The tiny senior citizens were actually kindergarten and preschool students dressed up as their vision of a 100-year-old person to celebrate the 100th day of school.

All day, the celebration of the 100th day of school was embedded in the lessons the students learned and the activities the students explored, starting with 100 jumping jacks to start the day off.

“We thought it would be a great opportunity to have some fun,” said Principal Carmen Banwart. “They’re 100 days brighter. We’ve done a lot of things in 100 days, and we want to really celebrate it.”

The kindergartners and preschoolers have grown a lot in the last 100 school days, Banwart said.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Benny Bruns, a student in Shawn Russell’s kindergarten class, colors a picture while waiting for class to start on Thursday. Bruns dressed as an old man to celebrate the 100th day of school at the Early Childhood Center.

“When you think of when they first came in, even just knowing how to find your locker with your name or going through the lunch line was hard,” she said. “Now we have readers and writers and mathematicians and leaders that are just shining. They’ve learned so many things.”

Many of the teachers also dressed up like senior citizens, and some even decorated their classrooms to celebrate the milestone.

Morgan Merrill played a video of a record player for her kindergarten students as they arrived to class.

Kindergartner Milah Miller was happy to show off her old lady clothes when she arrived to Shawn Russell’s class, proud of the wrinkles her mom drew on her face.

“I’m happy on one hundreds day because sometimes we get to do fun things,” Miller said.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Students in Andrea Pavik’s preschool class dressed up as “100-year-olds” for the 100th day of school on Thursday.

She said she’s gained a lot of new knowledge since the first day of school in August.

“We learn a lot about math and letters and our letter sounds and lots of things,” she said.

Miller said she can’t quite count to 100 yet, but she’s getting close.

The number 100 is huge for young scholars. To preschooler Wynnie Bills, 100 is similarly large as one million.

Thursday wasn’t just the 100th day of school for the students, but also the 100th day of school for the newly-remodeled and reopened ECC building.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Kindergarten teacher Shawn Russell greets student Lenna Chernik, dressed as an old lady, on the 100th day of school on Thursday.

Celebrating the 100th day of school will be something the ECC does every year, Banwart said.

“We’re really trying to stay true to our vision and mission, starting these rich traditions to continue for the kids,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Kindergarten teacher Morgan Merrill dressed up as an old lady with gray hair and a housecoat to celebrate the 100th day of school at the Early Childhood Center on Thursday.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Colleen Munter, library media center paraeducator at the Early Childhood Center, reads a book titled “100 School Days” to Brooke Pigman’s kindergarten class on the 100th day of school on Thursday.