STUDENTS GET TIME OFF FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR

More than 230 Cape Girardeau Central High School students got time off Thursday and today for good behavior -- and attendance and grades.

Students who had perfect attendance during the first semester, at least a "C" grade point average in class and no discipline referrals for the semester were invited to participate in the Ultimate Final. The event is an incentive program that provides games, food and free time for exemplary students.

Students were excused from final exams and allowed to participate in the Ultimate Final for every class hour for which they met all three qualifiers. Some 231 students were exempt from all seven of their final exams, but the number actually participating in the Ultimate Final was much higher in any given hour, said principal Randie Fidler.

In fact, participation will peak this morning when some 355 students qualify for a free hour in the school's Old Gymnasium. That's more than a third of the 915-member student body, Fidler said.

"I think this shows that our incentives for perfect attendance are working and a strong correlation for improving grades as well," he said. "That we've got more than a third of our student body participating is pretty remarkable."

Parent volunteer Iffat Khan sold candy and treats to students during the event. She said she had seen first-hand how the party incentive spurred her daughter to attend classes regularly.

"She was really trying for it," she said. "She didn't want to go to the dentist until after school because it would keep her from qualifying. It is a big motivator."

Senior Diana Haley agreed. "I made sure I was going to have this time," she said. "I think it's good because it makes people work harder to keep their grades up and come everyday. We can have time to spend with our friends when other people are working away at tests."

The event was co-sponsored by Renaissance, a program that encourages excellence for students and staff through incentives and awards. Renaissance parent committee member Angie Tygett said her committee had no problem soliciting parents to donate food or volunteer time for the event because they recognized its importance.

Although there will be another Ultimate Final at the end of spring semester, Tygett said it will be the last held at the school. Beginning next year all students will be required to take finals so they'll have test-taking experience for college, she said.

"You have to take finals in college, and if you've never had to take one, you won't have that experience to draw from," she said.

"Those that didn't make it this time still have one more incentive day to try for this year, though."