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Teachers at Northeast Elementary School in Arma will do whatever it takes to prepare their students for next week's state assessment tests — even if that means taking a pie to the face from a first-grader.
As a way of helping students get ready for the exams, the school conducted its third annual "Fear Factor" pep assembly on Friday. The hour-long event pitted three teams of students and one team of school staffers against each other in various activities.
The early events were relatively tame, as they included hula-hoop ring toss and an obstacle course. It was late in the hour when the real fun began.
In true "Fear Factor" style, the teams scarfed down chocolate covered fruit flies — they were actually raisins, but the students didn't know that — and used only their faces to search for (gummy) worms at the bottom of a cream pie.
The grand finale saw teachers Stephanie Underwood and Shane Wade take pies to their faces from first-grader Rylen Wonderly and fourth-grader Zack Garrison.
Tina Valenzuela, PTO president, said the pep assembly had two purposes — to get the kids' minds off of the upcoming tests, and also to help them overcome their fear of the tests.
"By getting the teachers out there, we show them that even they aren't afraid to get in front of a crowd and overcome some stage fright," she said. "Hopefully then, the kids get over their jitters of taking the tests."
Valenzuela said she implemented the event when she assumed the PTO presidency three years ago. So far, she said, it seems to work.
"The kids have a good time," she said. "They look forward to it all year. And it does seem to pump them up for the tests."
Teachers at Northeast Elementary School in Arma will do whatever it takes to prepare their students for next week's state assessment tests — even if that means taking a pie to the face from a first-grader.
As a way of helping students get ready for the exams, the school conducted its third annual "Fear Factor" pep assembly on Friday. The hour-long event pitted three teams of students and one team of school staffers against each other in various activities.
The early events were relatively tame, as they included hula-hoop ring toss and an obstacle course. It was late in the hour when the real fun began.
In true "Fear Factor" style, the teams scarfed down chocolate covered fruit flies — they were actually raisins, but the students didn't know that — and used only their faces to search for (gummy) worms at the bottom of a cream pie.
The grand finale saw teachers Stephanie Underwood and Shane Wade take pies to their faces from first-grader Rylen Wonderly and fourth-grader Zack Garrison.
Tina Valenzuela, PTO president, said the pep assembly had two purposes — to get the kids' minds off of the upcoming tests, and also to help them overcome their fear of the tests.
"By getting the teachers out there, we show them that even they aren't afraid to get in front of a crowd and overcome some stage fright," she said. "Hopefully then, the kids get over their jitters of taking the tests."
Valenzuela said she implemented the event when she assumed the PTO presidency three years ago. So far, she said, it seems to work.
"The kids have a good time," she said. "They look forward to it all year. And it does seem to pump them up for the tests."
