer:

Using a Desktop/Laptop: Log in using the KUDO URL provided for the graduation ceremony.

• Click on this link: https://qrco.de/bgYlnC
• Enter your Display Name and Email (any would work)
• Select your language
• Click on “JOIN” Send the link to relatives in the U.S. or abroad so they can watch in their language

Using a Mobile Device: Scan the KUDO QR code provided. Once logged in, select your preferred language from the drop-down menu.

• Connect to Eagle Bank’s Wi-Fi for optimal service
• Scan the QR code above
• Select your preferred language OR captions from the drop-down menu

Live Streaming Information

Livestreaming Link

grad.memoriesvideography.com/Patriot-streaming 

Tune in to the Patriot High School Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony live from the Eagle Bank Arena at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. The stream will go live at 9:20 a.m.

Scan the QR Code to join:

Video Information

Memories Videography is also selling copies of the recorded ceremony.

Order your video 

grad.memoriesvideography.com/Patriot-ordering 

Scan the QR Code to order

Graduation Photos

Victor O’Neill Studios will be the official graduation photographer for the Patriot Class of 2026's graduation ceremony.

Graduation photos will be available 72 hours AFTER graduation. If you have any questions, please email Victor O’Neill Studios at [email protected].

Grad Walks 2026

Graduation walks are opportunities for graduating seniors to return to their respective elementary and middle school to walk the halls in their cap and gown, reminisce and thank the teachers that began them on their educational journey.
Grab your cap and gown and student ID and join your fellow alumnae at the school where it all began for you!

District-Wide Graduation Walks

Elementary Schools that feed into Patriot HS

This list will be updated as additional information is received (Updated April 2026)

T Clay Wood Elementary

Friday, May 22^ND at 2:15 p.m.

Arrive by 2:00 p.m. wearing your cap & gown.

Mary Williams Elementary

Piney Branch Elementary
Thursday, May 21st at 3:00 p.m.

Haymarket Elementary

Arrive at 1:45pm to the front office with your ID
Walk starts at 2:00pm
Group Picture in Cafe at 3:00pm
Event ends at 3:15pm

Buckland Mills Elementary

Arrive by 2:45 p.m. wearing your cap & gown.

Marshall Elementary

Westridge Elementary

Chris Yung Elementary

Sinclair Elementary

Victory Elementary

Cedar Point Elementary

Glenkirk Elementary

Unity Braxton Middle School

Bennett Elementary

Bristow Run Elementary

Wednesday, May 20 at 2:15p.m.

Arrive by 2:00 p.m. wearing your cap & gown.

Kilby Elementary

Tuesday, May 26 at 2:00p.m.

Arrive by 1:45 p.m. wearing your cap & gown.

Graduation Gifts

Patriot High School has partnered with The Commencement Group to provide class t-shirts, flower bouquets and graduation gifts for purchase in honor of this occasion.

All purchases are made directly through The Commencement Group. Pre-orders will be available for pickup on graduation day at Eagle Bank Arena.

View the sales Flyer

Pre-Order using the flyer and QR Code below

Seniors and Parents/Guardians,

Class of 2026, it is time to order your Cap & Gown!

Access the Jostens's Graduation Portal and Order a Cap & Gown

You may also call Jostens to order by phone.

Our Jostens contact information is [email protected] or 1-800-567-8367.

*Updated Mar 24, 2026

Day 1 Exams
May 19 One exam, early release day for seniors only

Day 2 Exams
May 20 Two exams, early release day for seniors only

Day 3 Exams
May 21 Two exams, early release day for seniors only

Day 4 Exam
May 22  Two exams, last day for seniors only

Saturday, April 18 from 7pm - 10pm

Sweeney Barn
9310 Discovery Blvd.
Manassas, VA 20109

Purchase your tickets here.

Sunrise:
Friday, August 22, 6:00 - 7:15 a.m.

Sunset:
Thursday, May 28, 2026. 7pm

Order Your Yearbook

Heads-up! The last day to order your yearbook online is Friday, May 8, 2026.

Check this task off your list and Order your Senior Yearbook today!

Senior Parking Spot Painting – A New Patriot Tradition Begins! 🚗

Patriot High School is thrilled to announce the opportunity for seniors to personalize their parking spaces! For the first time ever, members of the Class of 2026 can showcase their creativity and school spirit by painting their assigned spots. Whether it's bold colors, meaningful symbols, or fun designs, this is your chance to leave a lasting mark on campus and celebrate your final year in style.

Guidelines and registration details are on the linked packet below!

PTHS Senior Customized Parking Space Application Packet (PDF)

Let’s make this a tradition to remember. Go Patriots!

Parking Spot Application