The “assembly” that closed out the school day Friday afternoon at Patrick Hamilton Elementary School was bit usual than the typical student gatherings at the school.

For instance, it’s not very usual for assemblies to take place outside, near the playground.

It’s also not very usual to have a DJ come in and play a bunch of catchy pop-songs for the kids to dance to.

And it’s not very usual students anywhere in the state of Michigan to celebrate what this group were dancing about – the fact that they earned one of Michigan’s Reward School titles.

That day, Patrick Hamilton staff threw a special dance party for students to commemorate the achievement. With music provided by Dustin Cornelius, a teacher with Union High School, the students boogied and strutted their stuff, with even a few of their teachers getting in on the dancing action.

“The kids have been excited for this for the last 3-4 weeks,” said Principal Heather Nash.

The party wasn’t just an excuse for the kids to let off some pent-up energy, but for the staff and teachers to show their appreciation to students for their academic achievements, which made their recent Reward School designation possible. Patrick Hamilton is one of a few hundred schools in Michigan to achieve the status, and only one of two in Dowagiac Union Schools to do so, along with Sister Lakes Elementary.

“It’s not the teachers, but the students who did all the work to make this possible,” Nash said.

Also present for the festivities was Deputy Superintendent Dawn Connor, who also praised the students for their role in making this achievement possible, comparing them all to the “Little Engine That Could.”

Although the school had held smaller dance parties like this in the past to celebrate certain classroom achievements, this is the first one that the entire student body got to participate in, Nash said.

“The kids just love to dance let loose with all their energy,” she said. “They like to be with their friends and celebrate.”