One hundred.
There’s something special about the number 100. It’s perfection on a test. In measuring temperature, it’s really hot. In sports, it’s the length of a football field and a common sprint in track and swimming.
One hundred is also a milestone and a mathematical standard.
Across Killeen ISD on Wednesday, students reached the 100th day of school.
At elementary schools, especially in the youngest grade levels, it was a celebration.
Many students and staff members made themselves up to look like they were 100 years old. Children wore glasses, ties and long dresses, gray wigs, beards and bushy eyebrows.
They made lists of 100 items, necklaces of 100 cereal loops or macaroni noodles, did 100 exercises and counted to 100 a lot.
They produced artwork using 100 items they brought in or dabbed a piece of paper with 100 ink marks.
At Skipcha Elementary School, fifth-graders in a quiz bowl club set up non-perishable food boxes in a domino line.
They practiced knocking down the boxes early in the day with plans to do it for real in front of pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes near the end of the day.
Clifton Park Elementary School kindergarten teacher Katy Ayers wore a curly, grey wig with curlers as she directed her students through the continual 100-themed learning stations.
“It’s a celebration they have worked really hard for,” she said. “They have come every day and learned, done phonics, math and counted to 100 every day, which is one of their standards. Now, they get to do 100 things.”
They decorated plates with 100 gumballs, conducted a scavenger hunt to find 100 snacks for a take-home bag and wore 100-day hats they made.
Imagination plays a part, too. Students get to ponder what they would do with $100 and what they want to do by the time they turn 100.
“They will probably laugh 100 times. They will probably play for 100 minutes.”
Kindergarten students are supposed to be able to count to 100 by the time they finish the grade level.
For pre-kindergarten students, the standard is 10. Students should be able to count to 10 and to recognize 10 items.
Skipcha Elementary School pre-kindergarten teacher Valerie Hinshaw guided her students to list things she has told them 100 times during the school year.
“One of our guidelines is to count out to 10 objects,” she said. “With the cupcake, they color it with 10 different sprinkles. It helps fine motor skills. Counting to 10 and knowing it’s 10 is an important skill to learn in pre-k.”
Several teachers and administrators pointed out that 100 days is an important accomplishment for all. Students are 100 days smarter.
For those keeping track, with 100 days completed, there are 69 school days left in the school year.
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