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

McNeese Sports

Cowboys take on struggling UNO

Local News

Ann Lagneaux teaches students to turn negative thoughts into positive ones

Local News

Trump administration begins sweeping layoffs with probationary workers, warns of larger cuts to come

Local News

Unrestrained man killed in I-10 crash

McNeese Sports

Reyna, Chance lead Cowgirl comeback

Local News

Louisiana to end mass vaccine promotion

Business

Trump signs a plan for reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners

Local News

REAL ID enforcement date now just three months away

life

Several SW La. students honored at Northwestern State

Crime

Eight DeRidder High students arrested

Local News

Wicked weather this way comes on Saturday

Jim Gazzolo

Jim Gazzolo column: Garcia best Southland has to offer

McNeese Sports

Cowboys look for finishing kick

Crime

2/13: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff announces arrest list

Local News

 BREAKING: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed as Trump’s secretary after close Senate vote

Local News

At Oak Park Elementary, no one eats alone

Local News

Candidate Fondel airs his views at forum

life

Gettin’ jiggy wit it — Irish dance style

Local News

Family fabric: Quilting exhibition offers insight to generations of storytelling, culture and artistry

life

McNeese president’s honor list announced for fall 2024 semester

life

Walls can talk: Artist says art is essence of humanity

McNeese Sports

Selling a winning pitch

Local News

House committee address citizen concerns over carbon sequestration in Louisiana

Jim Beam

Jim Beam column:Don’t worry. Trump is fixer