Freehold Twp. students make school days count

Kindergarten through fifth-grade students at the Freehold Townshp elementary schools celebrated the 100th day of school on Feb. 11. Students came to school wearing hats or shirts they had decorated with 100 items, and throughout the day they completed projects, and math and writing activities. First-grade students at the Laura Donoval School created necklaces, drew their own 100-piece puzzles, and designed name quilts consisting of 100 boxes to write their names and color in patterns. Other grades completed math and writing activities, and probability and measurement problems. With parent permission, students in all grades were also challenged to find groups of 100 pennies throughout the week to bring to school. In addition to the money being used for counting activities, a total of $1,155 will be donated to the American Red Cross to aid victims of the tsunami tragedy. At the West Freehold School, kindergarten students celebrated Dalmation Day to represent the 101st day of school. Dressed up like Dalmatians, the students worked with teachers and parent volunteers to complete several activities. Different centers were set up in each classroom where students had to count, estimate, draw patterns or write as many of 100 sight words as they could. They also had a Heart Healthy Pup center where parents had a checklist of exercises that students could do. Parents gave prizes such as pencils and stickers to each child as they completed a center, to recognize their accomplishments. Also during the day, kindergartners used clues to find a toy puppy hidden by Principal Janet Creech, who was dressed as Cruella Deville.