Education

Photos: Roanoake Elementary students ‘clap off’ on final day

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Fourth grade teacher Jackie Adla says goodbye to Kevin Sagastume outside Roanoke Avenue Elementary School Friday.

Keeping with the school’s tradition, Roanoke Avenue Elementary School’s principal Thomas Payton was joined just before noon Friday by teachers, staff, parents and siblings in the last day send-off, which they call a “Clap Off,” using plastic “clappers.”

The 74 fourth-graders, who are moving up to Pulaski Street Elementary School, marched out of the school first hugging the principal on the way and then their teachers, some even choking back and wiping away tears. They were followed by the rest of the school’s students climbing onto the buses and waving out the windows as the Riverhead Fire Department sounded the sirens across the street.

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