Does your elementary do the clap-out?

[jodifla]

I'd never heard of this before, but I think it's so cool.

In the elementary schools around here, it's common to do the clap-out for the highest grade (normally 5th) on the last day of school.

The 5th graders are released first, then they do one last walk around the school. As they pass by the younger kids' classes, those kids are all there clapping for them! As they complete their "victory lap" and go outside, they encounter all their parents out their clapping for them as well.

I think this is such a nice gesture. It must feel great to be those 5th graders!

 

[Magic Mom]

DD's school did that too. The fifth grade girls siezed the opportunity for more crying drama. Including DD. There were tears and sobs and hugs as they walked around the school. It was sad and funny at the same time. I think its a great tradition.
Another end of year tradition they do is the teachers all gather out back by the buses after they are loaded and cheer and wave the kids off for the summer. Very sweet.

 

[MsDisney23]

Wow, that brngs back memories... this was done back when I was in grade school.

 

[Jennasis]

Never heard of this.

 

[Becky2005]

Yes, our grade school does this. We never did it when I was in school & I didn't even know they did it here (the parents don't really do it because it's usually just mass exodus chaos).

I was waiting one year and one of the teacher's as they came out told me the kids would be out in a few minutes as the 5th graders were finishing their clap out. I believe this was when my older son was a 5th grader. LOL!

 

[ols386]

I've never heard of it. No disrespect intended, but it sounds a bit dramatic to me, for 5th grade. I could see doing it as a senior in high school, but not 5th grade. I guess I don't see the significance of it. JMO

 

[Magic Mom]

I've never heard of it. No disrespect intended, but it sounds a bit dramatic to me, for 5th grade. I could see doing it as a senior in high school, but not 5th grade. I guess I don't see the significance of it. JMO

It's their last day ever at that school. I don't think it's overboard to give them a send off.

 

[jodifla]

It's their last day ever at that school. I don't think it's overboard to give them a send off.

Exactly. It's free, and it gives all the other younger kids something to look forward to. My DH had not heard of it either, and said it sounded really great, like a "victory lap."

Even Scouts and other groups have "flying up" ceremonies where you move on to the next thing.

 

[Becky2005]

I've never heard of it. No disrespect intended, but it sounds a bit dramatic to me, for 5th grade. I could see doing it as a senior in high school, but not 5th grade. I guess I don't see the significance of it. JMO

5th grade is the end of elementary school here. They don't do any ceremony type thing but it's just a way of saying "Bon Voyage" to the students since they aren't coming back the next year and are going on to the next journey entering Middle School the next year.

I think it would be hilarious to attempt to get the Seniors to walk around the high school after their last day for other classes to clap them out!! Our HS is BIG, it would take them HOURS to do that. I'm pretty sure they bolt out of the school as fast as they can. They come back for their graduation ceremony.

 

[maslex]

I've never heard of it either. But like someone else mentioned about the teachers coming out and waving to the busses, our middle school does this too (grades 4th-8th) I am a school bus driver and on the last day of school all of the teachers, aides, principals, etc are outside waving at all of the busses as they are leaving (all the while, all of the busses are blowing their horns) and then we have all of the students yelling and crying, etc. Makes for a very loud afternoon. But hey, it's the last day of school!!!

 

[ols386]

It's their last day ever at that school. I don't think it's overboard to give them a send off.

Like I said, it's only my opinion. Not saying there is anything wrong with it.

 

[MrsPete]

I never heard about it, but I like it. It sounds like a cute little goodbye for the school year.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I have heard of this, but never seen it in action. It sounds really neat.

 

[johde]

I teach at a small community college and we do a variation on this during commencement. Just prior to the ceremony the graduates line up in 2 lines and clap for the faculty. Thanking them for all the work they have done in preparing them for the future. At the end of graduation, the tables are turned and this time the faculty line up and clap for the graduates to congratulate them on their accomplishment.

 

[autumnpalm]

We do this at our elementary school, which goes up to grade 8. It's been going on since before I was a student and they still do it today! I think it's a nice tradition and as a kid, I really looked forward to it.

 

[XYSRUS]

Before we moved to our current home 5 yrs ago I had never hear of a clap-out. When I did ,I thought it sounded goofy. But, after the 2 oldest have gone through it, I changed my mind. It's a really cute, nice, fun way for the oldest (5th graders) to get sent off to middle school. Everyone has a ball.

 

[goofy!]

Never heard of the clap out.

But our school does a full blown "continuation ceremony"

The 5th graders and parents gather in the gym where they have a graduation-like ceremony. End of year awards are given, each child walks the stage and gets a little certificate, then the 5th grade class presents their 5th grade gift.

My son's 5th grade class presented the school with a butterfly garden. One of the moms was a horticulturalist and helped the 5th graders design the garden and select the plants. They then worked several weekends tilling soil and planting the garden. The parents donated a bench for the garden.

After the little ceremony, there is a small breakfast with the parents and time for yearbook signing.

The entire ceremony is hosted by the 4th grade, as a congratulations to the outgoing class and a welcome to them being the top dogs.

Then the parents are dismissed (no parents allowed at the party), the kids change out of their nicer clothes and they walk to the park for a party and barbecue. Tons of block ice is trucked in (pta sponsors) and they spend the afternoon ice blocking down the big hill.

Rather extravagant for 5th grade, but they have so much fun.

 

[PatsMom]

I've never heard of this either but it sounds harmless and cute. Sends the kids off to middle school with something to remember.

I'm sorry, but when I read the title of the thread and saw "clap-out" all I could think of was the Clapper - clap on, clap off, the clapper!

 

[Darsa]

I think that's a VERY cool thing to do! DD's school is K-8, so the graduation ceremony for her 8th grade class was QUITE fancy, and included a dance afterwards. It was WONDERFUL, and lots of fun, and done for the same reason; they're all going to new high schools after the majority of her class has been in the same school for 9 years, so it's a HUGE step!

I had never heard of this before, but I think it's really a cool idea

 

[cats mom]

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.