Eighth-grader Vladimir Etienne hasn't missed a day of class in his eight years in the Boston public schools.

His secret: ''I just get up every morning and go to school."

About 500 of Vladimir's middle-school colleagues have similar get-up-and-go, having perfect attendance for the 2003-04 school year. All were honored recently by the Boston Celtics at the 13th annual Stay in School Awards Celebration at Matthews Arena at Northeastern University.

Rosheda Browne, a classmate of Vladimir's at Rogers Middle School in Hyde Park, was recognized for not missing a day in the last three years. An honor roll student with a twin brother at Rogers, she says there have been days when she had to try extra hard to make it to school.

''He got sick a few times," she says of her brother, "and we usually go to school together, so it's a little lonely when he's not there. But it just doesn't make sense to stay at home, because it's not going to do any good for me."

Rosheda's mother, Brendalyn Browne, is a full-time registered nurse who works a double shift on Sunday to provide for Rosheda and her brother. That's Rosheda's secret for perfect attendance. ''Sometimes I go to school because I like to see my friends, but most of the time I go for my mom," she says. ''I need to get an education, so she doesn't have to pay for me to go to private school."

The city's Stay in School program was begun by the Celtics about 10 years ago. Since then more than 40,000 students have participated.

Good attendance goes hand in hand with discipline in learning and in life, says Michael McCarthy, principal of the Rogers Middle School. ''I don't think it's a coincidence that not only have they achieved this honor, but they're also respectful to others, they get along with the other kids, and they do their work," he says.

PATRICK GERARD HEALY