A first of its kind event, the ‘Fifth Grade Clap Out’ hosted at Dent Elementary School on Friday morning, May 30 is likely to become an annual event.
The idea behind it was to give the fifth grade students their moment in the sun, as they will be leaving the elementary campus and moving on to El Portal Middle School as sixth graders in the fall.
Headed up by Tiffany Russell and Liz Dunn with several fifth grade parents assisting, the event included a ‘red carpet’ that stretched nearly the length of the blacktop adjacent to the outside eating area. There was also music, bubble machines and students from all other grade levels joining parents and family members of the fifth graders to line both sides of the red carpet. Several students brought handmade signs of encouragement and congratulations for the upper classmen on the Dent campus.
As the fifth grade students entered the red carpet area, they passed by pillars of green and gold balloons, the colors of the Dent Dragons. As they reached the end of the red carpet, Dent Principal Anthony Varni was there to greet them with a handshake and well wishes. They passed by pillars of blue and gold balloons, the colors of the El Portal Panthers.
It was the first time the ‘Clap Out’ was hosted at the school.
Varni said it was a unique way to honor the fifth graders, as their schooling was impacted by the pandemic.
“This was that cohort that got hit the hardest and so we figured we would come together as a community, because it’s all about bringing the community back, and send these fifth graders on with something new, something that brings us all together,” Varni explained.
He added that teachers and students lined the red carpet on either side first, with the parents of the students toward the end of the line.
“Our teachers and our students were there to support (them) as Dent students,” Varni said, “but the symbolism of El Portal is the parents will be supporting them from here on out …it’s a pretty beautiful thing and it worked out really great, I’m really proud.”
Admitting that school officials “didn’t know what to expect” when they were putting the Clap Out – Red Carpet event together, Varni said it couldn’t have gone better. And, he said, it’s likely something that will continue on as a Dent tradition.
“Very supportive parents and just an awesome, awesome day all around,” Varni pointed out. “I think it’s only going to grow, we’re only going to perfect it … the last day (of school) is all celebration so this will definitely be a thing and I’m super pleased with how it all worked out, all smiles.”
