Friday morning, students in Jessica Decker’s third grade class wrote thank you notes to their favorite school personnel. There were 100 letters.

Then, the students hand-delivered those letters.

The class filed out the door and started dropping in to other rooms.

Decker called on the students who had written letters to deliver them at the proper rooms.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Warren Area Elementary Center third grader Emory Buchanan receives a big hug from Teacher Lanna Gardner after he presented her with a thank you letter on the 100th day of school.

They knocked on each door. When they were let in, they went up to the subject of their thank-you and handed over the envelope. Some were pretty quiet about it. Others said, “Happy 100 days” or “Thank you for being a great teacher.”

Some of the recipients opened their letters and read them to their current students. Others gave the delivering students hugs. Some had to deny opening the letters, expecting the messages within to make them cry.

Rayme Scalise opened his. “That just made my whole day,” he said to the group of students who brought him their letters.

The recipients included teachers, aides, office staff, custodians, and cafeteria workers.

Cafeteria Helper Katie Vermilyea had to reach over a counter to receive her letter, but she insisted on coming out into the cafeteria for a hug after reading it.

Warren Area Elementary Center third grader Adelyn Hamilton presents a thank you letter to Teacher Rachel Beach on the 100th day of school.

“The staff need to know that they’re appreciated,” Decker said. “Not just teachers.”

Most of the recipients received one letter. Some received two or three.

More than 10 students thanked their gym teacher, Kara Hess, who was one who thought it best not to open the letters right away.

Asked why so many students picked Mrs. Hess, they said, “She’s nice” and “She’s the best.”

She returned, “I love you all.”

Times Observer photos by Brian Ferry Warren Area Elementary Center third grader Adelyn Hamilton presents a thank you letter to Cafeteria Helper Katie Vermilyea on the 100th day of school.

Then, she allowed the students to run two laps around the gym as a reward.

At the office, students handed letters to principals, counselors, and secretaries.

“Thank you so much,” Michele Peters said. “Thank you for making my day.”

The students were roaming the halls for most of an hour, making stops every few steps. Some of the stops lasted a few seconds. Others — the ones with hugs and reading — lasted a couple minutes.

They remained quiet and respectful throughout, earning praise from several adults who crossed their path.

“You have a great class,” one teacher told Decker.