Forty-nine Cahaba Mental Health clients ended the school year with good grades, worthy of a pizza and skate party.

The youth and family division of the Cahaba Mental Health Center hosted a pizza party Friday to recognize the clients whose outstanding academic performance earned them a spot on the honor roll during the 2013-2014 school year. The party was meant to reward the children while encouraging the entire group to always do well in school.

“For some of them it’s such a struggle,” Cahaba Youth and Family director JoAnne Rowe said. “For them to be able to make honor roll and stay focused and do that well during the whole school year is awesome.”

In order to make sure the nearly 400 youth and family clients are able to excel academically, the department develops an individualized plan for each child based on their particular needs, Cahaba Mental Health executive director Lafon Barlow said.

Barlow said personal life events could sometimes affect how the clients do in school.

“A lot of times when a child is having some things go on that they might need to talk about their grades may slip,” Barlow said. “That might be one of the signs that you notice.”

Plantersville resident Angelia Hearon brought her daughter to the Selma Skating Rink Friday to enjoy the pizza and skate party she was looking forward to all week.

Hearon said she is pleased to know that the Cahaba Mental Health Center wants to reward her daughter and other clients for their great work at school.

“I think it’s great,” Hearon said. “She loves skating and she wanted to come skate and be with her friends,” Hearon said.