Erickson Elementary School Academic Pep Rally, “School House Rock”

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Karen Gallagher, 225-6437 
Posted on: March 27, 2006

Speakers: Arizona School Superintendent Tom Horne, Prior State Superintendent Lisa Keegan (now CEO of the Education Leaders Council), Davis-Monthan Air Force pilot, and a Sidewinder baseball player

Date: March 31

Time: 9:00-9:30am for grades K-2 and 9:45-10:15am for grades 3-5

Place: Cafeteria at 6750 East Stella Road, Tucson, Arizona 85730, Phone: 584-5000

Price: Free

Arizona School Superintendent Tom Horne and Principal Helen LePage will be kicking off an academic pep rally with over 500 students at Erickson Elementary School March 31st, 2006 to encourage students to prepare for the AIMS DPA / Terra Nova / CCSA test week in hopes of improving scores. There will be two assemblies: one at 9:00-9:30am for grades K-2 and one at 9:45-10:15am for grades 3-5, each with two speakers. Prior State Superintendent Lisa Keegan will be the key speaker at the second session while a Davis-Monthan Air Force pilot will follow Mr. Horne and a Sidewinder baseball player will follow Ms. Keegan.

A parent at Erickson, Jim Maginnis, came up with the idea of an academic pep rally after reading a MSN article (http://slate.msn.com/id/2124163/) that suggested the primary problem with American test scores was a lack of motivation and how Germany has created a national PISA Day. He later also read how Mr. Horne had participated at a similar Pep Rally at Sunnyslope High School two years ago. High AIMS scores for high school students can later help reduce state college tuition and the state provided free tutoring last summer, but the best chance for academic excellence begins in our elementary schools. The assemblies will finish up with a performance by TUSD’s first full-time dance group at Utterback, led by Alison Chafin. Each class will be making an academic banner to be hung during the rally and then hung in the classroom during the test week. The theme will then be continued into the classroom with practice contests, the writing of academic cheers, raps, or songs, and discussions of how good sleep and nutrition can help test scores. This should be a great time for the students. Thanks for your support for this important event.

School House Rock

Feed your brain and you will gain!
Be your biggest fan, believe that you can!
A book to read helps you succeed!

Get good rest to ace the test!
To prove what we have learned is our quest!
Erickson Roadrunners are the best!

Well prepared, we will excel.
To learn, to grow, and always do well!

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