DANVILLE -- Being sent to the principal's office can be a scary thing, except for when she is waiting for you with pizza and cookies.

Ten students at Danville Elementary School were treated to lunch with their principal for being named the Dynamite Students for the month of October.

Principal Molly Nied said these students are nominated by teachers and adults in the school for their outstanding, positive behavior.

As the announcement was made over the loudspeaker for the Dynamite Students to report to the office, the students slowly began to enter seeming timid and hesitant to be entering to see the principal -- a common place to go when you find yourself in trouble.

But as Nied greeted them with a smile and welcomed them to her room, the attitude's reversed and the eyes and faces of the students lit up as they rushed in.

The 10 students chosen monthly are picked by Nied. They range from all grade levels.

Nomination criteria ranges from improvement in their academic work and giving extra effort to being kind to their classmates.

"The students love it," Nied said. "They are very proud. It allows them to be in the office for a positive reason. There is a fear and unknown of the principal's office, and although sometimes you do face consequences here, it's important to know someone cares about the positive behavior."

They also think it's pretty cool to be in the office, she added, noting one student told her she was counting down the days until their lunch.

In addition, they are recognized each month at a school assembly where they are given awards and the school does a Dynamite Student chant.

A note acknowledging the honor is also sent home from the principal's office to the parents.

It's often that a note from the principal's office means negative things, she said, so this kind of recognition is good news.

As students talked about Halloween, weekend plans and told jokes, they also were able to mix and mingle with students from other grades.

Second-grade student Dakota Stetler sat next to first-grader Nathias Zacek and discussed some of his memories from the lower grade.

Brianne Williams, a fifth-grade student, and Cindy Huang, second grade, shared jokes they know while eating a variety of pizza choices.