Children at Sir John Cass's Foundation School at the Cass Child andFamily Centre were counting down the days until their 100th day afterstarting reception and celebrated by releasing 100 balloons from theschool's roof.
One balloon was found by a woman across the channel on a beach inFrance. She wrote to the centre and suggested making contact with theschool where her daughter teaches, a link their correspondence has nowestablished.
Alice Taylor-Rugman, a teacher at the centre, said, 'While I was workingin an American school a colleague mentioned their 100 Days of Schoolcelebration. Thinking it was a good idea, I looked at how we could makethe event even bigger and better.'
The children wrote 100 letters to 100 people in the UK and overseas,including staff and relatives, telling them a bit about themselves andasking questions such as 'Where did you go on holiday?' and 'What isyour favourite book?'
Joanna Seymour, head of the centre, said, 'Lots of children at theschool have English as their second language. The writing project hashelped encourage children to write, as they understand there is apurpose to the letters.'
In their countdown to the 100th day, the children took part incompetitions by completing 100-piece jigsaws and collecting 100items.
All the children were presented with medals and they received '100pennies' in prizes.