Celebrating 100 Days in the Lower School

The number 100 is a big one, and some Lower School students recently recognized their 100th day of school in creative, fun and effective ways.

In an effort to create a meaningful project for their charges, Senior Kindergarten classroom teachers Kirkland La Rue, Nanci Moore and Dana O’Brien challenged their students to spread gratitude in celebration of the 100th day of school. Teachers sent each student home with a set of blank notes and requested that their families help them write and deliver thank-you messages to people in their community. Parents and guardians also sent photos of thank-you note deliveries, and teachers decorated the Kindergarten Atrium with the photos.

O’Brien shared, “In the end, we want to have a wall covered with 100 moments of thanks to celebrate being at school for 100 days. We hope this helped the children not only feel a connection with someone, but also notice how good it feels to say ‘thank you.’”

Senior Kindergarten students also participated in special 100th-day craft-making with parent/guardian volunteers in the Atrium to round out their festivities.

In Beth Joebgen’s 1st grade class, students played a math game with value blocks to count up to 100 using tens and ones. They made 100 day crowns and worked with parents volunteers to make necklaces out of 100 beads, predict and measure 100 drops of water and write 100 words.  

Second graders divided into three groups, each including students from every classroom, and rotated among three activities. One was movement, like jumping jacks or sit-ups and counting up to 100. The second was a building challenge, using and applying their knowledge of working collaboratively and being in tune with their emotions while using cups to stack and build together. There was an emphasis on communicating, working together with new friends, and, most importantly, having fun. The third was language, responding to the question, “What are 100 ways to be kind?” by brainstorming ideas for answers and adding them to a banner made by the entire grade. “These fun and engaging activities allowed them to reflect on the growth they’ve had this year in 2nd grade,” shared teacher Brittney Washington.

View photos from these experiences here.