Rock Hill students mark 100th day with visions of 100 years

Pink curlers, broken spectacles and gray hair were the order of the day Wednesday at Lesslie Elementary School, as students imagined what they’d look like at 100.

A dusting of baby powder on 9-year-old Daniel Collins’ dark hair added years to his otherwise youthful face. He also sported broken eyeglasses, mended with a scrap of masking tape above the bridge of his nose, and a grandfatherly hat, vest and bow tie.

The school’s students and staff marked the 100th day of the school year, an annual celebration of the number 100 in many primary school classrooms, by dressing like they believe they will look at age 100.

Haylee Scott, 11, took her cue for her costume from her grandmother.

“In the morning,” said the fifth-grader, “my grandmother usually has on a robe and her curlers in her hair.”

Rebecca Phillips, a 9-year-old fourth-grader, sported pink curlers with colorful eyeglasses, pajama pants and slippers.

“You don’t get to do this every day,” she explained.

Teachers joined in the fun, sporting gray wigs and appropriately frumpy print dresses.

Fifth-grade teacher Thomasina Cureton came up with the theme for the day with another teacher.

“It’s something for everyone to do together,” she said.

The school also hosted a canned food drive, with each grade level striving to collect at least 100 cans. Cureton said the school collected 792 cans in grades kindergarten to five, to be donated to a local charity.

The day culminated with a gathering in the school cafeteria, the reading of a picture book and music. A dozen teachers also volunteered to entertain students with a special event: a competition to see who could stuff 100 miniature marshmallows in her mouth fastest.

This story was originally published January 27, 2016 at 5:45 PM with the headline "Rock Hill students mark 100th day with visions of 100 years."