For students and educators across the district, February 4 marked the 100th day of the 2018-19 school year: It was a day to celebrate.

As students arrived at Middle Gate Elementary School, a sign showing the number 100 was on display near the front entrance. Inside the school, there were many other displays.

Middle Gate math/science specialist Jill Bracksieck said in an e-mail following the day, “[The] 100th day is always magical at Middle Gate Elementary school. Students from kindergarten to fourth grade are invited to bring in a project that displays a set of 100 objects. Students get really creative, using everything from googly eyes to Legos to balloons. All projects are displayed in one room for classes to tour the 100th Day Museum. It’s always truly special for students to see all the projects together in one place.”

Classes rotated through the museum during the day.

The 100th day of school changes each year, depending on the calendar and the number of school cancellations. Just the week before, the 100th day of school was set to be February 1, but a weather-related cancellation on January 30 pushed the 100th day to February 4.

Sandy Hook Elementary School, where math/science specialist and the Kindergarten to Eighth Grade District Science Coordinator Kris Feda oversaw lessons and more, welcomed the day with a morning parade. For the parade, first grade students wore paper bag vests they decorated with 100 stickers or other items. The students also wore crowns that depicted the number. As the first graders prepared to walk along the school’s main hallway for the parade, all of the other grades lined the walls.

As the first graders began to walk, students and staff could be heard saying “Yay, 100 days!” and “Happy 100th day!”

Students reached hands out to high-five the first graders, and smiles were abundant.

The 100th day of school also marked the completion of Sandy Hook Elementary School’s annual food drive, which challenged each grade level at the school to collect at least 100 items to donate to FAITH Food Pantry. Between the grades and school staff, almost 600 items were collected, according to graphs on display for the day.