Open Door School celebrates 100th day

Published 12:00 am Sunday, January 29, 2012

Reaching the number 100 in any category is certainly an accomplishment. 100th birthday. 100th anniversary. 100th day of school.

The Open Door School reached the latter of those on Wednesday, and, even though it may not be as big as a 100th birthday or anniversary, it certainly holds its importance for students.

“It’s a celebration of an accomplishment,” said Kristi Smith, primary classroom instructor at Open Door. “When we have numbers, we get to have an integration of math skills in our activities, and apply them to daily living.”

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Betty Cade, instructional aide, helped to organize the activities for the 100th day. Unlike in the past, an hour was set aside in the gymnasium for primary and intermediate students to participate in activities. Cade says this allowed for class work to not be interrupted.

The first activity of the day included each student placing one footprint cut-out on the wall of the gymnasium.

Footprints were placed until there were 100 cutouts along the wall of the gym. As each cutout was placed on the wall, students counted along.

This activity was followed by relay races between classrooms, in which a student was to carry as many marshmallows as possible on a spoon to a container. The student would then run back to the starting line to relay the spoon to a classmate, until all 100 marshmallows were dropped off in the container.

Students were then treated to gift bags filled with toys and games related to the number 100.

Misty Chaffins, primary classroom teacher, helped to organize the event.

“The games and activities allow for number recognition, patterning,” said Chaffins. “And not only that, but it’s a fun day for the students.”

Open Door School is certified by the Ohio Department of Education and accredited by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.

The school serves more than 60 students with multiple handicaps, ages 6 to 21 from all Lawrence County areas.

For more information about the LCBDD and the Open Door School, call or (740) 532-1234.