Branford's John B. Sliney Elementary School students and staff surprised their new principal, Margaret Mary Gethings, with 100 ways to express how much they love their school and principal on Feb. 4, the 100th day of the 2015-16 school year.

Their thoughts, written on dozens of red construction paper hearts, were formed into an oversized heart mural that greeted Gethings in the school lobby as she arrived  this morning.

Sliney is one of three K - 4 schools in the Branford Public School district.

Gethings was hired by the Board of Education in June 2015, and began the 2015-16 school year with Sliney students in September. Gething's 22 years of experience as an educator and administrator include her last post as principal of Fair Haven Middle School, a K- 8 public school in New Haven.