Katonah Elementary 1st Graders Celebrate 100 Days

Despite the snow and muck outside, the sun certainly seemed to be shining on the faces of the nearly 100 1st graders at KES yesterday as they celebrated their first 100 days of school this 2009/2010 year. 

An annual event, the KES 1st graders spend their centennial day reveling in all things "100."

The day commenced with a song about the 100th day. A parade followed, in which the children pursued a line of 100 red footsteps placed on the ground down the main hallway. At the end of the trail, the children gathered and waited hopefully for the appearance of Zero the Hero.

Zero the Hero, as you must surmise, is a mathematical super hero who promotes all things zero-related as well as things which just look like zeros. He likes to eat Cheerios and bagels for breakfast. He enjoys Spaghettios for lunch. He loves doughnuts. And, this super hero wears glasses in the shape of 2 zeros. Zero encourages students to learn their numbers up to 100. Math was never this fun when I was in first grade!

Zero the Hero visits the 1st graders each counted school day which ends in a zero, such as 10, 20, 30 and so on. The children never see him on these visits, but they know he has called because he always leaves a special treat behind for the classes. Today was the first time the students were able to see their protagonist in person, and they were absolutely thrilled.

Fifteen stations of activities, supervised by parent volunteers, helped the children learn more about numbers in fun and often delicious ways. There was an event to see if 100 dried beans can fit into the students shoes. They made necklaces out of 100 Froot Loops. The children attempted to jump rope 100 times. There was even 100 Day Bingo.   

And after a healthy lunch? A 100-cupcake long caterpillar named Kirby awaited the students with a great big smile.

Needless to say, the children had an incredible day.