Students ready for testing after rally

<p class="p1">Combre-Fondel Elementary students, teachers and supporters took part in a testing pep rally Tuesday at the school. Students were encouraged to make a strong effort on upcoming tests through motivational speakers, music and cheering.</p>Rick HickmanRickHickmanPhotographer
https://www.americanpress.com/content/tncms/avatars/6/d3/ea1/6d3ea1c8-3a6c-11e7-a1c2-0f91a5883b36.b31acdd1ef972ec0a2acb8ea5b28d153.png

<p class="p1">Combre-Fondel Elementary School held its annual Testing Pep Rally on Tuesday. 

<p class="p1">Radio personalities from KZWA-FM (104.4) provided motivational hits for the students as they celebrated this week’s start of LEAP 2025 testing. With dance competitions, cheers and chants, Cary Chavis, Combre-Fondel alumni and host of KZWA’s “The Cary Chavis Experience,” encouraged the students to take the test seriously and to have confidence in their ability to succeed and perform.

<p class="p1">Washington-Marion Magnet High School student council members also cheered the students on for success by sharing personal, proven test-taking strategies. 

<p class="p1">Courtland Williams commanded the attention of the students by reassuring them to take their time while testing, eat a good breakfast and go to bed early. Taylor Trahan reminded students to enter the testing environment with a clear, focused mind and to utilize the process of elimination if they come to a particularly difficult question.<p class="p1">Students speak during a pep rally at Combre-Fondel Elementary in Lake Charles on Tuesday.</p>Rick HickmanRickHickmanPhotographer
https://www.americanpress.com/content/tncms/avatars/6/d3/ea1/6d3ea1c8-3a6c-11e7-a1c2-0f91a5883b36.b31acdd1ef972ec0a2acb8ea5b28d153.png

<p class="p1">In keeping with the Combre-Fondel Little Braves mascot, Chavis reminded students to “be brave, even if you’re tired.” Mildred Smith, principal, agreed saying, April can be a particularly tiring part of the year for students and faculty. She believes the pep rally is a great strategy for testing success because it “reminds students that school isn’t over now that testing has started.” Rather, the goal of the rally is to “rejuvenate students and give them a new mindset for the coming weeks.”

<p class="p1">Stephanie Young, master teacher, praised the efforts of the school and the community for hosting the rally. She explained, there’s a tendency for students and staff to become overly tense and stressed about testing. The Testing Pep Rally reminds students that “it’s just a test — something they do quite often,” said Young. It alleviates the pressure, thereby allowing students to truly show what they’ve been working towards all year long.<p>During a pep rally at Combre-Fondel Elementary in Lake Charles, La., Tuesday, April 10, 2018. (Rick Hickman/Lake Charles American Press)</p>Rick HickmanRickHickmanPhotographer
https://www.americanpress.com/content/tncms/avatars/6/d3/ea1/6d3ea1c8-3a6c-11e7-a1c2-0f91a5883b36.b31acdd1ef972ec0a2acb8ea5b28d153.png

<p class="p1">Combre-Fondel’s school performance rating moved up from an F to a D during the 2016-2017 school year. Such a movement requires committed teachers, engaged administration and confident students considering the many state-regulated metrics involved in school performance scores. Smith is confident in her school’s continued success saying, “If we could do it last year, we can do it this year.”

SportsPlus

Crime

11/13: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff announces arrest list

life

Mistletoe & Moss back with a new look

Local News

Leesville High grad to lead US Army in the Pacific

Local News

School Board puts bus decisions back in hands of transportation department

life

Habibi Shriners Circus is high-flying motor thrill fest

Local News

Speaker Mike Johnson wins GOP nomination to remain in job, faces full House vote in new year

Crime

Death of two women at Topsy Road home under investigation

McNeese Sports

Know your foe: Demons struggle to rebuild

life

Smoke & Barrel: Aged since 2018 with character aplenty

life

Bingo With a Purpose: Seniors have fun, learn about abuse prevention

Jim Beam

Jim Beam column: Ending tax breaks is tough

Local News

McNeese awarded $2.2M grant to offer resources, tutoring, peer support to students

Local News

Allen school employees in line for two supplement pay increases

Crime

LC man arrested during joint undercover operation targeting online offenders

Local News

Judge delays ruling on whether to scrap Trump’s conviction in hush money case

Crime

11/12: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff announces arrest list

Local News

Speaker Mike Johnson says Republicans are ‘ready to deliver’ on Trump’s agenda

Business

Names in the News: People shaping the future of Lake Area business

Local News

Federal judge blocks La. law that requires classrooms to display Ten Commandments

McNeese Sports

Running in high gear

Local News

Will Trump’s hush money conviction be upheld? Judge will rule today

McNeese Sports

Upset dreams fall short

Local News

Cold front, accompanying showers headed to SW La. Wednesday

Crime

LC man sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking, firearms crimes