NATCHEZ — Students of the Natchez-Adams School District will soon sharpen their No. 2 pencils to get busy penciling-in bubbles for statewide accountability tests.

Students from third to 12th grade have been preparing for state tests all year, but the schools have recently ramped up studies and spread the message of the importance of the state tests.

Subject Area Testing started at Natchez High School Wednesday and will continue until Tuesday, NHS Algebra I teacher Lillie Bryant said.

Fifth-and eighth-grade students at Morgantown Elementary School and Robert Lewis Middle School will take the elementary and middle grades science Assessments Tuesday.

Grades three through eight at McLaurin Elementary School, Morgantown and Robert Lewis will take the Mississippi Curriculum Test-Second Edition (MCT2) Tuesday May 10 to Thursday May 12. Make-ups will be May 13.

Robert Lewis Assistant Principal Samuel Brantley said the middle school started seriously preparing for MCT2 in January, although the school has kept a focus on the test all year.

Teachers at the middle school have been conducting what they call bell ringers for five minutes at the start of each class. Teachers drill students with questions that involve critical thinking to help students access answers that require a “depth of knowledge” similar to the style of questions on the MCT2, Brantley said.

The school has worked to mentally prepare students, as well.

“We talk about it constantly,” Brantley said.

Supplementary education services are being offered at Robert Lewis and Morgantown after school for students with lower achievement levels.

Morgantown Principal Fred Marsalis said the school has targeted students’ weaknesses through the Classworks, computer-based assessment program and has conducted extensive remediation for students in subjects were they need it most.

Morgantown has also offered incentives to students.

Students who have recently done well in school by actively participating, scoring well on assessments or achieving other goals get a chance to win prizes such as donated iPods and gift certificates, Marsalis said.

Morgantown will also host a pep rally for testing Monday, May 9, the day before the MCT2.

Marsalis said the prizes are intended to motivate students and let them know they have their school’s support.

“(The activities) are to get (students) motivated to do their best on the test,” Marsalis said.

“That’s our slogan: do your best on the test.”

The NHS mathematics department hosted after-school remediation session for all students enrolled in Algebra I Wednesday.

The English II, Biology I and U.S. History teachers are gearing up for state tests with other forms of remediation during school by holding special class sessions and remediation before school. Students are also given take home binders from the tutoring session for reinforcement.

McLaurin has been using data boards in each class that display student progress on an indivudal and class basis.

McLaurin awards prizes to winners of competitions between classes for the highest scores, Principal Alice Morrison has said.

Morrison also makes sure to personally talk to each class to enforce the importance of the test to every student.

Brantley said parents should be sure to encourage their children and stress the importance of state tests.

“Make sure (students) get a good night’s rest and eat a good breakfast before they come to school,” he said.

“Parents need to support (their children) and support (the school district) to bring about improvement that we all want for Natchez.”