Parents and teachers gathered in Kincheloe Elementary School’s gymnasium Friday to award the school’s students for achieving the highest test scores in the school’s history.

During an afternoon assembly, Principal Dawn Conner and Dowagiac Union Schools Supt. Mark Daniel joined teachers, students and an audience of parents to celebrate the school’s high Northwest Evaluation Assessment scores.

“We’re celebrating today because these are the highest scores we’ve ever had,” Conner said during the assembly. “We’re a team here at Kincheloe.”

Each student was presented with a certificate for the accomplishment, and some were awarded trophies for earning the highest scores in their grades.

“It makes our jobs a lot easier because they’re so smart,” Michelle Helmuth, vice president of the board of education, said. “And without the teachers, we couldn’t learn, so they deserve a hand.”

Melissa Bonczynski said she was happy to watch her daughter, second-grader Emmaline, receive a trophy for her hard work.

“She had the highest scores in the second grade for language,” Bonczynski said. “We’re very proud of her.”

Daniel was on hand to distribute the certificates and awards to students, saying he was happy to help them celebrate.

“The most important thing every day is to learn,” Daniel told the audience. “We’re very proud of what they’ve accomplished.”