DISD students celebrate 100 days of successful learning

Denison ISD students, staff and teachers recently took a quick time-out from spring test preparations to celebrate the thousands of successes, big and small, that make Denison ISD one of the best school districts in north Texas. The occasion: this year’s 100th day of school.

“Our 100th Day celebration is a special day that allows our students, teachers and staff to celebrate school attendance alongside their many exceptional academic and personal accomplishments during the first 100 days of school,” said Denison ISD Superintendent Dr. Henry Scott. “Our teachers utilize many years of experience, collaboration and creativity to come up with new ways to teach, engage and inspire our kids to come to school every day, set goals and work hard to achieve them. Every child learns differently, but they all share a common bond: they love to be actively involved in learning, to be hands-on, to participate in classroom activities, to create things and discuss ideas…to contribute to their school’s many awards and successes and feel pride in accomplishments. This kind of learning makes our students want to come to school, and that’s just one of many great reasons for our DISD family to celebrate.”

Various themes added great fun, joy and laughter to the campus festivities. Large groups of kids wore hats and held signs proclaiming to be “100 days smarter.” Others decorated their clothes with hundreds of beads and buttons. Many teachers, staff members and students enjoyed lively and descriptive discussions about what it’s like to be 100 days older and smarter --- after dressing up like seniors from past generations.

“We’ve counted to 100 in our classrooms, added numbers together that equal 100, described what people look like when they’re 100, discussed what life was like 100 years ago…and written about what we’ve learned and how we’ve grown over the last 100 days,” said Lamar Principal Janet Mobley. “It’s a fun celebration that everyone enjoys…but it’s also another really great opportunity for our kids to improve their writing, social studies, math, vocabulary and spelling skills.”

Principal Kerry Kaai said Hyde Park teachers and students embrace successful learning throughout the year -- and celebrate with family and friends every chance they get. “Tiger Pride is the basis for everything good and positive that occurs inside and outside our classrooms, academically and personally: the hundreds of acts of kindness that our kids perform each and every day, the respect they show for themselves and others, the hundreds of academic challenges successfully mastered during this great 2017-18 school year. Our teachers and students have stayed focused and positive and excited about gaining knowledge and reaching goals. It’s been a very productive and rewarding year for all of us…yet another reason to celebrate. We’re proud to be Hyde Park Tigers!”

First grade teacher Lisa Washer at Lamar Elementary described with love and pride the learning and progress that has taken place during the first 100 days of school.

“Our first graders are growing by leaps and bounds, learning how to write descriptive sentences and put them together in simple but appropriate narratives,” said Washer. “They can do amazing things with numbers, solving math problems that require them to think analytically and critically. They’re quickly building more complex vocabularies from various interactive games and activities. They’re learning about customs and cultures through social studies projects. We celebrated all these accomplishments and more in 100th day activities that reflected this high level of successful learning. It’s been an amazing year so far…and I truly believe the best is yet to come!”

Terrell Elementary teacher Amy Quarels congratulated her students for being 100 days brighter after successfully completing the first 100 days of school.

Students in Sarah Franklin’s kindergarten class at Hyde Park Elementary, proclaiming to be “100 Days Smarter,” recently wished everyone a Happy 100th day of school.

Terrell kindergarteners wore celebratory crowns in honor of their many academic and personal accomplishments during the first 100 days of the 2017-2018 School Year.

Hyde Park students, supported by canes and clad in curlers and spectacles, dressed up as 100-year-old seniors during the school’s recent 100th Day of School celebration.

Students in Lisa Washer’s first grade classroom at Lamar Elementary creatively decorated t-shirts with 100 cheerios, 100 dots, 100 gumballs…and a necklace made of 100 beads, in celebration of the 100th day of school.