Do Seniors care about Senior Clapout

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait is that what the 5th grade clapout is? It is the 5th grade students congratulating the seniors? I thought it was what they called ES graduation.

No it's a separate event.

Everyone gets the clap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait is that what the 5th grade clapout is? It is the 5th grade students congratulating the seniors? I thought it was what they called ES graduation.

No it's a separate event.

Everyone gets the clap.

[Anonymous]

My senior DD loved going back to her ES. She got to see many of her ES teachers and they talked to the 5th graders about HS.

[Anonymous]

Some kids love it - if yours thinks that they will, let them do it. Some kids aren’t interested - it’s an optional event so they should stay home.

Get a grip with the judgement, people. I know this is DCUM, but come on.

[Anonymous]

I had never heard of it but the neighborhood moms all talked it up so much like it was the most amazing thing ever. So I was sort of excited.

I had to take 2 hours of leave to be able to drive there and back. Clap out literally lasted under 5 minutes and was not terribly different than every day dismissal when kids come pouring out of the building. I have no idea why this is a THING.

[Anonymous]

I’ve seen the thing where seniors come back in their college shirts to visit their elementary teachers, but haven’t heard about the clapout. If they do it, it would be nice if they could invite kids who moved away or left for private school. No one needs to come but it makes a transient place feel less transient. Brings neighbors back together whose children’s paths diverged. I’ve always thought MCPS could do more to sustain ties with departing teachers and administrators as well. Invite retired teachers and even those who only stayed for a couple years before heading to another place. Builds goodwill. Currently, if you leave MCPS, student or teacher or administrator, you’re dead to them. It’s dumb. The best PR is creating a big stream of “alums” who feel a tie to the system and connections to one another. Good networking opportunity for all as well. Might even drum up more potential subs. The benefits may be less tangible, but they’re real. This is an area of growth for Dr. McKnight, who treats most departing staff like traitors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve seen the thing where seniors come back in their college shirts to visit their elementary teachers, but haven’t heard about the clapout. If they do it, it would be nice if they could invite kids who moved away or left for private school. No one needs to come but it makes a transient place feel less transient. Brings neighbors back together whose children’s paths diverged. I’ve always thought MCPS could do more to sustain ties with departing teachers and administrators as well. Invite retired teachers and even those who only stayed for a couple years before heading to another place. Builds goodwill. Currently, if you leave MCPS, student or teacher or administrator, you’re dead to them. It’s dumb. The best PR is creating a big stream of “alums” who feel a tie to the system and connections to one another. Good networking opportunity for all as well. Might even drum up more potential subs. The benefits may be less tangible, but they’re real. This is an area of growth for Dr. McKnight, who treats most departing staff like traitors.

While the alumni idea is nice I think people greatly underestimate how much work this actually takes in reality. Colleges and Universities have entire staff dedicated to this and even they outsource some of it in order to keep up their databases. And MCPS gets complaints about every initiative they take on that isn’t strictly focused on math and reading, despite how it might help kids(see the Bocce comments).

[Anonymous]

Yes it's fun!

[Anonymous]

The only Elementary school I know that does this is Little Bennett Elementary...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait is that what the 5th grade clapout is? It is the 5th grade students congratulating the seniors? I thought it was what they called ES graduation.

No it's a separate event.

Everyone gets the clap.

🤣🤣 Whoever said MCPS wasn't equal-opportunity for all?! 🤣🤣

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only Elementary school I know that does this is Little Bennett Elementary...

Ritchie park is doing it this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes it's fun!

This is such a parent response. It is fun for the parent. Does the kid care? No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes it's fun!

This is such a parent response. It is fun for the parent. Does the kid care? No.

My kid cared. Her beloved first grade teacher recognized her instantly. They had a wonderful time catching up.

[Anonymous]

Our ES does a 5th grade clapout. It's done during school hours and is for students and staff only. The kids enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

Adolescents rarely admit stuff like this matters to them. They're too jaded. Or cool. Or whatever.

But they do care.