Pam Dudding Contributing writer
McCleary Elementary teachers and students alike enjoyed the celebration on Friday, February 4, for the 100th day of attending school.
From kindergarteners to fifth-graders to staff personnel, everyone was invited to dress up like 100-year-old and have fun.
“Some of our teachers have really taken the time to do some fun activities,” School Counselor Dustin Persinger shared. “We are glad to just be here, and we are doing our best. It is good that we take some time and enjoy ourselves!”
The kindergarten classrooms made necklaces with 100 fruit loops on them. They also had an activity where they attempted to lick a lollipop for 100 licks.
Peyton Robertson stated she liked the idea of dressing up like she was 100-years-old and said it was her mom’s idea to put the curlers in her hair. “But I couldn’t find my black glasses, so I had to wear my pink ones,” she added very seriously.
“It was my Gigi’s idea! She’s 70 years old! Like really 70 years old!” Michael Tickle explained. “Then my dad put the glasses in the freezer and then popped them out out so I could wear them.”
“Our fifth-grade teachers really got into it today,” Persinger added. “They are really funny.”
It so happens that the previous day, Thursday, the fifth-grade students were doing a science experiment with pool noodles.
Teachers, Johnston and Roark shared that when they walked into their classroom, the kids asked them why they had pool noodles.
“We didn’t want to spoil the surprise,” they shared. “So, we just joked with them and told them we were going to the beach.”
Since the students believed them, the teachers decided to run with it for the rest of the day.
“We had the front office send us an email of who our subs were, Mr. Walter and Mr. Leroy,” Johnston said. “We then pulled up a fake hotel reservation and had them going all day and it worked out because today is the 100th day of school. Therefore, we came in dressed like old men, so we are the subs today!”
Johnston said that when her students came into class Friday morning, she had her back turned.
“They were so quiet and crept in,” she said. “But when I turned around, they said, ‘Are you serious?’”
They added that the students were disappointed that they didn’t actually go to the beach because they really wanted them to go on vacation.
“They tried to call me Ms. Roark, but I told them that is not who I am today,” she said. “We only answered to our sub names, Ms. Johnston as Mr. Walter and Ms. Roark as Mr. Leroy.”
When the students who dressed up were asked to have their pictures taken, they seemed so excited about it.
“I think the kids are really enjoying it,” Persinger said Friday during the event.
