GARYVILLE – Fourth- and eighth-grade students in St. John the Baptist School District and across the state recently took Phase I of the LEAP. Teachers have been preparing students for the test by teaching them course content using the state’s Grade Level Expectations while also using test-prep items and strategies to help familiarize the students with the test’s context.

As a way to help motivate students to do their best on the test and to expose the students how the local government runs, Parish President Natalie Robottom visited Garyville-Mt. Airy Magnet School’s fourth- and eighth-grade students. She talked to them about the importance of passing the LEAP, about being prepared to face challenges and about the importance of education.

Students asked Robottom questions about her role as parish president. Not only was her visit an inspiration to the students; it was also a quick social studies lesson concerning the government – a lesson to help prepare the students for the LEAP.