A good day to look back at accomplishments

Wednesday was all about 100 as many students in the county celebrated the 100th day of the school year.

Students in Ms. Miller’s kindergarten class at Bonne Terre Accelerated Elementary wore shirts that read, “I survived 100 days of kindergarten.” Ms. Miller wore a 100th day shirt and also a pin that read, “My students are 100 days smarter.”

Kindergartners at Desloge Accelerated Elementary received certificates for completing 100 days of school. The certificates caused a little confusion as a couple of the kindergartners thought the next day would be their first day of first grade.

Students at both schools were asked to bring 100 of something and share it with their classmates. They made goodie bags and exchanged items.

The schools have been celebrating the 100th day of the school year for several years. The celebration of the 100th day of school began after author, Angela Medearis wrote a book titled, “100th Day of School.”

School administrators believe the 100th day of school is a good day for students and teachers to look at the accomplishments they have made so far in the school year.

But it has quickly become a fun day that students look forward to each year because they have completed 100 days, but mostly because they get special treats.

“The kids enjoy it,” Laughman said. “They do everything by hundreds. They do a lot of math and reading assignments (with that theme.)”

Kindergartners and first graders at the Bonne Terre school did something a little different this year.

The students collected cans of food for the Humane Society of the Ozarks. Kindergartners collected cat food while first graders collected dog food. Each class hoped to collect 100 cans.

Joyce Hemphill, a Reading Recovery teacher, found the idea on a Web site listing creative ways to celebrate the 100th day of school.

Teachers talked to the students about how pets without homes needed food and the students brought in 1,000 cans of food during a two-week period.

“The kids enjoyed counting the cans,” said Shirley Mullikin, a kindergarten teacher. Her students collected 127 cans.

Adam Stegall, a kindergarten student, brought in two cans of food because “we were going to help poor animals get food.

“They don’t have any homes and they need some food,” kindergartner Mariah House added.

Nicole Williams brought in four cans of cat food even though she doesn’t have any cats of her own.

Bethy Becker and her mom brought in 56 cans of cat food after Bethy went to see the kittens at the Humane Society.

“That’s where all our cat food has gone to,” Bethy’s mom said.