Jacks Valley Elementary celebrates 100 days in school

INDIAN HILLS - During the past several years, Jacks Valley Elementary students and staff have informally recognized the 100th day of class. On Monday, it became an official schoolwide celebration.

"I thought we needed some traditions," said Pam Gilmartin, who is in her second year as principal. "We're going to do this every year."

The celebration extended over the first 100 minutes of the day. Each classroom prepared individual activities and every half hour, students participated in an activity over the intercom.

Students were ushered into the multipurpose room in groups of 100 to eat cupcakes and drink juice. Each student was issued a pair of cardboard glasses in the shape of the number 100.

"My favorite part was getting the glasses," said Chloe Hearn, a 5-year-old kindergartner. "They're pretty and they've got stars on them."

The festivities began at 9:05 a.m. as students and faculty sang "Happy 100th Day" to the the tune of "Happy Birthday" in unison.

Kathy Garcia divided her fifth-grade class into small groups and gave each group a poster board on which they were to write "ways to say or show 100."

Students illustrated the concept in a variety of ways including pictures of a $100 bill and the Spanish word for 100, "cien."

"It went very well, they were extremely creative," Garcia said. "They came up with a lot of unique ideas on their own."

The students also enjoyed the activity.

"I'm having a blast," said 11-year-old Sylena Barela.

At 9:30 a.m. students danced for 100 seconds to a song broadcast over the intercom.

First- and second-graders in a combination classroom wrote 100 wishes or goals.

"I'm wishing that everyone in the world would will stop being mean to each other," said J. T. Shimamura, a 7-year-old first-grader.

Addison Penfold, a 7-year-old second-grader wrote, "I wish nobody would kill bugs that help our earth."

Their teacher, Krista Krumbotz, said the idea to write a wish list stemmed from a recent presentation about Martin Luther King Jr. and a goal-setting assembly.

"The time is now to be planning for their futures," she said. "I'm really into them being independent and responsible for their actions."

At 10 a.m. fellow students led the school in 100 exercises.

Mark Paloolian, fourth-grade teacher, organized a canned food drive for the 17th year in a row.

Each classroom set a goal to collect 100 cans. By last Friday, seven class had exceeded that goal.

"It's a way to give back to the community and promote the school," Paloolian said. "Last year, we had over 3,700."

The donations will go to the Douglas County Food Closet.

At 10:30 perfect attendance for the first 100 days was announced.

Second-grade teacher Sue Kendrick said she felt the day was a success.

"It's nice that the whole school is doing something together," she said. "The kids are having fun and they're learning."