NATCHEZ — Educating young minds is important work — and it’s work that’s best done early in the morning.

And if those young minds aren’t at school on time, they can’t learn.

On Monday, West Primary School was recognized for its efforts to get students in class on time.

The school won the Governor’s Excellence Award for Partners in Education, for instituting programs that encourage students, and their parents, to maintain high attendance records and avoid tardiness, school Principal Cindy Idom said.

West’s kindergarten reading interventionalist Shannon Brown said for the school’s students, morning lessons are the most critical of the day.

“That’s when they’re fresh,” Brown said. “They’ve had breakfast, and they’re rested, and they’re ready to learn. They’re like sponges.”

Additionally, the first portion of the school day is devoted to reading, one of the school’s most important classes, Idom said.

“That’s why we have to have them here and on time,” Idom said. “Their attendance is so critical.”

To get the students interested in being in class on time, Idom and her staff worked with their local Partners in Education to develop programs that instilled a desire for punctuality in the children.

The partnership works with local businesses and community leaders and brings additional helpers and dollars into local schools.

At West, Partners provided guest readers in classrooms and money to fund programs that reward students for attendance and punctuality.

By being on time, students can earn rewards and time at the No Tardy Party.

The school has even been sending notes of thanks to parents for getting their kids in on time.

Karen Collins is a Junior Auxiliary of Natchez member and works as one of the school’s partners.

Collins, in her work with the auxiliary, spends time reading to West’s students and donates money for the school’s parties.

“We’re willing to do anything we can to help the students,” Collins said.

“That’s what we’re here for.”

Collins and her fellow auxiliary members hope their efforts will make the students better readers and score higher on tests.

“We want to help them to do their very best,” she said.