On Jan. 28, Peggy Bennett’s first-grade class at Sibley School had a candlelight dinner.

This special event was a reward for the hard work the first-graders put forth in learning their math facts. Their goal was to pass their +0, +1 and +2s timed math tests and they all reached their goal. (Many did extra harder tests to earn some additional “dinner dollars” as well.)

The candlelight dinner took place in the classroom with flowers, “tablecloths,” low light and fancy piano and saxophone music playing in the background.

Students had hors d’oeuvres, a main meal and then dessert. This was not only a fun event, but a great time to reinforce good manners, putting a napkin on a lap, saying please and thank you, chewing with one’s mouth closed, etc. Students also learned new vocabulary words, including “hors d’oeuvres.” The dinner was complete with a milk carton toast to the entire class who, with diligent work, passed their math tests.