GOWANDA, NY — If you walked through the halls of Gowanda Elementary School last Friday, you might have done a double-take. Instead of the usual sea of energetic students, the building was filled with “senior citizens” sporting gray hair, cardigans, and the occasional walker.
The transformation was all part of the annual 100th Day of School celebration, a milestone that marks over five months of academic growth, friendship, and school spirit. Students and faculty alike leaned into the theme, trading their modern gear for “centenarian chic” to show that while they may be 100 days smarter, they are still young at heart.
Rallying for Success
The highlight of the day was a high-energy PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) Rally held in the gymnasium. The event served as a mid-year celebration of the “paws-itive” choices GES students make every day.
Assistant Principal Chandra Shaver and the PBIS team led the festivities, which included:
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Student Recognition: Honoring the hard work and academic milestones achieved since September.
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The Raffle Reveal: Lucky students walked away with prizes and new books as a reward for their consistent good behavior.
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The “Senior” Dance-Off: In a viral-worthy moment, the GES faculty—fully dressed in their 100-year-old outfits—brought the house down with a dance performance that proved “old age” hasn’t slowed them down one bit.
100 Days and Counting
“The 100th day is always a special milestone,” said school leadership. “It’s a chance to look back at how far our students have come since the first day of school and to get them excited for the finish line. Seeing the creativity in the costumes and the joy during the rally reminds us why we love what we do.”
As the students headed home for the weekend—canes and rollers in hand—the message was clear: whether you’re 6 or 100, it’s always a great day to be a Panther.
Check out our photo gallery below to see our “senior” Panthers in action!
