Newtown’s Elementary Schools Celebrate The 100th Day Of School

Story and Photos By Jeff White

Monday was a major milestone in the school year for Newtown’s elementary students: the 100th day of school.

Hawley, Head O’ Meadow, Middle Gate and Sandy Hook Schools were alive with activities commemorating this special event. At Middle Gate, the 100th day provided an ideal setting for the fifth grade to take part in a raffle for a $100 savings bond, which was won by Kelly Rose Ryan.

Head O’ Meadow students hung posters around the central media center, all having to do with a “100” theme. Moreover, many students had projects to do at home that involved various interpretations of the number 100.

At Hawley School, students strung necklaces made of 100 fruit loops, stuck their pictures on $100 bills, and put together jigsaw puzzles with 100 pieces.

Sandy Hook kindergartners glued common, everyday items like pasta and pipe cleaners into groups of ten on colorful pieces of construction paper.

It was more than a day to celebrate, however. Many of the “100 themes” were incorporated into lesson plans. Kindergartners practiced their counting, older student practiced their math. For students who had a hard time contemplating the concept of 100, smaller groups of five and ten were used during activities.

But for many students, commemorating Day 100 meant simultaneously looking toward the coming summer vacation, roughly 83 school days away. The very mention of “summer” brought a few smiles to Mrs Vollmer’s kindergarten class at Sandy Hook.

When would students ever be able to celebrate the 200th day of school, one of her curious students asked. Well, Mrs Volmner replied, probably never.