NEW ALBANY, Miss. (WTVA) -- The principal at New Albany Elementary says the students, parents, and teachers in the school have spent hours since the beginning of school reading, taking tests, and learning.
As a reward the students are getting a whole day full of fun activities.
"We are celebrating the good test scores we had for the 2011-2012 school year," says Principal Windy Faulkner. "We have inflatables and snacks. We just want the students to know that we appreciate them and their hard work, and the teachers as well. We just want them to see that learning can be fun, and that is the image we want here at New Albany Elementary School."
Although the day was like a break from the classroom for students they still had to work their brains.
For example the classes had a competition to see which grade could read the most books in an hour.
"This morning was just a read-a-thon, but we will go back and have those children test on those books," says third grade teacher Jonna Shaw. "Every book that is checked out in our library is on a computer program that we have and they will take an AR test that will let us know their comprehension."
Accelerated Reading or AR is a program many schools across the state have, and teachers here say because of it the number of students who actually want to read is increasing.
Like one 4th grader who says she has read hundreds of books since the start of school.
"I take them home everyday," says Laura Grace Hardy. "I love reading. I am really committed to it. I have been reading since pretty much pre-k.''
Those who read everyday get incentives like the AR store that happens twice a year where students can turn points into money to buy toys and candy.
Speaking of the school celebrated Halloween as well, but with less sugar than usual.
"We are trying to become a healthy campus so we are having fruits and lots of games during Halloween time instead of having cupcakes and junk food," says Faulkner.
The day was complete with storybook characters and the New Albany High School cheerleaders and mascot.
