ROME TOWNSHIP — Getting the students at Fairland West Elementary School charged up for this week’s testing was the impetus for a pep rally for the students on Friday.

The pep rally is an annual event designed by principal Teresa Johnson to motivate her third, fourth and fifth grade students to excel on the Ohio Achievement Tests, which are given this week.

“The students are ready for testing as their teachers have worked hard all year and have prepared them well,” Johnson said.

Last year Fairland West received an excellent rating on the Ohio Local Report Card. During the 2007-2008 school year the school earned every accountability indicator possible by passing the reading, math, writing, science and social studies tests. They also met the AYP or Adequate Yearly Progress required by the “No Child Left Behind Law.”

The school earned the value added performance indicator showing that in reading and math the students are performing at a higher achievement level than the average student in the state of Ohio. The students performed above what was expected on the district’s growth standard.

To a background of popular music Johnson opened with a motivational talk and led the students in warm-up exercises.

The teachers from each grade performed on stage to karaoke tunes as their students cheered and danced along with them. The highlight of the rally was the performance of the Fairland High School Dance Team. The 12 students had just won first place in two divisions at the Marshall University SCORES Academic Competition.

They performed three of their winning dances. The girls led the students in cheers and dances including the “Chicken Dance” and a surprise visit by Hannah Montana, played by Tori Leep who sang her recent hit, “A Country Ho-Down” from “Hannah Montana The Movie.”

Approximately 165 students participated in the After School Intervention Program that the Fairland District sponsors free for any student.

Fairland West elected to test during the “early” testing window while other schools may test the following week.