VIDALIA, La. &045; With LEAP tests only 20 school days away, the Concordia Parish school with the biggest performance drop last year has kicked test preparation into overdrive.

Starting Monday after school, Vidalia Junior High School will offer LEAP mock tests to eighth-graders in each of the four subject areas. Monday’s test will be language arts, with social studies, science and math to follow each Monday until the test.

Principal Paul Nelson said he was hopeful the students would take advantage of the test preparation the school is providing.

&uot;We are trying to provide every possible opportunity we can think of,&uot; Nelson said. &uot;You can make sure the pond if full of water, but you can’t make them drink.&uot;

Teacher encouragement, letters to parents and a little bribery of free food and rewards are just some ways VJHS is using to promote attendance at the mock tests.

The mock tests will be given in environments similar to what the students will face when the real test starts on March 14. Mock testing will last from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. with a free snack halfway through the session. Students who attend all four sessions will receive a small reward.

While students are eating their snack, teachers will review and grade the test just given. After the snack the teachers will go over common mistakes and point out areas of needed improvement with the students.

Nelson said he hoped the immediate feedback would help the students better understand what they did wrong.

Passing the language arts and math portions of the LEAP is required for eighth-graders to be promoted to high school.

So far about 50-55 students have said they plan to attend the sessions, Nelson said.

&uot;We try to encourage those we worry about, but when we open things up we don’t single anybody out,&uot; he said.

&uot;Generally, we see the kids that are doing pretty well already though. It’s always hardest to reach the ones we worry about.&uot;

VJHS has also been offering online practice testing for the LEAP since Jan. 11. Tuesday through Thursday the school opens up the computer lab from 5 to 8 p.m. for students and parents to come access the Department of Education Web site.

The Web site contains practice tests for several grade levels in addition to eighth-grade. The lab will remain open Tuesday through Thursdays until March 10.

When the computer lab is open, three teachers are available to assist with the administering and evaluating of the tests. Adults must accompany the children, though, and parents are encouraged to attend and work through the test with the child, Nelson said.

&uot;Parents can see what questions are out there and spend some time with the child.&uot;

The mock test and the online test are an attempt of the school to familiarize students with the test they’ll take in a few weeks and work on test-taking skills.

Nelson reminded parents to start planning for the week of March 14-18 by not scheduling doctor’s appointments or vacations, saying it was very important for each student to take the test on time and with their peers.

Based on an 8.6 points drop in test scores last year, VJHS fell into level 1-school improvement and was labeled a school in decline.