Pike County Elementary School kicked off their week of testing with a pep rally Friday afternoon. The third through sixth graders at PCES will take the Aspire test April 20-28.

The Aspire test comes from the same company that produces the ACT. According to Kristina Anderson, fifth grade teacher at PCES, Aspire is standardized test that measures what the students can do compared to other students in the area and in the state.

“The kids are required to do more thinking and to give constructive responses,” she said. “They have to prove why they gave an answer.”

Anderson explained that Aspire is a much harder test than the SAT test.

“The rigor is very intense,” she said. “It requires a lot more just because of the standards we are required to teach now.” Alexander explained that while PCES teaches Common Core and the state standards, the standards are higher than they used to be.

Friday, the students gathered in a pep rally to boost their confidence for the test.

“A lot of our kids don’t have the things that larger schools have,” Alexander said. “We want them to know that they can compete with anybody. Our kids are very smart and they try very hard.”

During the week of testing, each grade level will test for an hour block on a different subject each day.

Special guests attended the pep rally to further encourage the students in their testing. Brundidge Mayor Jimmy Ramage, as well as some Brundidge City officials pumped the kids up for their week of testing. Jamaa Smith, director of playor development at Troy University donated Troy Trojans hats to give to the kids.

Anderson said that Smith and Troy University football players are regular visitors to PCES.

The City of Brundidge is very active at PCES, as well. On many occasions, they have provided school supplies for PCES.

“Our school is a staple of our community,” Anderson said. “When our kids see everybody working together, it gives them a more realistic approach to how things are supposed to be.”

This is the fifth year for PCES to hold the Aspire pep rally.

“Our goal is to help them be productive members of society,” Anderson said. “We want to motivate our kids to do the right thing and to be the best that they can be.”