Grades 6–8 Welcome the Class of 2034 to Middle School
August 26, 2026
Students’ energy and excitement at The Episcopal School of Dallas set the precedent for a successful school year, especially in Middle School. ESD is full of annual events that emphasize the school’s community focus, but one special event takes place during the first full week of classes at the heart of campus — All Saints Chapel.
Students in Grades 6–8 gather inside the chapel, preparing to welcome the incoming fifth-grade class with an honorary “clap-in”; this tradition sets the stage for the incoming class to join the Middle School community. This year, the Class of 2034 walked in one by one to the steady rhythm of clapping from their Middle School peers, processing down the middle aisle to join the Classes of 2031, 2032, and 2033 in the chapel.
“I enjoy the tradition of clapping in our fifth graders as we celebrate their arrival and welcome them into our division, which will be their home for the next four years. It will also be a place where they experience many changes — physically, mentally, and emotionally,” describes Allison Darnell, Associate Head of Middle School. “Our fifth graders enter Middle School as energetic and enthusiastic, and sometimes nervous, 10-year-olds, and we have the privilege of watching them grow and change throughout the next four years. It is incredibly rewarding to be a part of their experiences, challenges, accomplishments, and growth along the way.”
Welcome to Middle School, Class of 2034; we cannot wait to see what you accomplish in the years ahead of you!
