Hallways were filled with laughter and cheer as kindergarteners dressed as senior citizens paraded through California Avenue School on Feb. 26 to celebrate the 100th day of school and show off their class projects.
Students participated in a “100-day project,” creating displays with help from their families before presenting them to classmates. The activity helps develop listening and speaking skills as students explain who helped them create their projects and what materials they used.
“They get very excited about something that they made at home that they’re proud to share,” said Lourdes Reina, a kindergarten teacher at California Avenue School.
One of the highlights of the celebration is when students and teachers dress up as if they were 100 years old, wearing outfits that include wigs, canes and glasses before parading around the school.
For students, the milestone represents how much they have learned since the start of the school year.
“It’s a milestone that we’ve reached 100 days, and we let them know that they’re all 100 days smarter,” Reina said. “We’ve been looking forward to this from the beginning of the school year.”
Reina said she has seen significant growth in her students since the first day of school.
“They know how to write their names, their letters, their sounds, and they can count to 100,” she said. “A lot of them can read, which is exciting, and there’s growth in their confidence and self honesty.”
Five-year-old Dahra Jatroop dressed as an elderly woman and said her favorite part of the celebration was making her project.
“We made our 100 days of school project, and I made it out of 100 pieces of Legos and made it the number 100,” she said.
Jatroop added that her favorite part of school is “learning new things,” especially lessons about ocean animals such as sharks and killer whales.
Assistant Principal Michelle Minnelli said the 100th day celebration has been a long-standing tradition at California Avenue School, likely started by kindergarten teachers as a way to highlight student growth.
Minnelli said many students arrive on the first day of school feeling nervous because they are unsure what to expect.
“But after 100 days,” she said. “Everyone’s thriving as the routines are well put into place and students are excelling at what they’re doing.”
The celebration stays in touch with one of the school’s core values of excellence. As the school recognizes Kindergartners’ progress, the school reinforces the importance of perseverance and growth.
“We really do connect it to our core value of excellence and making sure that we celebrate the accomplishments,” Minnelli said. “Even though things might have been tough or might have been hard.
Some of our students, they were able to excel and push through.”
Although the 100th day marks a major milestone, teachers say it is only one step in the students’ learning journey as they continue developing academically and socially through the rest of the school year.
The 100 days of school are more than just a celebration at California Avenue, they make it a powerful reminder that every day of learning adds on to something extraordinary.
