A small group of dedicated parents gathered Sunday afternoon at Ferriday Upper Elementary School to learn about upcoming state tests.

The school offered the weekend session in hopes of attracting parents who may not be able to attend during the week. Principal Cindy Smith said she’d hoped for approximately 30 parents, though only 15 parents and students attended.

Students across the parish will take the iLEAP and high stakes LEAP test starting a week from today.

“Kids of supportive parents really do well,” Smith told the group. “It’s so important for parents to spend time talking to them. Don’t talk to them in a way that makes them nervous.”

Smith encouraged the group to get an early start each morning of tests and get a good night’s sleep each week.

State test scores went up slightly at FUES last year, but the school has traditionally been a low-performing school. Smith told parents she wanted to see more students scoring basic and mastery.

“We are really trying to get them motivated,” she said. “The No. 1 problem we have at this point and time is this beautiful weather outside. Spring fever has hit. We have got to get our kids settled down for two weeks.”

Fourth-graders taking the LEAP must pass the test in order to move on to the next grade. Third- and fifth-graders will take the iLEAP. Their scores will be used to calculate overall performance scores for the school.

“I’m tired of having people say we have the highest number of kids failing this test,” Smith said. “Starting with these kids we have today and the supportive parents, we can make a difference.”

Volunteers provided refreshments and door prizes for Sunday’s meeting.

“We came to make sure the school gets support,” mom Priscilla Jackson said.

Her son Catrell, 9, said he expected the iLEAP to be difficult.

FUES is planning a prayer walk with local ministers for next Sunday in preparation for the tests the next day.

Parents can stop by the school anytime this week to get tips on test preparation and ask questions.