West Elementary holds pep rally for students preparing for MAAP testing

One local elementary school is getting its students hyped up to show what they know!

Students and faculty members lined the hallways of West Elementary, cheering on third, fourth, and fifth graders as they prepare for the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program.

The Gulfport High School cheerleaders and jazz band showed up in support of the rally, while staff expressed their excitement with special messages and songs.

State Representative Jeffrey Hulum III also attended and offered encouragement.

Assistant Principal Dr. Laquita Gresham says pep rallies like these are good for students. “Next week we start with the gateway. So, that’s a really big test and for our third graders, it’s like their first big high stakes test, but we want to take away the jitters as much as we can and show them that it’s actually fun to learn and it’s fun to be smart and you get celebrated for learning and applying what you know.”

The MAAP state assessment tests begin Monday. Students will be tested in math, English language, science, and U.S. history.