Repulse Bay (Apr 09/03) - The air is thick with anticipation as students gather in a classroom for a special draw once a month at Tusarvik school in Repulse Bay.

Grade 8 teacher Lori Anne Bond reaches into a toque and out comes the name of this month's attendance winner to an appreciative round of applause.

Bond says the monthly attendance prizes are looked upon as a bonus to encourage the students to keep up their hard work.

She says the prizes are a good way for staff to show students they're doing a good job.

"The monthly awards are a way for the teachers to show their appreciation for the fact these students get out of bed and come to school every morning," says Bond.

"Having them here every day is important for the school, as well as their individual futures."

Bonus prizes are awarded monthly at Tusarvik school for perfect attendance, good attendance (more than 90 per cent) and student of the month.

The student of the month is selected for hard work and academic improvement.

The academic achiever gets to select their bonus from a cart full of mixed prizes.

Bond says a number of students qualify for the two attendance awards almost every month.

"After we enter our attendance figures into the computer, we can see who has perfect attendance and who has better than 90 per cent attendance to qualify for the awards."

The winner is selected by one of the oldest democratic processes known -- the name is drawn from a hat.

All the students are present in the room for the drawing of the names, which usually takes about 15 minutes.

The gathering is usually fraught with tension once the hand enters the hat to select the winning student.

Bond says the kids never complain about going for the awards selection.

"There's always a bit of clapping when the winner's name is pulled and it's a really positive time of the month for the students.

"They're all shy about having their name picked.

"The winners usually walk up the front of the room, claim their prize and leave quietly."