By Jessica Gonzalez

jessica@plaqueminesgazette.com

Over a hundred 3rd through 6th grade South Plaquemines Elementary students who scored above the “basic” category on this year’s LEAP test were rewarded by teachers with a field day celebration May 23 on the football field.

Students took turns at the various stations which included a slip and slide, a snowball stand, hoola hoop obstacle courses, tug of war, and the pinnacle of the event— an inflatable water slide. 

The teachers established a small fundraising and planning committee at the beginning of the year, and through various fundraisers and small initiatives like Wednesday candy sales, the teachers were able raise the $6,000 needed to fund the field day celebration and other rewards, explained sixth grade ELA and Social Studies teacher Tamika Williams. 

“We essentially set up a tiered reward system for students to encourage them to work hard all year,” Williams explained. Other rewards were a trip on the Steamboat Natchez for students and an afternoon of roller skating at Skate Country.

With a coaches whistle around her neck to regulate the popular inflatable waterslide, Williams, who is also South Plaquemines Elementary’s Teacher of the Year, explained that it was important to recognize student achievement after a long, hard year. 

“This is something the students have known about all year, and have been working toward— and they really deserve it.”