Does your elementary do the clap-out?

[N&B'smom]

Yep, our elementary school does this. Ours goes up to 4th grade so my DS11 did this last year. They let everyone else out and the kids, teachers and parents line the halls and then the 4th graders take a couple laps around while everyone claps. Very cool!

 

[jodifla]

I had never heard of a clap out until we moved a couple of years ago, but it's a tradition at our new elementary school too.

Ours is a bit different than the OP described though, probably because we have no inside hallways. The 6th grade classes are in the furthest buildings from the office/front of the school, so all the younger grades, the teachers, and any parents who choose to come, just line up outside along the field and clap the 6th graders out as they make their way from their classrooms to the front of the school.

Having never experienced anything like it, I thought it sounded a little hokey, but after going to one I decided it was actually kind of cute.

a lot of my elementary schools had no inside hallways either, good point! And I went to several different elementary schools, practically one for each grade, because of boundaries changing. It's nice when the younger kids have this to look forward to down the line.

 

[java]

Hey thanks for the great idea! I just sent the suggestion off to our principal. This is the first year we've had the 5th grade at the elementary school(they used to be at the middle school) I think it's the perfect time to start that tradition.

 

[jodifla]

Hey thanks for the great idea! I just sent the suggestion off to our principal. This is the first year we've had the 5th grade at the elementary school(they used to be at the middle school) I think it's the perfect time to start that tradition.

Let us know how it works out!

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Never heard of it.

 

[design_mom]

I'd never heard of this either, but I just asked DS (just finished 3rd grade) if his school does anything special for the 5th graders on the last day of school. He described the clap out, with an addition. The middle school is next door to the elementary and gets out earlier in the day. After touring the elementary and being clapped out, they walk next door and the middle school teachers "clap them in" and welcome them to their new school!

 

[wdwgirl03]

We never did that at our elementary school but I remember on my last day of 4th grade there were some 5th graders who put toilet paper in one of the trees. Talk about dramatic!

The thing with the teachers gathering at the back of the buses and cheering the kids off is adorable.

 

[jodifla]

Just got back from my first one! It was very cute, and only took about 10 minutes.

After our 2nd grade party and cleanup, the kids just went by their lockers and lined the halls. Then the 5th graders came through, led by teachers who were retiring or leaving this year.

Very painless, free, and you could just tell how much it meant to the 5th graders!

 

[jodifla]

I'd never heard of this either, but I just asked DS (just finished 3rd grade) if his school does anything special for the 5th graders on the last day of school. He described the clap out, with an addition. The middle school is next door to the elementary and gets out earlier in the day. After touring the elementary and being clapped out, they walk next door and the middle school teachers "clap them in" and welcome them to their new school!

Even better!