PIQUA — Lunch was no ordinary meal for students at Piqua Central Intermediate School on Wednesday.

Piqua Central Intermediate School hosted another series of Formal Dining events for their students on Wednesday to provide them with a special lunch as well as give them a boost before state testing.

“Formal Dining is a chance for teachers and students to sit together, to sit as a family,” Principal Josh Kauffman said, adding that the students also learn about table manners.

Teachers brought in dessert and ate with their students to replicate a traditional sit-down, family-style meal that some students may not get to have at home.

The school also comes up with a theme for each Formal Dining event.

“This one is a March Madness theme,” Kauffman said. The cafeteria was decorated with signs that the sixth graders made in art class as well as tablecloths featuring the mascots of college basketball teams.

This Formal Dining event also featured a bit more of a pep rally atmosphere as the school is currently preparing the students for AIR testing as well as getting them thinking early on about going to college.

“We’re trying to get the kids excited for college,” Kauffman said.

Kauffman explained that the school wants to emphasize to the students that they can find a way to go to college no matter what their background is.

A luncheon for the city leaders was also held at the same time, allowing Piqua City Schools Superintendent Dwayne Thompson, Mayor Kazy Hinds, and City Manager Gary Huff to see students getting excited listening to a pep talk from PCS Athletic Director Chip Hare.

Hare started off with a couple of trivia questions before asking the students, “Can you tell me what your national championship is in a couple weeks?” Hare hinted that it was something they are preparing for and doing almost every day.

“How about testing? Are you guys excited about testing?” Hare said. “We’re going to get you excited about testing.”

Hare asked the students about each of the different skills that they have, from excelling in sports to academics. He said that the different abilities that each of students have are things that they could use to get a scholarship for college.

“What makes college fun?” Hare said. “It gets you an education … You can get a job. You’re going to meet a lot of neat and fun people.”

Overall, Hare told the students to keep working and be thankful for the help and care that they are getting from their teachers.

“Work hard and make sure you thank your teachers,” Hare said.