Inviting Dads On The 100th Day Of School

By Larissa Lytwyn

There are many milestones in a student’s life, from the first day of kindergarten to the day of high school graduation.

Within a single 183-day academic year, students eagerly anticipate winter and spring holiday vacations. In June, many students begin marking the days till the last day of school.

In this tradition, Middle Gate Elementary School recently marked its 100th day of school on February 9. The event is an annual commemoration the school has recognized for the past two decades. Each year, students engage in math-related activities involving the days of the school year, including graphing exercises and the incorporation of rudimentary mathematical operations.

This year was extra-special because, for the first time, the school set a goal to invite 100 fathers to visit!

“The faculty has an ongoing goal of involving fathers more with school activities,” explained first grade teacher Jaime Semerad. “We hold several events throughout the year especially for dads, including pancake breakfasts and now, our annual 100-days-of-school celebration!”

Though by the end of the day, the school was still a few dads short of its goal, Ms Semerad believes the initiative can become part of the 100-days tradition.

The tradition involves students in a number of “cross-disciplinary” learning opportunities, noted math/science specialist Pamela Fagan, who has headed the 100-days celebration for the past several years. In addition to the math emphasis, students also have the chance to release their creative whimsy through making a piece of art marking the 100-day milestone.

Their works were displayed in an “open house” format that was open from 9 am to 5:30 pm.

“Students have endless ways that they can express themselves in this way,” said Ms Fagan. “The only rule is that they incorporate 100 items or the number 100 in some way.”

Of the school’s more than 500 students, 358 participated.

Many students pasted the number 100 on poster-sized paper using 100 pieces of a variety of items, from coins to cheerios to macaroni noodles to beads. One student, Patrick McGowan, used 100 noodles to form a giant happy face.

Students also incorporated their personal interests, such as playing a musical instrument or toy soldiers, to create a diorama. One student used 100 toy soldiers to make a 3-D battle scene. Another student portrayed more than a dozen hens laying a total of 100 eggs made from cheerios!

“The students are definitely very smart and creative,” said one clearly impressed dad, Mark Riebe, whose daughter is a kindergartener at Middle Gate.

“My daughter is just starting out here [at Middle Gate], and the kinds of activities they do are really great,” Mr Riebe continued. He made a special effort to leave his job in Rocky Hill early so that he could see the 100-day art display.

Another father, Robert Macy, also left work early to stop by with his first grade son, Jeremy, in tow. “I love seeing how everyone came together for this,” he said. “It’s great!”

In addition to the art display, the school day itself was filled with activity, said Ms Fagan.

“A lot of the students wore 100 items or wrote the number 100 on their faces,” she said. “The faculty joined in, too!”

Ms Fagan wore a custom-made 100-days sweatshirt in Middle Gate’s red-and-white school colors that she has worn annually for the past few years.

Ms Semerad, meanwhile, covered her outfit with 100 dinosaur stickers.

Music teacher Joan Popovic also composed an original 100-days song that the students sang during a special 100-day musical assembly.

“There is so much involvement on so many levels,” said Ms Fagan. “It’s really become quite the event here at Middle Gate!”

The students love the anticipatory weeks preparing for the 100-days celebration.

“Everybody is so excited and asks everyone else if they’re doing a 100-days [art] project, and if they are, what kind of project they are doing,” said third grader Nathan Cabral. “It’s really cool.”

Melissa Kopcik attended the art open house with her first grade son, Stephen Kopcik.

“We go to a lot of the events here,” said Ms Kopcik. “It’s wonderful to see how the school encourages so much activity and parental participation. The children really love showing off their work, too, and it’s incredibly impressive to see the level of what they accomplish!”

Stephen said he liked the excitement of the day.

“It is a great day!” he proclaimed. “I really love it.”

A sentiment, it seems, shared by many students, parents and faculty alike — especially realizing that the school year is already more than halfway over!