The FCPS Retirement Ceremony is held annually in the spring at one of our high schools.

• Retirees receive invitations approximately six weeks before the ceremony date. Invitations are sent to those whose HR-2 forms have been submitted to the Department of Human Resources at least one month prior to the event date.
• If you have not received the RSVP link, please email [email protected] We kindly request that all retirees RSVP, regardless of their intention to attend the ceremony, so that we may confirm your gift information.
  • If you are unable to attend the ceremony, we will send you your retirement gift and a program for the event. Unless you let us know otherwise, we will mail your gift and program it to the address we have on file. We will start shipping gifts out a few weeks after the ceremony. A framed certificate is given to those with nine or fewer years of FCPS service. A plaque is given to those with 10-24 years of FCPS service. An engraved clock is given to those with FCPS service of 25 years or more.
• We ask retirees who plan to attend to submit a profile along with their RSVP. We will use this information to create a profile that will be read aloud during the ceremony. The profile can include a funny or meaningful career memory that you would like to share, a short note from a colleague, parent, or supervisor, or a brief career description. The profile should be between 50 - 75 words. View sample profiles .
• The evening begins with a hors d'oeuvres reception. The reception is where you can socialize, eat, and visit with your guests. We suggest business or business casual dress for the event.
• The ceremony typically runs between 1.5 and 2 hours. To show respect for all retirees, we kindly request that guests and retirees refrain from leaving before the end of the ceremony.
• We recommend that retirees bring no more than six guests. If you would like to invite more than six guests, please contact us at [email protected] to discuss your situation.  We will do our best to accommodate.
• During the ceremony, retirees are honored in order of their years of service, from the least to the most. Seating is in a graduation-style format: retirees are seated alphabetically by years of service, allowing us to bring them onstage in the correct order. Guests can sit in any unreserved seats, but will not be able to sit with the retiree.
• When it is their turn to be recognized, all retirees will be guided to the front of the auditorium. As a leadership team member reads their name and profile, the retiree receives their gift and has their photo taken with Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. FCPS School Board then has the opportunity to thank and congratulate the retiree before the retiree returns to their original auditorium seats.
• If you or a guest plans to attend the retirement ceremony and requires ADA accommodations, please contact [email protected] .
• The ceremony will air live on Red Apple Channel 21 at 7 p.m. on the event day. Rebroadcast dates will be listed in the program. The ceremony is rebroadcast on Red Apple Channel 21 after the ceremony.
• Don’t see an answer to your question here? Contact us at [email protected] .