Last month, teachers and students at Riverview Elementary gathered to celebrate being 100 days older and smarter.

The Riverview Elementary 100th Day parade began in 2010 when the school first opened and has happened every year since.

"We originally did the parade to celebrate our first 100 days open," said Principal Julia Mashburn. "It became such a hit that we made it an annual event."

Mashburn said that the intent of the event is to demonstrate learning and counting skills, such as counting to 100 before releasing the balloons.

"The motto for the annual parade is ‘100 days older, 100 days smarter,'" Mashburn said.

Kindergarten teacher Lisa McAnally initiated the idea, according to Mashburn.

"We have the parade to recognize that we have counted to 100," McAnally said. "Counting to 100 is a standard that kindergarten has to learn, the parade is something to keep it interesting and fun for the students."

McAnally said the reason for the annual occurrence is to start over with a new group of kindergarteners each year.

"We hope that is helps boost enthusiasm for learning, keeping them interested and engaged is a task that we do not take lightly," she said. "Behind the scenes before the parade we practice all types of counting skills getting prepared for the parade. They are learning when they don't even realize it."

The event began in the school halls with the kindergarten and first-grade classes putting on a parade for their schoolmates. Both students and teachers dressed "elderly" to show that they were 100 days older.

After the parade, all of the other students at Riverview Elementary followed the parade outside to the bus loading area. The students then counted to 100 and released 100 balloons.