- May 18, 2025
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In a full-circle moment, graduating Class of 2025 seniors returned to their roots at Braden River Elementary School, where they completed elementary in 2018. Every year Braden River Elementary claps out their graduating fifth graders as a farewell and good luck as they go their separate ways.
“The fifth-grade students get to walk in front of all of the parents, all the teachers, and we just congratulate them and give them a clap out as they head towards middle school,” said Paddi Juliano, mother of Nicolas Juliano, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School.
Nicolas Juliano plans to attend Florida Gulf Coast University to pursue a degree in nursing.
Seven years after being clapped out, the students reunited with old classmates, teachers and families to be clapped out once again and sent off in different directions.
“A lot of these kids haven't seen each other in seven years, and I just thought to celebrate, a symbolic celebration of their graduation, to do a gathering so the kids can see each other again,” said Denise Pope, a parent who organized the event.
Joadie Durfee taught at Braden River Elementary from 2015-2021 before transferring to Harvey Elementary.
“As I’m looking at all these kids I had, I had some of them in third grade and some of them in fifth grade and it’s funny I still see the child version of these adult children,” Durfee said. “It's really cool to see who they are now and hear all of their plans.”
Durfee is known for having her students and their families over to her house, a yearly tradition to which she looks forward.
“I encourage parents to stay so the parents talk and get to know each other and it seems like after that event each year my kids are having sleepovers because their parents have met,” Durfee said. “They’ve exchanged information and it just really builds that classroom community.”
Kenneth Ordonez is a senior at Bradenton Christian School who wants to pursue a doctorate in psychology. He said that English was difficult for him in elementary school and when he had Durfee as his teacher in third grade, she provided assistance to him.
“She was not just like a teacher, but more like a really good friend of mine,” Ordonez said.
Ordonez said that being able to connect with other students and families at Durfee’s house made a real impact on him, and said it was one of the most important moments he remembers from elementary school.
Mabel Ordonez is Kenneth’s mother who was also excited and happy to visit Braden River Elementary again. Mabel Ordonez used to volunteer at the school when her son was little, so she had good relationships with the other parents and teachers.
“I feel so proud of my son, that he’s doing so well and I feel blessed that he’s a good kid,” Mabel Ordonez said. “I always pray every single day to God that he is going to graduate and God will open up doors for him.”
Julian Elcoro, a senior at Braden River High School, said returning to Braden River Elementary “feels weird, everything feels smaller and it looks different.”
Adriane Jenkel, Elcoro’s mother, joined her son to reunite with old friends.
“It’s very surreal and emotionally it’s not sad, it’s nostalgic,” said Adriane Jenkel, mother of Julian Elcoro, a senior at Braden River High School.
Elcoro’s goal is to become an EMT firefighter and was among the students who looked back on his time with Durfee fondly.
“She was always fun, she was never mean, always kind and caring,” Elcoro said. “She was good as a teacher overall and just fun to have.”
Jenkel showed Durfee a photo of her son and Durfee when he was in third grade and received certificates for being good at science.
“That’s the little guy I remember!” Durfee said when she was shown the photo.
Durfee said the first thing she thought when seeing all of the students again was “my how you’ve grown!” She found out William Pope wants to be an engineer and thought that made a whole lot of sense.
“He was always a happy-go-lucky kid and still seems a happy-go-lucky guy,” Durfee said.
Andrew Pope’s future plans are to go to Florida State and major in business or economics. He said it was fun to reminisce back at Braden River Elementary.
“It was pretty cool seeing Julian [Elcoro]. I was pretty close with him in elementary school,” Andrew Pope said. “And Nico [Juliano].”
Denise Pope said she has mixed and bittersweet emotions about her twin sons Andrew and William Pope, who attend Bradenton Christian School, graduating and heading their own separate ways.
“It’s very fortunate that we've had the experience that we have had in our education systems throughout Manatee County and they prepared them well, they'll do great,” Denise Pope said.
