Lower School Celebrates 100th In-Person Day!

By Alice Roche Cody

While celebrating the 100th day of school is a huge Gill St. Bernard's tradition, this year's anniversary assumed an even greater importance, given the world-wide COVID-19 pandemic. Despite all the challenges with protocols and restrictions, our GSB campus has remained open for 100 days so that our students can learn in-person with their dedicated teachers. Today's awesome party at the Lower School Meeting marked this impressive milestone, a testament to the commitment of our students, their parents, and our teachers.

"It's amazing to see our students dancing in their classrooms," said Lower and Middle School Director Kyle Armstrong. "Our 100th Day celebration this year is extra special because of the pandemic. The fact that we have been here – seeing teachers and students on a daily basis – is terrific. Let's throw a party!"

With that, the fun started as parents joined in remotely, Zooming in to see the LS classes whoop it up in a grand way. Our kindergartners, dressed up as 100 years olds, kicked things off with a parade featuring kids in flowered house coats, pink curlers and slippers, old cardigans, and argyle sweaters as they teetered by using walkers and canes. Then PE Teacher Steven Leo warmed up the crowd by leading 100 exercises, including squats, jumping jacks, luges, and pushups.

Next came Ms. Fedon's favorite tradition, the 100th Day Museum, which showcased first grade's assorted collections of 100 items. There was Sophia's 100 stuffed animals, Maddie's coins shaped to form a heart, Robbie's cascading dominoes, and Amelia's 100 eyeballs. As this marked Logan Bee's third 100th day celebration, he completed a 300-piece Harry Potter puzzle that he displayed with an excited, "Ta-da!"

Next, the party moved to Home Winds Farm, where LS Science Teacher Lynn Prosen introduced Farmer Ned inside the animal barn, as recently born goats climbed about. "Baby goats are called kids," he said, adding that four sheep will soon become mommas again. "We're excited to see how many lambs there will be, but I don't think it will be 100!"

Then Ms. Fedon found a note in her office for the Lower School Knights, left behind by the one-and-only GSB Knight, who said, "Congrats on 100 days, and sorry I missed your dance party!"

Did someone say dance party??

With that, Reel 2 Reel's song, I Like to Move It, blared and everyone – even Mr. Armstrong – cut some fine rug. Students partied wearing glow necklaces, waving their arms, wiggling, with some even doing a distanced-conga line in their classrooms.  

When the music quieted, fourth grade's Kindness Squad read their poem, with the lines, "We learn to always give our best, no matter how hard the hardness gets," a nod to resiliency, making the most of things, and thriving, even in the face of numerous protocols and restrictions.

Finally, Mr. Armstrong shared his heartfelt thoughts: "Thank you, parents, for sharing your kids with us on a daily basis and for joining our call today. I look forward to a time when you can be back here with us. Let's keep going for another 100 days!"

Ms. Fedon closed things out with an apt proclamation: "This is the best day ever!"

View even more photos and coverage from the 100th day of school on our Lower School Instagram page!