Recently many first-grade classrooms in Jordan School District looked a little more like lively senior centers because students and staff were celebrating the first 100 days of the school year by dressing up as if they were 100 years old.
On this episode of the Supercast, we talk to some very impressive silver-haired students at Silver Crest Elementary School about their 100th day costumes. Find out what they say about the aging process and when someone is considered “old.”
We’re going to start however, with some teachers who also look “aged to perfection” on the 100th day.
Audio Transcription
[Music]Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. Recently, many first grade classrooms in Jordan School District looked more like lively senior centers because students and staff were celebrating the first 100 days of the school year by dressing up as if they were 100 years old.
On this episode of the Supercast, we talk with some very impressive silver-haired students at Silver Crest Elementary School about their 100th day costumes. Find out what they say about the aging process and when someone is considered old.
We're going to start, however, with some teachers who also look aged to perfection on the 100th day of school.
[Music]I'm here with the first grade teachers here at Silver Crest. I cannot stop smiling and laughing looking at them, but looking at you guys was pretty startling as well. Did you have to dig deep for these costumes or is this just a regular Friday?
Teacher #1:
I just went over to my mother's house who’s 96 next month. I just picked from her wardrobe.
Anthony Godfrey:
What is this referred to as? Is this a house coat? What is this exactly?
Teacher:
Yeah, like a house dress.
Anthony Godfrey:
A house dress?
Teacher:
She called them a house dress. She always wore a turtleneck with it because she didn't want her neck to be seen. She had wrinkles on her neck.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, because she didn't want her neck to be seen. I see, because that would be a sign of old age.
Teacher:
And to keep her warm.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay, well you wear it well.
Teacher:
Thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
How about for the rest of you? The Golden Girls.
Teacher:
The Golden Girls look.
Teacher:
This is just fun Friday for me.
Anthony Godfrey:
Is it a particular Golden Girl or?
Teacher:
I am the Golden Girls.
Anthony Godfrey:
You embody all of them. Yes, very nice. Well, I really have to come back because some of you I haven't met and I really need to meet you in your natural state rather than in your this advanced age. How about for you guys? Where did you find your outfits?
Teacher:
I just got a collection. First grade teachers always have to have a bin of fun things. So we collect things, we dress up, lots of fun things.
Teacher:
I stole my grandma's nightgown.
Anthony Godfrey:
Does she know that you stole her nightgown?
Teacher:
Maybe.
Teacher:
I hit the DI.
Teacher:
So did I. The DI is an awesome place.
Anthony Godfrey:
The makeup, I hesitate to say this, but the makeup is a key component. It really brings out the, well, and the stockings. I can't stop looking at the stockings. The ankle stockings with the low heels and the skirt. Really, it's quite an ensemble.
Teacher:
My makeup took me back to my 80s.
Anthony Godfrey:
I also love that not only are you wearing glasses, but you have glasses on a chain around your neck. Now, the key component to this would also say, where are my glasses? I can't find my glasses.
Teacher:
Exactly. I never can.
Anthony Godfrey:
When you have two of them on your person.
Teacher:
Exactly.
Anthony Godfrey:
Clearly, pearls are also...
Teacher:
Yes. I don't know if we all know you're right.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now, the 100 days of school, I really love that you are highlighting this. Because I think we're always looking at the next day, we're always moving forward. We forget to look back at the progress that we've made. And I would guess, I've never taught first grade, but I would guess that teaching first grade, you really get to see a lot of progress from the kids over those 100 days. Can you tell me about day one in comparison with day 100?
Teacher:
They wouldn't be sitting like this on day one.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, it's clear you have some very effective routines down. No question about that.
Teacher:
When they come to us, they're just really little kindergartners. They're really still kindergartners. And now they've blossomed into students, right?
Teacher:
Yeah, I was looking at their journals from first day to now. And just the growth, it's so fun. I don't think you've any other grade you can see the growth that you do in first grade. And they're reading, they're writing. It's awesome.
Teacher:
Another thing you notice is the confidence. They come in crying, they don't want to leave their moms. And now they can't wait to come into school.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, and I love that. That's such a key element of what you accomplish as first grade teachers, is teaching them to be at school, giving them that confidence, that sense of efficacy like, "Hey, I belong at school. I didn't know how to do this, and now I do." Because my teacher helped me learn how to do that.
Teacher:
Yeah, it's awesome.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's wonderful. Well, I'm super impressed. I love this activity. And I really should have busted out my readers. So I'll put my readers on for the rest of the time. I'm going to go do something this weekend to feel young. I've got to, maybe I'll go clubbing this weekend. Well, you're all fabulous. Thank you so much for letting me take time with you.
Teacher:
Thank you for coming.
Teacher:
Remember, we tell parents that we will only believe half of what we hear if they promised to only believe half of what they hear.
Anthony Godfrey:
I think that's a fair bargain. I really think it is.
Teacher:
That's our motto.
Anthony Godfrey:
Believe half of what you hear. Well, you heard it here first at Silver Crest. Thank you very much for creating such a wonderful environment and for letting me take some time this morning.
Teachers:
Thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
Stay with us. When we come back students answer the age-old question, "When is a person really old?"
Break:
Hello, I'm Tracy Miller, President of the Jordan School District Board of Education. There are seven members on the Board of Education, one in each voting district. We are committed to listening and serving our constituents as we work together to provide the best possible learning environment for the students we serve. As members of the Jordan Board of Education, we believe it is our duty and responsibility to: increase student achievement; provide parents with the choices they deserve and desire; recognize and reward quality in educators; empower school leaders through policy governance and professional development; and communicate with the public, legislators, business leaders, cities, and parents. We invite you to get to know the Board member who represents you in your voting district and to please join us at our monthly board meeting held on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Or listen from the comfort of your home, on our live stream. For more information and to find your Board member, visit jordandistrict.org. With parent and community input and support, we will continue our work to give students every opportunity to succeed in Jordan District schools and beyond. Thank you for your support. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Anthony Godfrey:
As first grade students are assembling here, we're looking at people in housecoats and curlers. There are a lot of canes and glasses are a key component. Oh, and there's some gray facial hair too. Lots of gray facial hair. So you guys are celebrating a hundred days of school?
Students:
Yes!
Anthony Godfrey:
By dressing up to be a hundred?
Students:
Yes!
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay, so tell me, how do you like my old man costume?
Students:
[Applaud and cheer]
Anthony Godfrey:
Is it pretty good?
Student:
That’s not a costume! That’s your actual uniform.
Anthony Godfrey:
Raise your hand if you want to tell Doug something about my old man costume. What makes it an old man costume?
Student:
It has a tie.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, so wearing a tie kind of makes me look like an old man. Is that right? Okay.
Student:
White hair.
Anthony Godfrey:
My white hair. Oh, my white hair. Did the spray work? Can you see the real color of my hair?
Students:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay, my hair didn't always used to be white. It used to be a different color. That's right. Raise your hand and somebody tell me about the oldest person that you know. Who is the oldest person you know?
Student:
Great grandpa.
Anthony Godfrey:
And how old is your great grandpa?
Student:
Ninety-four.
Anthony Godfrey:
Ninety-four. And are there some things he does that only old people do?
Student:
Watch TV.
Anthony Godfrey:
He watches TV. Does he watch a lot of TV?
Student:
He does.
Anthony Godfrey:
So what kinds of shows does he like, you know?
Student:
Old movies.
Anthony Godfrey:
Old movies. Does he ever watch Matlock? No, Matlock. Okay. All right. How about you? Who's the oldest person you know?
Student:
My dad.
Anthony Godfrey:
Your dad? And how old is your dad?
Student:
47.
Anthony Godfrey:
Does he do some things that make him seem old? What are some things that he does?
Student:
He does push-ups, I think.
Anthony Godfrey:
He does push-ups. I think that makes him seem young. Are push-ups for old people, kind of?
Student:
No.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, okay. All right. That's all right. You tell me, how old is old? How old does a person have to be before you think, you know, that person's old. How old? Tell me, how old?
Student:
To be like 100 years old.
Anthony Godfrey:
If they're 100, they're old? If they're younger than that, they're not old yet? Okay, that's good. That makes me feel better. Okay. How about you? How old is-- does a person have to be before they're old?
Student:
60.
Anthony Godfrey:
60. Once you're 60, you're old.
Student:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. Well, I'm not there yet. That's good. How about you? How old?
Student:
200.
Anthony Godfrey:
200? Oh, I'll never be old. I will never be old. That sounds great. What is your name?
Hudson:
Hudson.
Anthony Godfrey:
And Hudson, how did you pick out your outfit?
Hudson:
I just looked at it and it seemed like it would be for an old man, so...
Anthony Godfrey:
What about it makes it seem like old man? Is it because it's gray?
Hudson:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
And it matches the makeup that you have on. You have big, bushy, gray eyebrows and a big, bushy, gray goatee. Tell me about-- who did your makeup?
Hudson:
My grandma.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, your grandma did. And what did you think when you saw yourself in the mirror?
Hudson:
I thought I looked pretty old.
Anthony Godfrey:
You do look pretty cool.
Hudson:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
You look pretty old. So tell me. You also sprayed your hair white?
Hudson:
Yeah, I used like a gray spray..
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, okay. So are you going to take a picture and then make sure you have a copy of that picture you can look at many years from now to see if this is what you actually end up looking like when you're older? The wrinkles. I just noticed the wrinkles. You also have wrinkles painted on. Oh, now wait a minute. Is that gray hair in your ears?
Hudson:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. That is a nice touch. That really brings the whole thing together. Very nicely done.
Student:
You look like old people.
Anthony Godfrey:
I look like old-- what makes me look like an old person?
Student:
You have white hair.
Anthony Godfrey:
I have white hair. Yeah, I do.
Student:
And freckles everywhere.
Anthony Godfrey:
And freckles everywhere. So my skin, my hair-- but other than that, I look pretty young, right?
Student:
Mm-hmm?
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. Tell me, how old do you think I am?
Student:
You're 25.
Student:
200?
Anthony Godfrey:
Well, if I were 200, wouldn't I talk a little bit more like this? Really, you think I'm 200? How do you think I am?
Student:
Um, 50?
Anthony Godfrey:
50? That's pretty close. Actually, I'm old enough that 50 sounds really good right now.
Student:
I know how old you are.
Anthony Godfrey:
I'm not the president.
Student:
56?
Anthony Godfrey:
But God bless America.
Student:
Are you the President of the United States?
Anthony Godfrey:
No, I'm not the President of the United States. Tell me, who is the oldest person you know?
Student:
My, um, Grandma Ruth.
Anthony Godfrey:
Your Grandma Ruth? How old is your Grandma Ruth?
Student:
I can't remember, because on her next birthday, she's going to be 100 years old.
Anthony Godfrey:
She's going to be 100 years old on her next birthday. Wow. So what are some things about your Grandma Ruth? What can you tell me about her?
Student:
She loves her dogs.
Anthony Godfrey:
She loves her dogs?
Student:
Mm-hmm. And she has grandkids.
Anthony Godfrey:
She has grandkids? Does she have some great grandkids too?
Student:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. That's pretty awesome. Is there something that your Grandma does with you, or that she makes for you that you really like?
Student:
Yeah, cookies. She makes cookies.
Anthony Godfrey:
What kind of cookies does she make?
Student:
I kind of don't remember.
Anthony Godfrey:
Can you tell me your name?
Student:
It's squeaky.
Anthony Godfrey:
Can you tell me about your costume? It looks really great. What are you wearing, and what did you bring?
Student:
I have the same walking stick as my teacher.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, yeah. Your teacher does have that same walking stick. Tell me about the clothes you're wearing.
Student:
This.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, that's a hat with some gray hair attached to it.
Student:
And I have these kind of glasses.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, yeah. Look at those glasses. Where did you get those glasses?
Student:
Got it from, like, a costume that we found on our computer.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. And tell me about your outfit.
Student:
I have a hundred year old vest and this is a coat that my mom put on. And here's the "How DoYou Do World" scarf.
Anthony Godfrey:
I think you look fantastic. Even your shoes kind of look like old-person shoes a little bit. Yeah, I like it. If your old person that you're dressed up as had a name, what would his name be?
Student:
Um, I don't know. Paul.
Anthony Godfrey:
Paul? Okay. Very cool. Tell me the favorite thing you've learned or been able to do in those 100 days. What have you loved about the first 100 days of first grade? Right back here in the orange shirt.
Student:
Play Guess Who.
Anthony Godfrey:
Play Guess Who? Are you pretty good at Guess Who?
Student:
Yeah. Kinda.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. Good. How about you? The suspenders here. Yes, sir.
Student:
Um, lunch.
Anthony Godfrey:
Lunch. You like lunch? Yeah. Which lunch? What do you like for lunch?
Student:
Macaroni and cheese.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's my favorite. I went to a school on Monday just so I could have macaroni and cheese. Okay. What's your favorite thing about the first 100 days of school?
Student:
Math.
Anthony Godfrey:
Math? What do you like about math?
Student:
That I count on and pick the bigger number. Awesome. That's great. I love that you love math.
Student:
Um, to be with friends.
Anthony Godfrey:
To be with friends. That's a really important part of school. How about you?
Student:
Math.
Anthony Godfrey:
Math? What do you love about math?
Student:
Um, so we can, um, everything.
Student:
I like reading. I like reading because I like reading books.
Anthony Godfrey:
What do you like, what type of books do you like to read most?
Student:
It was horror.
Anthony Godfrey:
Horror books? Yeah. Wow. Cool.
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, education is the most important thing you'll do today. We'll see you out there.
[Music]