Students at Julius E. Sprauve School on St. John got ready Friday for Monday’s V.I. Territorial Assessment of Learning standardized tests with a pep rally.
“We believe in you, and you are the best,” principal Dionne Wells told the students gathered in the school’s cafeteria.
The rally featured a dance by the school’s dance team and a song by music teacher Danielle Greenaway.
“Time to begin and ready for the win when motivated to do our best,” she sang.
After the rally, the students headed to Winston Wells Ballfield for a hot dog or chicken lunch accompanied by potato salad, coleslaw or green salad.
The Eudora Kean High School Marching Band as well as students from Guy Benjamin School in Coral Bay were due to arrive Friday afternoon for more pep rally activities.
The students divided into 10 teams to compete for the best scores. They sported T-shirts that announced their allegiance to the Orange Pit Bulls, the Blue Swaggers, the Royal Purple Rangers, and others.
The students spent the week reviewing material for the math and reading tests given to students in grades two through eight. However, Wells said the second graders results don’t count when the school’s proficiency ratings are tallied to grade how the school did. She said they take the tests for the experience.
Last year, 53.3 percent of the Sprauve students met proficiency standards in reading and 53.8 percent in math. Wells said the school hopes those scores go up by at least 5 percent in Monday’s test.
Wells and teacher Luana Powell both ticked off the things the students should do on Sunday to make sure they’re prepared for Monday.
“Fill in the bubbles,” Powell said, referring to the small circles students must fill in to mark their answer.
Get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast and think positive were other tips teachers stressed.
The students got the message.
“I’m planning the night before to watch a movie, have some fun and when it’s seven o’clock, go to sleep,” Kristy-Ann Alexis, 12, said.
When she gets up, she’ll have a healthy breakfast, go into the exam room with all her “writing instruments and put her brain to work.”
“I’ll ace the test,” she said.
