By Kelli Gile

Three “little old ladies,” Kindergarteners Rachel Peiten, Chloe Thi, and Molly Chung showed off their 100-year old costumes on Jan. 29. (Photo Courtesy: Kelli Gile)

Walnut – C.J. Morris Elementary kindergarten students dressed up as adorable centenarians to mark the 100^th day of school on Jan. 28.

The youngsters transformed into 100-year olds with gray spray-painted hair, glasses, and canes for the day of fun and learning.  Many of the little ones had their new “mature” hair tucked up in buns with rouge on their cheeks. They wore aprons, shawls and sweater vests.  Some even had painted-on wrinkles!

Chloe Thi, 6, said she liked wobble-walking with her little cane.

“This was the first time we’ve had the students dress as old people,” noted teacher Sarah Sherman.  “They came in with little mustaches and cotton ball eyebrows – it was so cute!  And by the time 10 o’clock came around, they took it off!” she added.

The teaching team included Luisa Salazar, Kelly Revells, and Sherman, who led the activities costumed with gray wigs, floral dresses, saggy socks, and a trio of canes.

“Mrs. Salazar looks like an old lady! She’s wearing a wig,” observed a giggling Jewelina Baker.

Counting to the 100^th day of school serves as good practice for number recognition and beginning math skills.  It also means the students and their teachers made it about halfway through the school year!

The kids look forward to reaching the big 100 all year long.  They counted out 100 Fruit Loops cereal rounds to make necklaces.  They estimated walking one hundred feet.  They wrote little books about 100 things they’ve seen, eaten, or wanted to do.  At recess the young whippersnappers raced and played.

“We were two old ladies riding a race car!” exclaimed Rachel Peiten.