Kindergartener was told to bring 100 things for the 100th day of school — instead, he brought one special guest and outsmarted the assignment
Celebrating milestones at school can lead to some truly creative ideas. At St. Thomas More School in Georgia, kindergartners marked the 100th day of school, a tradition often celebrated by bringing 100 items like toys or candy. One student, KJ Schmansky, found a way to make her celebration unforgettable. Instead of bringing 100 things, she brought someone very special to show-and-tell, making the day extra meaningful. The video of the moment was shared on TikTok by @cbseveningnews on January 22, 2026, and quickly captured the hearts of viewers.
@cbseveningnews For the 100th day of school, most kids bring 100 toys or treats — but KJ Schmansky of St. Thomas More School in Georgia brought someone truly special: her 100-year-old great-grandfather. #school #grandparents #education #heartwarming #kindergarten ♬ original sound - CBSEveningNews
KJ’s choice surprised her classmates and teachers alike when she brought her 100-year-old great-grandfather, Sonny. The pair even dressed alike for the occasion. The 100th-day milestone is often celebrated with material objects, but KJ had something different in mind. The clip also showed pictures of the duo looking adorable as they sat in their chairs holding hands. KJ and Sonny then answered questions from curious classmates, such as “Is Sonny the oldest guy you know?” to which KJ replied, “He is.” According to CBS News, grandpa revealed that he was born on October 8, 1925. Questions about the existence of cars and grocery stores in the early 20th century also came up. Sonny shared stories of how life has changed over the past century and revealed the secret to a long, happy life: “family.” KJ added a sweet reminder to the class as well, “Remember to wash your hands.”
The video quickly captured the internet’s attention, reaching more than 639,000 views in just a day. Many users also shared how touching they found KJ’s gesture. Others praised the bond between KJ and her great-grandfather, noting how inspiring it was to see multiple generations celebrate together. @irish__goodbye wrote, "The matching outfits and bald cap is too cute!" @susiefagalde1124 shared, "My Grammy is 101. I’m way past kindergarten, but she would be tickled to go to school with me." @chilione commented, "My daughter did that too, but my grandma was actually 102 at the time. It was so much fun!" @lizlab3 expressed, "What a wonderful gift for these kids to ask questions to someone who has seen so much better than Google."
The bond between grandchildren and grandparents is undoubtedly a precious one. In another incident, a teen made sure to cherish this bond in a very special way. When 17-year-old Stephen Vigil learned that his grandmother, Julie Jarman, had pancreatic cancer and only a few months to live, he wanted to create memories she would always treasure. He planned several surprises, but one stood out above the rest: taking his 92-year-old grandmother to prom, something she had never experienced.
“My first prom will be with my very special grandson,” Jarman said with excitement. Despite initial rules against partners over 20, the principal agreed after Vigil explained the situation. The duo prepared carefully, picking matching blue outfits, getting haircuts, and choosing a corsage. On the night, they danced, laughed, and celebrated with friends and family. “She had a ball. She said she had the best gift of her life that night—she had never been to a prom,” Vigil said, adding that the event gave them both unforgettable memories.
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