Students at Picayune Junior High School held an initiative Friday morning to entice students to attend class.

The idea for the event started when teacher Sandy Krystal and counselor Nakita Frye decided to reward students for their perfect attendance from Dec. 1 to Dec.15.

At the end, they decided if students showed up to school every day during that time period and didn’t leave early, they would be eligible to pick a present on Dec. 15, Krystal said.

After sharing their idea with Picayune Junior High School Principal Jim Breeland, who was in favor of it, awareness of the event spread and people started to donate gifts, Krystal said.

On Friday, 33 students attending the seventh and eighth grades were eligible to pick a present before they headed home for Christmas break.

The presents included, iTunes gift cards, movie gift cards, jewelry and other items, Krystal said.

“All throughout December, many students did not want to leave early, just so they would be eligible to pick a present,” Krystal said. “The event was a huge success and the kids loved every second of it.”

Krystal said the staff at Picayune Junior High School will now come up with a similar initiative to increase school attendance.

“The event had a positive result on our students and they need to be on the lookout for our next incentive once they come back from Christmas break,” Krystal said.