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Belle Harris, 5, went to school on Tuesday with hair rollers, red lipstick and decked out in a flowery frock paired with a cardigan.
Cranbourne Primary in Melbourne’s south-east hasn’t ditched uniforms – rather Belle was taking part in 100 Days of School celebrations.
Belle Harris (centre) at Cranbourne Primary School celebrating 100 Days of School.Credit: Joe Armao
“Belle’s been counting down the days for a good month or two now,” said Jessica Harris, who spent Tuesday morning frantically preparing her daughter for the event. “It’s a massive deal.”
Still relatively new to Australian schools, the tradition comes from the US, where it has been celebrated for decades. To mark the first 100 days of their first year of learning, children dress as an elderly person – who they imagine themselves to be in a century from now.
So contagious was the excitement that Belle’s three-year-old sister Bo, who is in kindergarten, requested that she, too, be allowed to dress up as an older lady.
“Bo had the red lipstick as well,” Harris said.
About 40 children at Cranbourne Primary joined in the fun on Tuesday, donning grandma dresses, cardigans, suits, suspenders, grey wigs, shawls and glasses. And there was one astronaut.
“There was a lot of excitement at the school with Belle greeting her friends and taking photos in the morning,” Harris said.
The event has steadily gained popularity in Australia with schools, students and parents all jumping on board and social media amping up the trend.
Cranbourne Primary has been celebrating the tradition for five years, decorating classrooms with streamers and balloons, enjoying century-old themed treats, playing games including pass the parcel and holding dance parties during class.
Children at Cranbourne Primary have enthusiastically embraced 100 Days of School celebrations.Credit: Joe Armao
“The kids have a lot of fun and get their certificates,” prep teacher Amanda McLaughlin said.
“They’ve come so far, this little group, from not knowing their letter sounds to now knowing the alphabet. It’s such an important milestone.”
Parents were also encouraged to bring in a plate of food to share with the class.
“It’s such a sweet thing for the primary school to do and all primary schools should do it,” said Harris, who provided cheesymite scrolls and biscuits covered in hundreds-and-thousands.
Cranbourne Primary has been running the 100 Day of School event for five years. Credit: Joe Armao
Retailers are also getting involved, spruiking grandma wigs for children on social media in the lead up.
Also known as 100 Days of Kindy or Prep, the event has some competition. The busy primary school calendar already includes Book Week, Easter Hat Parade and Crazy Hair Day.
But Cranbourne Primary principal Lachlan Yeates said it was great addition.
“It’s become an entrenched part of our school year and a large number of our students are engaged with it and the staff love it as well,” Yeates said.
The school is even planning to hold a new spin-off event: grade 6 students will celebrate 100 Days to Go this year, with the older children dressing as prep students as their time at primary school nears the end.
“The older students saw how exciting the 100 Day of School is for prep students and asked if we could do something,” Yeates said.
With Mary Ward
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