Jay Shideler Elementary celebrates 100th day of school

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Feb 5, 2004 by Allie Atwood Capital-Journal

By Allie Atwood

SPECIAL TO THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

On Jan. 23, the 100th day of school at Jay Shideler Elementary, students not only celebrated the 100th day of school, but also the fact that they received the 2002-03 State Standard of Excellence in mathematics.

"Last year's fourth-graders, now fifth-graders, met the standard of excellence. The standard of excellence means that our school met stringent criteria for all students placing in certain category expectations," said Kelli Kogl, fourth-grade teacher and North Central Accreditation math co-chair. "We chose to celebrate the 100th day of school to connect it to a symbolic day and center activities around both."

Principal Cheryl Boggs suggested to Kogl and her co-chair, kindergarten teacher Rachel Duncan, that the school have a special math day to reward students for meeting the standard of excellence. In September, the two teachers and the NCA math committee began planning for the celebration.

Kogl added that although the main focus of the day was math, the committee "chose to connect reading and writing to emphasize the connectedness of learning. The students have participated in reading at least 100 books by the 100th day and writing 100 letters or poems to soldiers or senior citizens."

Each class that met the goal of reading 100 books by the 100th day of school was awarded a special prize.

Other activities included a story problem at each grade level, with prizes given to the winner from each class; an aerial photo of the school in the shape of 100; a lunch menu shaped around math, including a cake served in honor of meeting the standard of excellence; and an assembly at the end of the school day.

Boggs opened the assembly by explaining to students what they were celebrating. All fifth-graders stood, and then students who scored in the exemplary range on the tests were given special recognition with a certificate. Boggs later discussed the importance of studying math with the students, and winners of the day's activities were announced. Sixth-grade teacher Robin Dixon showed a slide show representing 100 days of math at Jay Shideler, and all children received lollipops on their way out the door.

"Our school has met the standard of excellence the last three of four years," Kogl said. "We chose to celebrate this year to emphasize the overall effort of preparing students, the importance of math in our daily lives and the connectedness of learning as a whole. We also felt it was an activity that would bring the whole school together to celebrate learning."

Allie Atwood is a freelance writer from Topeka.