WILMINGTON — It was Popsicles for everyone in the Wilmington Middle School when students there reached the September attendance goal of 97 percent.

Wilmington Middle School (WMS) Assistant Principal Brian Camp said hitting the 97 percent target is “an amazing feat at the building” where historically attendance figures are in the 94.5 to 95 percent range.

“We beat it, we were right at 97 percent,” Camp reported to the school board Monday night.

The building’s attendance theme was “Wilmington Middle School wants you” accompanied by the famous picture of Uncle Sam.

Along with the prized Popsicles as incentive, the emphasis on attending school was celebrated at the middle school throughout the month when “Hurricane every day” T-shirts and cookies were given away.

Another district-wide emphasis is upon school “climate.” Students’ hallway behavior has been a focus at the middle school, with its own motto: “Cane way in the hallway.” More than 200 students have been recognized for meeting the expectations in their hallway conduct.

As part of a first-quarter incentive, about 500 students will get to “hang out” at the bowling alley as a way to celebrate their good works, no office referrals, excellent attendance and receiving all A’s and B’s for the month, Camp said.

The assistant principal opened his report by speaking about a two-bus accident that occurred last week involving WMS eighth-graders on a field trip to Laurel Oaks Career Development Campus.

He said he wanted to recognize the great work that came in the wake of the rear-end collision near the Laurel Oaks entrance. Camp remarked about people coming together from “all the different local agencies — when you think about the EMTs, police department, fire department, and our staff, our eighth-grade teachers, building and central office leaders coming together to make sure to keep students calm.”

He added district staff should be “very proud of our people and how they interact,” and also of how the students were able to stay calm through the whole experience.

Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.